-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, NyVC3BfBCBY7TkcTt4OIQCVAKYsYiN9pOA3roEWWgQx5DqZP9jO5VdRNC3mm9FEl 1luuEw/ndvmviTkl262BoQ== 0001193125-08-081839.txt : 20080804 0001193125-08-081839.hdr.sgml : 20080804 20080415172540 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-08-081839 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-4 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 36 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080415 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080619 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Global Inc CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001314655 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: AIR COND & WARM AIR HEATING EQUIP & COMM & INDL REFRIG EQUIP [3585] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263 FILM NUMBER: 08758177 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5151 SAN FELIPE STREET 2: SUITE 500 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77056 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5151 SAN FELIPE STREET 2: SUITE 500 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77056 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Company, L.P. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338074 IRS NUMBER: 391904835 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-02 FILM NUMBER: 08758179 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Manufacturing II LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338097 IRS NUMBER: 201961186 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-07 FILM NUMBER: 08758184 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338079 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-09 FILM NUMBER: 08758186 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Quietflex Holding CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338105 IRS NUMBER: 760681233 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-11 FILM NUMBER: 08758188 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Distribution, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338076 IRS NUMBER: 760309878 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-14 FILM NUMBER: 08758191 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Pioneer Metals Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338103 IRS NUMBER: 590773846 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-01 FILM NUMBER: 08758178 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Pioneer Metals Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20050907 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338098 IRS NUMBER: 760423371 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-03 FILM NUMBER: 08758180 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338101 IRS NUMBER: 760580801 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-05 FILM NUMBER: 08758182 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Manufacturing I LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338080 IRS NUMBER: 201961086 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-08 FILM NUMBER: 08758185 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338078 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-12 FILM NUMBER: 08758189 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Appliance Holding CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338072 IRS NUMBER: 760677025 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-15 FILM NUMBER: 08758192 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338106 IRS NUMBER: 760681290 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-04 FILM NUMBER: 08758181 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001337982 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: AIR COND & WARM AIR HEATING EQUIP & COMM & INDL REFRIG EQUIP [3585] IRS NUMBER: 201932202 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-16 FILM NUMBER: 08758193 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Canada, L.L.C. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338073 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-06 FILM NUMBER: 08758183 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Holding CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338077 IRS NUMBER: 760342022 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-13 FILM NUMBER: 08758190 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Goodman Sales CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001338100 IRS NUMBER: 760353690 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-150263-10 FILM NUMBER: 08758187 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 BUSINESS PHONE: 713-861-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2550 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77092 S-4 1 ds4.htm FORM S-4 Form S-4
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2008

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Goodman Global, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

SEE TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Delaware   3585   20-1932219

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 861-2500

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Ben D. Campbell

Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

 

With a copy to:

William B. Brentani

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

Tel: (650) 251-5000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered   Amount to be
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit
    Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)
  Amount of
Registration Fee
 

13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

  $ 500,000,000   100 %   $ 500,000,000   $ 19,650  

Guarantees(2) of 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

  $ 500,000,000   100 %   $ 500,000,000     (3 )

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee under Rule 457(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(2) See inside facing page for additional registrant guarantors.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate filing fee is required for the guarantees.

The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT GUARANTORS

 

Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor, as Specified in its Charter

   State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization
   I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number
  

Address, Including Zip
Code and Telephone
Number, Including Area
Code of Registrant
Guarantor’s Principal
Executive Offices

Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.

   Delaware    20-1932202   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Appliance Holding Company

   Texas    76-0677025   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Distribution, Inc.

   Texas    76-0309878   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.

   Florida    59-0773846   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Holding Company

   Texas    76-0342022   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Quietflex Holding Company

   Delaware    76-0681233   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Sales Company

   Texas    76-0353690   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.

   Delaware    —     

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Manufacturing I LLC

   Delaware    20-1961086   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Manufacturing II LLC

   Delaware    20-1961186   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.

   Delaware    —     

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Canada, L.L.C.

   Delaware    —     

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.

   Texas    76-0580801   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.

   Texas    76-0681290   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.

   Texas    76-0423371   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

Goodman Company, L.P.

   Delaware    39-1904835   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

Tel: (713) 861-2500

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 15, 2008

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

LOGO

Goodman Global, Inc.

Offer to Exchange

$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, for any and all of its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.

 

 

We are conducting the exchange offer in order to provide you with an opportunity to exchange your unregistered notes for freely tradable notes that have been registered under the Securities Act.

The Exchange Offer

 

   

We will exchange all outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of exchange notes that are freely tradable.

 

   

You may withdraw tenders of outstanding notes at any time prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer.

 

   

The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on             , 2008 unless extended. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date.

 

   

The exchange notes to be issued in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

   

The terms of the exchange notes to be issued in the exchange offer are substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will be freely tradable.

Results of the Exchange Offer

 

   

The exchange notes may be sold in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or through a combination of such methods. We do not plan to list the notes on a national market.

All untendered outstanding notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the outstanding notes and in the indenture. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in connection with the exchange offer, we do not currently anticipate that we will register the outstanding notes under the Securities Act.

 

 

See “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 15 for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider before participating in the exchange offer.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the exchange notes to be distributed in the exchange offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is             , 2008.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Prospectus Summary

   1

Risk Factors

   15

Forward-Looking Statements

   28

The Transactions

   29

Use of Proceeds

   31

Capitalization

   32

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Data

   33

Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data

   37

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   38

Business

   54

Management

   68

Executive Compensation

   73

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

   91

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

   93

Description of Other Indebtedness

   97

Description of Notes

   100

The Exchange Offer

   154

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

   164

Certain ERISA Considerations

   170

Plan of Distribution

   172

Legal Matters

   173

Experts

   173

Where You Can Find More Information

   173

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-1

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information about our business from this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the notes. You should read the entire prospectus, including the financial data and related notes, before making an investment decision. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us,” “the company” and “Goodman” refer to Goodman Global, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries and its predecessors.

Our Company

We are the second largest domestic manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, products for residential and light commercial use based on unit sales. Our activities include engineering, manufacturing, assembling, marketing and distributing an extensive line of HVAC and related products. Our products are predominantly marketed under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brand names. The Goodman® brand is one of the leading HVAC brands in North America and caters to the large segment of the market that is price sensitive and desires reliable and low-cost climate comfort, while our premium Amana® brand includes enhanced features such as higher efficiency and quieter operation. The Quietflex® brand is a recognized brand of flexible duct. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we generated net sales of $1,935.7 million, a 7.9% increase as compared to prior year net sales.

We sell our products through a North American distribution network with more than 850 total distribution points comprised of approximately 150 company-operated distribution centers and over 700 independent distributor locations. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 60% of our net sales were made through company-operated distribution centers and our direct sales force with the remainder made through independent distributors. Our company-operated distribution centers in key states such as Texas, Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada provide us direct access to large and fast growing regions in North America and enable us to maintain a significant amount of market intelligence and control over how our products are distributed. Our independent distributors, many of which have multiple locations and most of which exclusively sell our products, enable us to more fully serve other major sales areas and complement our broad distribution network. We offer our independent distributors incentives to promote our brands, which allow them to provide dealers with our products at attractive prices while meeting their own profit targets. We believe that our growth is attributable to our strategy of providing quality, value-priced products through an extensive, growing and loyal distribution network.

As of December 31, 2007, we operated three manufacturing and assembly facilities in Texas, two in Tennessee, one in Arizona and one in Florida totaling approximately two million square feet. Since 1982, our unit volume sales and market share have grown to surpass all but one of our competitors in the residential and light commercial HVAC sector.

The Transactions

On October 21, 2007, Chill Holdings, Inc. (which we refer to as Parent), Chill Acquisition, Inc., a subsidiary of Parent (which we refer to as Merger Sub), and Goodman Global, Inc. entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the Merger Agreement) pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. on February 13, 2008. These transactions are referred to in this prospectus as the Merger. Merger Sub was incorporated on October 15, 2007 (Inception) for the purpose of acquiring Goodman and did not have any operations prior to February 13, 2008 other than in connection with the Goodman acquisition. At the effective time of the Merger on February 13, 2008, each share of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than shares held in treasury by Goodman

 

 

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Global, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, owned by Merger Sub, Parent or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent or held by stockholders who were entitled to and who properly exercised appraisal rights under Delaware law) was converted into the right to receive $25.60 in cash, without interest. In addition, all options to acquire Goodman Global, Inc. common stock issued pursuant to Goodman’s equity plans, whether or not vested, became fully vested as of the time immediately prior to the Merger and were cancelled and converted into cash payments, without interest, equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock subject to each option as of the effective time of the Merger multiplied by (2) the excess, if any, of $25.60 over the exercise price per share of common stock subject to such option (other than in the case of certain options held by members of our senior management who exchanged a portion of their vested options for new vested options in Parent). Immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of our restricted stock under Goodman Global, Inc.’s 2006 Incentive Award Plan was vested in full and was converted into the right to receive the merger consideration at the effective time of the Merger, less any amounts required to be withheld or deducted under applicable tax laws.

As described below and in “The Transactions” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” members of our management made $36.1 million of equity investments in the company through the acquisition of common stock of Parent. In addition, members of our management rolled certain existing Goodman Global, Inc. options into Parent options. Members of our management who made equity investments are referred to collectively in this prospectus as the Management Participants.

Investment funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC invested approximately $1,114.7 million in equity securities of Parent in connection with the Merger. In addition, investment funds affiliated with GSO (the GSO Equity Entities), investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Partners, L.P. (the Farallon Equity Entities) and investment funds affiliated with AlpInvest Partners (AlpInvest), along with certain other investors that the GSO Equity Entities syndicated their investments to (collectively, the Fund Co-Investors), invested approximately $127.5 million in equity securities of Parent in connection with the Merger. All of these investment funds are referred to in this prospectus as the Investors. Further, there were approximately $36.1 million of investments in equity securities of Parent through the acquisition of its common stock by the Management Participants.

On January 10, 2008, we commenced cash tender offers to purchase Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.’s outstanding 7- 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 ($400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) and Floating Rate Notes due 2010 ($179.3 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) (together, the Existing Notes) and solicitations of consents from the holders of the Existing Notes with respect to amendments to the indentures governing the Existing Notes that would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants contained in the indentures and in the Existing Notes and also eliminate certain events of default, certain covenants relating to mergers and certain conditions to legal defeasance and covenant defeasance, but would not eliminate, among other things, certain repurchase obligations in respect of the Existing Notes. On January 24, 2008, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of the Existing Notes had validly tendered, and not validly withdrawn, their Existing Notes and consented to, and not withdrawn their consents relating to, the amendments to the indentures with respect to the Existing Notes. On January 25, 2008, we executed the proposed amendments to the indentures for the Existing Notes, which amendments became operative immediately prior to the Merger. On February 13, 2008, we accepted the tenders, made payments to holders of the Existing Notes of the tender offer consideration and consent payments, called for redemption, deposited the redemption payment with the trustee in respect of untendered Existing Notes and discharged the indentures governing the Existing Notes.

In addition, on February 13, 2008, we repaid the $76.1 million outstanding under our then-existing credit facility and the $11.5 million outstanding under our then-existing revolving loan and swing note.

On February 13, 2008, Merger Sub issued and sold $500.0 million of notes, which are the subject of the exchange offer for exchange notes described in this prospectus, and borrowed (1) $800.0 million under a new

 

 

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senior secured term credit agreement with Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, and (2) $105.0 million under a new asset-based revolving credit agreement with Barclays Capital and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto.

The Merger, the repurchase of the Existing Notes, the repayment of the existing credit facility, revolver and swing note and the fees and expenses relating to the Transactions were financed by borrowings under our new senior secured term credit agreement, our new asset-based revolving credit agreement, the issuance of the notes, the equity investments described above and Goodman’s cash on hand at the closing of the Merger.

The initial offering of the notes, the initial borrowings under our new senior secured term credit agreement and asset-based revolving credit agreement, the tender offers and consent solicitations with respect to the Existing Notes, the repayment of Goodman’s then-existing credit facility, revolver and swing note, the equity investment by the Investors and the Management Participants, the Merger and the other related transactions are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the Transactions. For a more complete description of the Transactions, see “The Transactions,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of Notes.”

The Sponsors

All of our outstanding common stock is directly owned by Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., which in turn is directly owned by Chill Holdings, Inc., which is majority owned and controlled by funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC. The Sponsors refer collectively to Hellman & Friedman LLC and its affiliates.

Hellman & Friedman LLC (H&F) is a leading private equity investment firm with offices in San Francisco, New York and London. H&F focuses on investing in superior business franchises and serving as a value-added partner to management in select industries including media, financial services, professional services, vertical software and information services and healthcare. Since its founding in 1984, H&F has raised and, through its affiliated funds, managed over $16 billion of committed capital and is currently investing its sixth partnership, Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI L.P., with over $8 billion of committed capital. Other recent investments include: Catalina Marketing Corporation, Kronos Incorporated, Sheridan Healthcare, Inc., Gaztransport & Technigaz S.A.S., Emdeon Business Services, IRIS Software Group Limited, Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., LPL Holdings, Inc., DoubleClick, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and Texas Genco LLC.

Corporate Information

Chill Acquisition, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on October 15, 2007. Goodman Global, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of Delaware in 2004. On February 13, 2008, Chill Acquisition, Inc. merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. with Goodman Global, Inc. continuing as the surviving corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 5151 San Felipe, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056 and our telephone number is (713) 861-2500. Our website address is http://www.goodmanglobal.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

Our products are predominantly marketed under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brand names. Amana® is a trademark of Maytag Corporation and is used under license to Goodman Company, L.P.

 

 

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Market, Ranking and Industry Data

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning the HVAC industry or market refers to the residential and light commercial sector within the domestic HVAC industry. Our general expectations concerning these industries and their segments and our market position and market share within these industries and their segments are derived from data from various third-party sources. In addition, this prospectus presents similar information based on management estimates. Such estimates are derived from third-party sources as well as data from our internal research and on assumptions made by us, based on such data and our knowledge of the HVAC industry, which we believe to be reasonable. Although we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any industry or similar data presented herein, such data involves risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors, including those described in “Risk Factors.”

 

 

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The Exchange Offer

In this prospectus, the term “outstanding notes” refers to the 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016. The term “exchange notes” refers to the 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, as registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The term “notes” refers collectively to the outstanding notes and the exchange notes. On February 13, 2008, Chill Acquisition, Inc., to be merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., issued $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 in a private placement.

 

General

In connection with the private placement, Chill Acquisition, Inc., to be merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., entered into a registration rights agreement with the purchasers in which they agreed, among other things, to deliver this prospectus to you and to obtain the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement within 270 days after the date of original issuance of the outstanding notes. You are entitled to exchange in the exchange offer your outstanding notes for exchange notes, which are identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes except:

 

   

the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act;

 

   

the exchange notes are not entitled to any registration rights that are applicable to the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement; and

 

   

the liquidated damages provisions of the registration rights agreement are no longer applicable.

 

The exchange offer

We are offering to exchange $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, which have been registered under that Securities Act for any and all of its existing 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.

Outstanding notes may be exchanged only in denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Resale

Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that the exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for outstanding notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you (unless you are our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that:

 

   

you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business; and

 

   

you have not engaged in, do not intend to engage in and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes.

If you are a broker-dealer and receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding notes that you acquired as a

 

 

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result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you must acknowledge that you will deliver this prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. See “Plan of Distribution.”

Any holder of outstanding notes who:

 

   

is our affiliate;

 

   

does not acquire exchange notes in the ordinary course of its business; or

 

   

tenders its outstanding notes in the exchange offer with the intention to participate, or for the purpose of participating, in a distribution of exchange notes

cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC enunciated in Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling (available July 2, 1993), or similar no-action letters and, in the absence of an exemption therefrom, must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes.

 

Expiration date

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on             , 2008, unless extended by us. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration of the exchange offer.

 

Withdrawal

You may withdraw the tender of your outstanding notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer. We will return to you any of your outstanding notes that are not accepted for any reason for exchange, without expense to you, promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

Conditions to the exchange offer

The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which we may waive. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

 

Procedures for tendering outstanding notes

If you wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must complete, sign and date the accompanying letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of such letter of transmittal, according to the instructions contained in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal. You must then mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of such letter of transmittal, together with the outstanding notes and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at the address set forth on the cover page of the letter of transmittal.

If you hold outstanding notes through The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must comply with the Automated Tender Offer Program procedures of DTC by which you will agree to be bound by the letter of transmittal.

 

 

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If you are a beneficial owner whose outstanding notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and you wish to tender your outstanding notes, you should promptly contact the registered holder and instruct the registered holder to tender on your behalf. If you wish to tender the outstanding notes yourself, you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either have the outstanding notes registered in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be able to be completed prior to the expiration date.

By signing, or agreeing to be bound by, the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things:

 

   

you are not our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

   

you do not have arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

   

you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of the exchange notes;

 

   

you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business; and

if you are a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities, that you will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of such exchange notes.

 

Special procedures for beneficial owners

If you are a beneficial owner of outstanding notes that are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender those outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct the registered holder to tender those outstanding notes on your behalf. If you wish to tender on your own behalf, you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be able to be completed prior to the expiration date.

 

Guaranteed delivery procedures

If you wish to tender your outstanding notes and your outstanding notes are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your outstanding notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents, or you cannot comply with the procedures under DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program for transfer of book-entry interests, prior to the expiration date, you must tender your outstanding notes

 

 

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according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in this prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”

 

Effect on holders of outstanding notes

As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of all validly tendered outstanding notes pursuant to the terms of the exchange offer, we will have fulfilled a covenant under the registration rights agreement. Accordingly, there will be no increase in the interest rate on the outstanding notes under the circumstances described in the registration rights agreement. If you do not tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be entitled to all the rights and limitations applicable to the outstanding notes as set forth in the indenture, except we will not have any further obligation to you to provide for the exchange and registration of the outstanding notes and related guarantees under the registration rights agreement. To the extent that outstanding notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market for outstanding notes could be adversely affected.

 

Consequences of failure to exchange

All untendered outstanding notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the outstanding notes and in the indenture. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in connection with the exchange offer, we do not intend to register the outstanding notes under the Securities Act, except as otherwise required by the registration rights agreement.

 

United States federal income tax consequences of the exchange offer

The exchange of outstanding notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Exchange Offer.”

 

Use of proceeds

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of exchange notes in the exchange offer. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Exchange agent

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the exchange agent for the exchange offer. The addresses and telephone numbers of the exchange agent are set forth in the section captioned “The Exchange Offer—Exchange Agent.”

 

 

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The Exchange Notes

The summary below describes the principal terms of the exchange notes. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of Notes” section of this prospectus contains more detailed descriptions of the terms and conditions of the outstanding notes and the exchange notes. The exchange notes will have terms identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and liquidated damages for failure to observe certain obligations in the registration rights agreement.

 

Issuer

Goodman Global, Inc.

 

Securities offered

$500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.

 

Maturity

The exchange notes will mature on February 15, 2016.

 

Interest rate

The exchange notes will bear interest at a rate of 13.50% per annum, provided that Goodman Global, Inc. may, at its option, elect to pay interest in any interest period at a rate of 14.00%, per annum, in which case up to 3.0% per annum may be paid by issuing additional notes (PIK notes) under the indenture on the same terms and conditions as the existing notes, provided that Goodman Global, Inc. may not make any interest payment with PIK notes after the first HYDO Determination Date (as defined below) to the extent such interest payment in PIK notes would cause the accrued and unpaid interest and original issue discount on the notes to exceed the amount described in clause (b) of the definition of HYDO Redemption Amount, as defined in “Description of Notes—Principal, Maturity, Interest and HYDO Redemption.”

If we elect to pay interest in PIK notes, we will increase the principal amount of each note or issue new notes to holders of the notes on the relevant record date in an amount equal to the amount of PIK interest for the applicable interest period (rounded up to the nearest $1,000, for notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee).

 

Interest payment dates

February 15 and August 15, beginning on August 15, 2008. Interest will accrue from the later of the issue date of the outstanding notes or the last interest payment date relating to the outstanding notes.

 

Ranking

The exchange notes will be our unsecured, senior subordinated obligations and will:

 

   

be subordinated in right of payment to our existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), including our senior secured term credit agreement and asset-based revolving credit agreement;

 

   

rank equally in right of payment to all of our future senior subordinated debt;

 

 

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be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future secured debt (including our senior secured term credit agreement and asset-based revolving credit agreement), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of each of our subsidiaries that is not a guarantor of the notes; and

 

   

rank senior in right of payment to all of our future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes.

Similarly, the note guarantees will be unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the guarantors and will:

 

   

be subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future Senior Indebtedness, including such guarantor’s guarantees under our senior secured credit term agreement and asset-based revolving credit agreement;

 

   

rank equally in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s future senior subordinated debt;

 

   

be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future secured debt (including such guarantor’s guarantees under our senior secured term credit agreement and asset-based revolving credit agreement), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations of any subsidiary of a guarantor if that subsidiary is not also a guarantor of the notes; and

 

   

rank senior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s future subordinated debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes.

As of December 31, 2007, after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had been consummated as of such date, (1) the notes and related guarantees ranked junior to approximately $800.0 million of Senior Indebtedness under our senior secured term credit agreement and $105.0 million under our asset-based revolving credit agreement and (2) we had an additional $160.0 million in undrawn commitments under our asset-based revolving credit agreement, after giving effect to $35.0 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2008.

 

Guarantees

Each of our subsidiaries that guarantees the obligations under our senior secured credit facilities will initially jointly, severally and unconditionally guarantee the exchange notes on an unsecured senior subordinated basis.

 

Optional redemption

Prior to February 15, 2011, we will have the option to redeem some or all of the exchange notes for cash at a redemption price equal to

 

 

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100% of their principal amount, plus a make-whole premium (as described in “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption”), plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. Beginning on February 15, 2011, we may redeem some or all of the exchange notes at the redemption prices listed under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption” plus accrued interest on the exchange notes to the date of redemption.

 

Optional redemption after certain equity offerings

At any time (which may be more than once) before February 15, 2011, we may choose to redeem up to 40% of the notes at a redemption price equal to 113.5% of the principal amount thereof with proceeds that we or our parent company raise in one or more equity offerings, as long as at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued remains outstanding afterwards. See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”

 

HYDO redemption

If the Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(l) of the Code, on each, HYDO Determination Date (as defined in “Description of Notes—Principal, Maturity, Interest and HYDO Redemption”), the Issuer will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Note then outstanding equal to the HYDO Redemption Amount (each such redemption, a “HYDO Redemption”), as defined below. The redemption price for the portion of each Note redeemed pursuant to any HYDO Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. “HYDO Redemption Amount” means, as of each HYDO Determination Date, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the Notes over (b) and amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the Notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the Notes. No partial redemption or repurchase of the Notes prior to any HYDO Determination Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture will alter the Issuer’s obligation to make any HYDO Redemption with respect to any Notes that remain outstanding on such HYDO Redemption Date. Please see, “Description of Notes—Principal, Maturity, Interest and HYDO Redemption.”

 

Change of control offer

Upon the occurrence of a change of control, you will have the right, as holders of the exchange notes, to require us to repurchase some or all of your exchange notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. See “Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control.”

 

 

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We may not be able to pay you the required price for exchange notes you present to us at the time of a change of control, because:

 

   

we may not have enough funds at that time; or

 

   

terms of our other indebtedness may prevent us from making such payment.

Your right to require us to repurchase your notes upon the occurrence of a change of control will be suspended during any time that the notes have investment grade ratings from both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

 

Certain indenture provisions

The indenture governing the exchange notes will contain covenants limiting our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

   

incur additional debt or issue certain capital stock;

 

   

pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

sell certain assets;

 

   

create liens on certain assets to secure certain debt;

 

   

consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

   

enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; and

 

   

designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries.

These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. See “Description of Notes.” Most of these covenants will cease to apply to the notes during any period in which the notes have investment grade ratings from both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s.

 

No public market

The exchange notes will be freely transferable but will be a new issue of securities. There is no established trading market for the notes and the notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Accordingly, an active market or liquidity may not develop for the exchange notes.

Risk Factors

You should carefully consider all the information in the prospectus prior to exchanging your outstanding notes. In particular, we urge you to carefully consider the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors.”

 

 

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SUMMARY HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

Set forth below is summary historical consolidated financial data and summary unaudited pro forma condensed financial data of our business, at the dates and for the periods indicated. The historical data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 have been derived from the audited historical consolidated financial statements of Goodman Global, Inc., included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Goodman Global, Inc., not included in this prospectus. The 2004 financial data is a combination of the previous transaction’s predecessor and successor statements disclosed in our consolidated financial statements.

The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007 has been prepared to give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on December 31, 2007. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2007 has been prepared to give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2007. The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable. The summary unaudited pro forma combined financial data do not purport to represent what our results actually would have been if the Transactions had occurred at any date, and such data do not purport to project the results of operations for any future period.

The Merger will be accounted for using purchase accounting. The final purchase price allocation is dependent on, among other things, the finalization of asset and liability valuations. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed the valuation studies necessary to estimate the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related allocation of purchase price. We have allocated the total estimated purchase price, calculated as described in the notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Data, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on preliminary estimates of their fair values. A final determination of these fair values will reflect our consideration of a final valuation prepared by third-party appraisers. This final valuation will be based on the actual net tangible and intangible assets that existed as of the closing of the Merger. Any final adjustment will change the allocations of purchase price, which could affect the fair value assigned to the assets and liabilities and could result in a material change to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, including a material change to amortizable intangible assets and goodwill.

 

 

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The summary historical consolidated and unaudited pro forma financial data should be read in conjunction with “The Transactions,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Data,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    Year Ended December 31,    

Pro Forma
Year Ended

December 31,

 
    2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2007  
    (in thousands)  
Consolidated statement of operations data:            

Sales, net(1)

  $ 1,192,671     $ 1,317,580     $ 1,565,406     $ 1,794,753     $ 1,935,690     $ 1,935,690  

Cost of goods sold

    915,272       1,024,426       1,243,408       1,374,774       1,462,776       1,506,776  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    147,687       220,551       170,077       205,894       210,613       210,613  

Depreciation and amortization expense

    14,851       18,887       37,717       32,641       35,119       47,973  
                                               

Operating profit

    114,861       53,716       114,204       181,444       227,182       170,328  

Interest expense, net

    26,081       12,478       74,213       77,825       68,378       170,014  

Other (income) expense, net

    (331 )     (1,406 )     (706 )     5,264       (2,752 )     (2,752 )
                                               

Earnings before income taxes

    89,111       42,644       40,697       98,355       161,556       3,066  

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    1,745       (5,049 )     15,817       34,188       60,177       1,142  
                                               

Net income

  $ 87,366     $ 47,693     $ 24,880     $ 64,167     $ 101,379     $ 1,924  
                                               
    Year Ended December 31,    

Pro Forma

Year Ended
December 31,

 
    2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2007  
    (in thousands, except for ratios)  
Consolidated balance sheet data:            

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 5,359     $ 3,856     $ 23,779     $ 11,569     $ 18,955     $ 18,955  

Total assets

    615,558       1,544,595       1,621,537       1,623,971       1,567,617       3,052,622  

Total debt

    213,244       1,024,135       961,375       838,050       655,425       1,373,000  

Redeemable preferred stock

    —         225,000       225,570       —         —         —    

Shareholders’ equity

    150,279       102,719       107,815       521,085       622,106       1,278,247  

Statement of cash flows data:

           

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  $ 150,807     $ (18,558 )   $ 105,519     $ 53,724     $ 204,217       204,217  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (811 )     (1,477,622 )     (24,957 )     (39,343 )     (14,181 )     (2,620,906 )

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (167,856 )     1,494,677       (60,639 )     (26,591 )     (182,650 )     2,424,075  

Other financial data:

           

Capital expenditures

  $ 16,801     $ 27,772     $ 28,806     $ 39,383     $ 26,416     $ 26,416  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2)

    4.2x       3.8x       1.5x       2.2x       3.2x       1.0x  

 

(1) Sales are presented net of certain rebates paid to customers. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
(2) For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” represents income before taxes less capitalized interest, plus amortization of capitalized interest and fixed charges. “Fixed charges” include interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance costs), capitalized interest, and the portion of operating rental expense which management believes is representative of the interest component of rent expense.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below as well as the other information contained in this prospectus before deciding to tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or those we currently view to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such a case, the trading price of the exchange notes could decline or we may not be able to make payments of interest and principal on the exchange notes and you may lose all or part of your original investment.

Risks Relating to the Exchange Offer, the Notes and our Indebtedness

There may be adverse consequences if you do not exchange your outstanding notes.

If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer of your outstanding notes as set forth in the prospectus distributed in connection with the private offering of the outstanding notes. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding notes under the Securities Act. You should refer to “Prospectus Summary—The Exchange Offer” and “The Exchange Offer” for information about how to tender your outstanding notes.

The tender of outstanding notes under the exchange offer will reduce the outstanding amount of the outstanding notes, which may have an adverse effect upon, and increase the volatility of, the market prices of the outstanding notes due to a reduction in liquidity.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our business and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under the notes.

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2007, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions, we would have had total debt of $1,405.0 million (of which $500.0 million would have consisted of the notes and the balance would have consisted of indebtedness under our senior secured credit facilities). Our substantial indebtedness may have important consequences to you, including:

 

   

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes;

 

   

increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

   

requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby limiting cash flow available to fund our working capital, capital expenditures or other general corporate requirements;

 

   

exposing us to the risk of interest rate increases on our variable rate borrowings, including borrowings under our new senior secured credit facilities;

 

   

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry;

 

   

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors with less indebtedness; and

 

   

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, other general corporate requirements and acquisitions.

Our pro forma cash interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2007 would have been $144.3 million. At December 31, 2007, on a pro forma basis, we would have had $905.0 million of debt under our senior secured credit facilities, which would accrue interest at an assumed weighted average floating rate of 9.3%. A 0.125% increase in this floating rate would increase our interest expense on a pro forma basis for the year ended December 31, 2007 by $1.1 million.

 

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Our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business.

Our senior secured credit facilities and the indenture governing the notes contain various covenants that limit our ability to engage in specified types of transactions. These covenants limit our and certain of our subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred shares;

 

   

pay dividends on, repurchase or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

sell or transfer assets;

 

   

create liens;

 

   

consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; and

 

   

enter into certain transactions with our affiliates.

In addition, under our asset-based revolving credit agreement, when (and for as long as) the combined availability under our asset-based revolving credit agreement is less than a specified amount for a certain period of time, or if a payment or bankruptcy event of default has occurred and is continuing, funds deposited into any of our depository accounts will be transferred on a daily basis into a blocked account with the administrative agent and applied to prepay loans under the asset-based revolving credit agreement and to cash collateralize letters of credit issued thereunder.

Under our senior secured credit facilities we will also be required to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios. Our ability to meet those financial ratios can be affected by events beyond our control, and there can be no assurance that we will meet those ratios.

The failure to comply with any of these covenants would cause a default under our debt instruments. A default, if not waived, could result in acceleration of the outstanding indebtedness under such debt instruments, in which case such indebtedness would become immediately due and payable. In addition, a default or acceleration of indebtedness under the notes or our senior secured credit facilities could result in a default or acceleration of other indebtedness we may incur with cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions. If any default occurs, we may not be able to pay our debt or borrow sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if new financing is available, it may not be available on terms that are acceptable to us. Complying with these covenants may cause us to take actions that we otherwise would not take or not take actions that we otherwise would take.

Despite current indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial leverage.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indenture governing the notes does not fully prohibit us or our subsidiaries from doing so. Our senior secured credit facilities also permit additional borrowing indebtedness and all or a portion of such additional indebtedness could rank senior to the notes and the subsidiary guarantees. If new debt is added to our and our subsidiaries’ current debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face could intensify.

To service all of our indebtedness, including the notes, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance. This, to a certain extent, is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. Our business may

 

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not generate sufficient cash flow from operations and future borrowings may not be available to us under our asset-based revolving credit agreement in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our debt, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we are unable to meet our debt obligations or fund our other liquidity needs, we may need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt, including the notes, or sell certain of our assets on or before the maturity of our debt. We may not be able to restructure or refinance any of our debt, including the notes, on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, which could cause us to default on our debt obligations and impair our liquidity. Any refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations.

In addition, if our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets or seek additional capital. These alternative measures may not be available to us, may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations, which could result in substantial liquidity problems. Our senior secured credit facilities and the indenture governing the notes restricts our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from the disposition. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain the proceeds which we could realize from them and these proceeds may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.

Your right to receive payments on the notes will be junior to the rights of the lenders under our senior secured credit facilities and all of our other Senior Indebtedness and any of our future Senior Indebtedness.

The notes and the guarantees will be general unsecured obligations that will be junior in right of payment to all of our and such guarantors’ existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the indenture governing the notes). As of December 31, 2007, after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had been consummated as of such date, we would have had approximately $800.0 million of senior indebtedness under our senior secured term credit agreement and $105.0 million under our asset-based revolving credit agreement and an additional $160.0 million in undrawn commitments under our asset-based revolving credit agreement, after giving effect to $35.0 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2008. The indenture governing the notes offered hereby will permit us and the guarantors to incur substantial additional Senior Indebtedness in the future.

We may not pay principal, premium, if any, interest or other amounts on account of the notes in the event of a payment default or certain other defaults in respect of certain of our Senior Indebtedness, including debt under our senior secured credit facilities, unless the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full or the default has been cured or waived. In addition, in the event of certain other defaults with respect to our Senior Indebtedness, we may not be permitted to pay any amount on account of the notes for a designated period of time.

Because of the subordination provisions in the notes, in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution, our assets will not be available to pay obligations under the notes until we have made all payments in cash on our Senior Indebtedness and all letters of credit our credit facilities have been terminated or cash collateralized. We cannot assure you that sufficient assets will remain after all these payments have been made to make any payments on the notes, including payments of principal or interest when due.

Your right to receive payments on the notes is effectively subordinated to the rights of our existing and future secured creditors. Further, the guarantees of these notes are effectively subordinated to all our guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness.

Holders of our secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of the guarantors will have claims that are prior to your claims as holders of the notes to the extent of the value of the assets securing that other indebtedness. Notably, we and certain of our subsidiaries, including the guarantors, are parties to the new credit facility, which will be secured by liens on substantially all of our assets and the assets of the guarantors. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all that secured indebtedness. In the event of any distribution or payment of our assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, or other bankruptcy

 

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proceeding, holders of secured indebtedness will have prior claim to those of our assets that constitute their collateral. Holders of the notes will participate ratably with all holders of our unsecured indebtedness that is deemed to be of the same class as the notes, and potentially with all of our other general creditors, based upon the respective amounts owed to each holder or creditor, in our remaining assets. In any of the foregoing events, we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes. As a result, holders of the notes may receive less, ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness.

As of December 31, 2007, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions, the aggregate amount of our secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries would have been approximately $905.0 million, and we would have had $160.0 million in undrawn commitments under the asset-based revolving credit agreement, after giving effect to $35.0 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2008. We will be permitted to borrow substantial additional indebtedness, including secured indebtedness, in the future under the terms of the indenture governing the notes.

We may not have access to the cash flow and other assets of our subsidiaries that may be needed to make payment on the notes.

Although a significant portion of our business is conducted through our subsidiaries, none of our subsidiaries is obligated to make funds available to us for payment on the notes. Accordingly, our ability to make payments on the notes is dependent in part on the earnings and the distribution of funds from our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries will be permitted under the terms of the indenture governing the notes to incur additional indebtedness that may severely restrict or prohibit the making of distributions, the payment of dividends or the making of loans by such subsidiaries to us. We cannot assure you that the agreements governing future indebtedness of our subsidiaries will permit our subsidiaries to provide us with sufficient dividends, distributions or loans to fund payments on these notes when due.

Claims of noteholders will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of all of our non-guarantor subsidiaries.

The notes initially are guaranteed on a senior basis by our existing U.S. subsidiaries that are obligors under our senior secured credit facilities. The notes are not guaranteed by our non-U.S. subsidiaries. However, the historical consolidated financial statements and the pro forma condensed financial data included in this prospectus include all of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries. Our non-guarantor subsidiaries generated approximately 3% of our pro forma net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007, and as of December 31, 2007, our non-guarantor subsidiaries held approximately 1% and 4% of our total assets and tangible assets, respectively, on a pro forma basis. In addition, we will have the ability to designate certain of our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the notes, and any subsidiary so designated will not be a subsidiary guarantor of the notes.

Our non-guarantor subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the notes, or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, distributions or other payments. Any right that we or the subsidiary guarantors have to receive any assets of any of the non-guarantor subsidiaries upon the liquidation or reorganization of those subsidiaries, and the consequent rights of noteholders to realize proceeds from the sale of any of those subsidiaries’ assets, will be effectively structurally subordinated to the claims of those subsidiaries’ creditors, including trade creditors and holders of debt of that subsidiary.

The lenders under our senior secured credit facilities will have the discretion to release the guarantors under the senior secured credit facilities in a variety of circumstances, which will cause those guarantors to be released from their guarantees of the notes.

Any guarantee of the notes will be released without action by, or consent of, any holder of the notes or the trustee under the indenture governing the notes offered hereby, if the related guarantor is no longer a guarantor of

 

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obligations under our senior secured credit facilities or any other indebtedness. See “Description of Notes.” The lenders under our senior secured term credit agreement and our asset-based revolving credit agreement will have the discretion to release the guarantees under the applicable credit agreement in a variety of circumstances. You will not have a claim as a creditor against any subsidiary that is no longer a guarantor of the notes, and the indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, whether secured or unsecured, of those subsidiaries will effectively be senior to claims of holders of the notes.

Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require note holders to return payments received from guarantors.

Under the federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee could be voided, or claims in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of that guarantor if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee:

 

   

received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the incurrence of such guarantee;

 

   

was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence;

 

   

was engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or

 

   

intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.

In addition, any payment by that guarantor pursuant to its guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the guarantor.

The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:

 

   

the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets;

 

   

if the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or

 

   

it could not pay its debts as they become due.

On the basis of historical financial information, recent operating history and other factors, we believe that each guarantor, after giving effect to its guarantee of these notes, will not be insolvent, will not have unreasonably small capital for the business in which it is engaged and will not have incurred debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature. We cannot assure you, however, as to what standard a court would apply in making these determinations or that a court would agree with our conclusions in this regard.

If we default on our obligations to pay our indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the notes.

Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under our senior secured credit facilities, that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in the instruments governing our

 

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indebtedness (including covenants in the new senior secured credit facilities and the indenture governing the notes), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness, including our senior secured credit facilities and the indentures. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. The lenders under our senior secured credit facilities could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers from the required lenders under our senior secured credit facilities to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our senior secured credit facilities and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the new senior secured credit facilities, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

We may not be able to purchase the notes upon a change of control offer required by the indentures.

Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. However, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds available at the time of such change of control event to make the required repurchase of notes that are tendered upon a change of control event. In addition, our new senior secured credit facilities contain restrictions that limit our ability to repurchase notes that are tendered upon a change of control event.

Accordingly, we may not be able to satisfy our obligations to purchase the notes unless we are able to refinance or obtain waivers under our new senior secured credit facilities. Our failure to repurchase the notes upon a change of control would cause a default under the indentures governing the notes and a cross default under our senior secured credit facilities. The senior secured credit facilities also provide that a change of control will be a default that permits lenders to accelerate the maturity of borrowings thereunder. Any of our future debt agreements may contain similar provisions.

Certain important corporate events, such as leveraged recapitalizations that would increase the level of our indebtedness, would not constitute a “Change of Control” under the indentures. See “Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders.”

An active trading market may not develop for the notes.

The notes are a new issue of securities, there is no established trading market for the notes and the notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. The liquidity of any market for the notes will depend upon various factors, including:

 

   

the number of holders of the notes;

 

   

the interest of securities dealers in making a market for the notes;

 

   

the overall market for high yield securities;

 

   

our financial performance or prospects; and

 

   

the prospects for companies in our industry generally.

Accordingly, an active market or liquidity may not develop for the notes. Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the notes. The market for the notes, if any, may be subject to similar disruptions. Any such disruptions may adversely affect you as a holder of the notes. In addition, the notes may trade at a discount, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar notes, our performance and other factors.

 

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The trading price of the notes may be volatile.

The trading price of the notes could be subject to significant fluctuation in response to, among other factors, changes in our operating results, interest rates, the market for non-investment grade securities, general economic conditions and securities analysts’ recommendations, if any, regarding our securities.

United States persons will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on the notes even if we do not pay cash interest.

None of the interest payments on the notes will be “qualified stated interest” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, even if we never exercise the option to pay pay-in-kind, or PIK, interest, because the notes provide us with the option to pay cash interest or PIK interest for any interest payment period, subject to certain limitations. Consequently, the notes will be treated as issued with “original issue discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and U.S. holders (as defined in “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”) will be required to include the original issue discount in gross income on a constant yield to maturity basis, regardless of whether interest is paid currently in cash. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

Risks Relating to our Business

Changes in weather patterns and seasonal fluctuations may adversely affect our operating results.

Weather fluctuations may adversely affect our operating results and our ability to maintain our sales volume. Our operations may be adversely affected by unseasonably warm weather in the months of November to February and unseasonably cool weather in the months of May to August, which has the effect of diminishing customer demand for heating and air conditioning and decreasing our sales volumes. Many of our operating expenses are fixed and cannot be reduced during periods of decreased demand for our products. Accordingly, our results of operations will be negatively impacted in quarters with lower sales due to such weather fluctuations. In addition, our sales volumes and operating results in certain regions can be negatively impacted during inclement weather conditions in these regions. For example, during the summer of 2004, several hurricanes and other tropical weather systems struck the southeastern United States resulting in an estimated $6.2 million reduction in our operating profit for 2004.

In addition, our quarterly results may vary significantly. Although there is demand for our products throughout the year, in each of the past three years approximately 56% to 58% of our total sales occurred in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year. Our peak production occurs in the first and the second quarters in anticipation of our peak sales quarters. Therefore, quarterly comparisons of our sales and operating results should not be relied on as an indication of future performance, and the results of any quarterly period may not be indicative of expected results for a full year.

Increased competition and technological changes and advances may reduce our market share and our future sales.

The production and sale of HVAC equipment by manufacturers is highly competitive. According to industry sources, the top five domestic manufacturers (including us) represented over 80% of the unit sales in the U.S. residential and light commercial HVAC market in 2007. Our four largest competitors in this market are Carrier Corporation (a division of United Technologies Corporation), Trane Inc., Lennox International, Inc. and Rheem Manufacturing Company. Several of our competitors may have greater financial and other resources than we have. A number of factors affect competition in the HVAC industry, including an increasing emphasis on the development of more efficient HVAC products. Existing and future competitive pressures may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, including pricing pressure if our competitors improve their cost structure. In addition, our company-operated distribution centers face competition from independent distributors and dealers owned by our competitors, some of whom may be able to provide their

 

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products or services at lower prices than we can. We may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competition; current and future competitive pressures faced by us may adversely affect our profitability and performance.

There is currently an effort underway in the United States by several companies to purchase independent distributors and dealers and consolidate them into large enterprises. These consolidated enterprises may be able to exert pressure on us to reduce prices. Additionally, these new enterprises tend to emphasize their company name, rather than the brand of the manufacturer, in their promotional activities, which could lead to dilution of the importance and value of our brand names. Future price reductions and any brand dilution caused by the consolidation among HVAC distributors and dealers could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Significant increases in the cost of raw materials and components have, and may continue to, increase our operating costs. In addition, a decline in our relationships with key suppliers may have an adverse effect on our business.

Our operations depend on the supply of various raw materials and components, including steel, copper, aluminum, refrigerants, motors and compressors, from domestic and foreign suppliers. We do not enter into long-term supply contracts for many of our raw materials and component requirements. However, our suppliers may discontinue providing products to us at attractive prices, and we may be unable to obtain such products in the future from these or other providers on the scale and within the time frames we require. If a key supplier were unable or unwilling to meet our supply requirements, we could experience supply interruptions and/or cost increases which (to the extent that we are not able to find alternate suppliers or pass these additional costs onto our customers) could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. To the extent any of our suppliers experiences a shortage of components that we purchase, we may not receive shipments of those components and, if we were unable to obtain substitute components on a timely basis, our production would be impaired. For example, in the second quarter of 2004 we experienced supply interruptions for steel, copper and aluminum. Historically, these supply interruptions have resulted in periodic production disruptions and higher transportation costs.

Since 2004, commodity prices have risen significantly to levels well above prices seen in the past decade. These commodity cost increases negatively affected our net income in 2004. Effective September 1, 2004, we increased prices by up to 5% on a majority of our products in response to these increases in commodity costs. Effective January 1, 2005, we further increased prices up to 7% on the majority of our products. Commodity costs have continued to increase. To help address the rise in commodity costs, we implemented price increases effective April 1, 2006 and October 1, 2006, with respect to certain of our products. However, these price increases may reduce demand for our products. A continued high level of commodity prices or a further increase in commodity prices could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, we may not be able to further increase the price of our products or reduce our costs to offset the higher commodity prices.

To enhance stability in the cost of major raw material commodities, such as copper and aluminum used in the manufacturing process, we have and may continue to enter into commodity arrangements. We generally do not enter commodity hedges extending beyond eighteen months. During 2006 and 2007, we entered into commodity hedges for both aluminum and copper. During 2007, we entered into swaps for a portion of our aluminum and copper supply which expire by December 31, 2008. The notional value of commodity swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $143.3 million and $87.1 million, respectively. A 10% change in the price of commodities hedged would change the fair value of the hedge contracts by approximately $6.9 million as of December 31, 2007 and $4.3 million at December 31, 2006.

We continue to monitor and evaluate the prices of our principal raw materials and may decide to enter into additional hedging contracts in the future.

 

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Our business could be hurt by economic downturns.

Our business is affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate. A decline in economic activity in the United States could materially affect our financial condition and results of operation. Sales in the residential and commercial new construction market correlate closely to the number of new homes and buildings that are built, which in turn is influenced by factors such as interest rates, inflation, availability of financing, consumers’ spending habits and confidence, employment rates and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control. Any decline in economic activity as a result of these factors typically results in a decline in new construction and replacement purchases, which would result in a decrease in our sales volume and profitability.

A decline in our relations with our key distributors may adversely affect our business.

Our operations also depend upon our ability to maintain our relations with our independent distributors. While we generally enter into contracts with our independent distributors, these contracts typically last for one to two years and can be terminated by either party upon 30 days’ notice. If our key distributors are unwilling to continue to sell our products or if our key distributors merge with or are purchased by a competitor, we could experience a decline in sales. If we are unable to replace such distributors or otherwise replace the resulting loss of sales, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 40% of our net sales were made through our independent distributors.

Damage or injury caused by our products could result in material liabilities associated with product recalls or reworks.

In the event we produce a product that is alleged to contain a design or manufacturing defect, we could be required to incur costs involved to recall or rework that product. In September 2004, we initiated a voluntary corrective action plan, or CAP, regarding a discontinued design of certain Amana®, Trane® and American Standard® brand PTAC units manufactured by one of our subsidiaries. A PTAC is a single unit heating and air conditioning system used primarily in hotel and motel rooms, apartments, schools, assisted living facilities and hospitals. Under the CAP, we will provide a new thermal limit switch to commercial and institutional PTAC owners. Installation of these switches will be at the commercial or institutional owners’ expense, except in special and limited circumstances (e.g., financial hardship). Pursuant to the CAP, we will pay the cost of installing the replacement switch for any individual homeowner having a PTAC unit in his/her residence. We have established a reserve relating to the CAP in an amount that we believe is appropriate. The costs required to recall or rework any defective products could be material, which may have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, our reputation for safety and quality is essential to maintaining our market share. Any recalls or reworks may adversely affect our reputation as a manufacturer of quality, safe products and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

We may incur material costs as a result of product liability or warranty claims that would negatively affect our profitability.

The development, manufacture, sale and use of our products involve a risk of product liability and warranty claims, including personal injury and property damage arising from fire, soot, mold and carbon monoxide. We currently carry insurance and maintain reserves for potential product liability claims. However, our insurance coverage may be inadequate if such claims do arise and any liability not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business. To date, we have been able to obtain insurance in amounts we believe to be appropriate to cover such liability. However, our insurance premiums may increase in the future as a consequence of conditions in the insurance business generally or our situation in particular. Any such increase could result in lower profits or cause the need to reduce our insurance coverage. In addition, a future claim may be brought against us, which would have a material adverse effect on us. Any product liability claim may also include the imposition of punitive damages, the award of which, pursuant to certain state laws, may not be covered by insurance. Our product liability insurance policies have limits that if exceeded, may result in material costs that would have an adverse effect on our future profitability. In addition, warranty claims are not covered

 

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by our product liability insurance. Any product liability or warranty issues may adversely affect our reputation as a manufacturer of safe, quality products and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our financial results may be adversely impacted by higher than expected tax rates, exposure to additional income tax liabilities and the adoption of new accounting pronouncements regarding income tax accounting.

Our effective tax rate is highly dependent upon the geographic composition of our earnings and tax regulations governing each region. We are subject to income taxes in multiple jurisdictions within the United States and Canada, and significant judgment is required to determine our tax liabilities. Our effective tax rate as well as the actual tax ultimately payable could be adversely affected by changes in the split of earnings between jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates, in the valuation of deferred tax assets, in tax laws or by material audit assessments, which could affect our profitability. In particular, the carrying value of deferred tax assets, which are predominantly in the United States, is dependent on our ability to generate future taxable income in the United States. In addition, the amount of income taxes we pay is subject to ongoing audits in various jurisdictions, and a material assessment by a governing tax authority could affect our profitability.

We adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (SFAS 109), on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized an adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits of $1.1 million, which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. In addition, at January 1, 2007 we reclassified $18.2 million from deferred taxes to other long-term liabilities. At December 31, 2007, we had $30.1 million of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $2.4 million would impact the effective tax rate at recognition.

The cost of complying with laws relating to the protection of the environment and worker safety may be significant.

We are subject to extensive, evolving and often increasingly stringent international, federal, state, provincial, municipal and local laws and regulations, such as those relating to the protection of human health and the environment, including those limiting the discharge of pollutants into the environment and those regulating the treatment, storage, disposal and remediation of, and exposure to, solid and hazardous wastes and hazardous materials. Certain environmental laws and regulations impose strict, joint and several liabilities on potentially responsible parties, including past and present owners and operators of sites, to clean up, or contribute to the cost of cleaning up sites at which hazardous wastes or materials were disposed or released. As such, we may be obligated to pay for greater than our share, or even all, of the liability involved, without regard to whether we knew of, or caused, such disposal or release. We are currently, and may in the future be, required to incur costs relating to the investigation or remediation of such sites, including sites where we have, or may have, disposed of our waste. See “Business—Regulation.”

We believe that we are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, many of which provide for substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations. Nonetheless, we expect to incur expenses to maintain such compliance and it is possible that more stringent environmental laws and regulations, or more vigorous enforcement or a new interpretation of existing laws and regulations, could require us to incur additional costs and penalties. Further, existing or future circumstances, such as the discovery of new or materially different environmental conditions, could cause us to incur additional costs that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are also subject to various laws and regulations relating to health and safety. In October 2004, we reached an agreement with OSHA to resolve certain matters identified during an OSHA inspection at our Houston Furnace and Cooling plants. We did not admit any violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or OSHA standards, but we did agree, among other things, to address certain issues identified by OSHA during its inspection and to pay OSHA a penalty of $277,000. We have paid the penalty and are currently conducting

 

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certain actions required by this settlement. We expect to make capital expenditures at these and other facilities to improve worker health and safety. Expenditures at these and any other facilities to assure compliance with OSHA standards could be significant, and we may become subject to additional liabilities relating to our facilities in the future. In addition, future inspections at these or other facilities may result in additional actions by OSHA.

Our products are also subject to international, federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations. We are required to maintain our products in compliance with applicable current laws and regulations, and any changes which affect our current or future products could have a negative impact on our business and could result in additional compliance costs.

Effective January 23, 2006, U.S. federal regulations mandated an increase in the minimum SEER from 10 to 13 for central air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured in the United States. On November 19, 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy issued new regulations increasing the minimum annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, for several types of residential furnaces. These regulations apply to furnaces manufactured for sale in the U.S. or imported into the U.S., on and after November 19, 2015. On December 19, 2007, federal legislation was enacted authorizing the U.S. Department of Energy to study the establishment of regional efficiency standards for furnaces and air conditioners. We anticipate that the U.S. Department of Energy will consider establishing regional standards for heating and air conditioners during future rulemaking. We have established processes that we believe will allow us to offer products that meet or exceed new standards in advance of implementation. The required efficiency levels for our products may be further increased in the future by the relevant regulatory authorities. Any future changes in required efficiency levels or other government regulations could adversely affect our industry and our business.

We also currently use a refrigerant that the EPA is in the process of phasing out. See “Business—Regulation.” To the extent that our competitors are not subject to EPA regulations or continue to use such refrigerants following completion of the EPA phase-out, we may suffer a competitive disadvantage.

Labor disputes with our employees could interrupt our operations and adversely affect our business.

We are a party to a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Affiliates that, as of December 31, 2007, represented approximately 21% of our employees. This agreement covers all hourly employees at our manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Tennessee and is scheduled to expire in December 2009. If we are unable to successfully negotiate acceptable terms with this union, our operating costs could increase as a result of higher wages or benefits paid to union members, or if we fail to reach an agreement with the union, our operations could be disrupted. Either event could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, there have been in the past, and may be in the future, attempts to unionize our non-union facilities. If employees at our non-union facilities unionize in the future, our operating costs could increase.

Our business operations could be significantly disrupted if we lose members of our management team.

Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our executive officers and key employees, both individually and as a group. For example, we have longstanding relationships with most of our independent distributors. In many cases, these relationships have been formed over a period of years through personal networks involving our key personnel. The loss of these personnel could potentially disrupt these longstanding relationships and adversely affect our business. We have employment-related agreements with 11 members of our senior management. Our future performance will be substantially dependent on our ability to retain and motivate our management. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers or key employees could prevent us from executing our business strategy. Charles A. Carroll, our chief executive officer and chairman of our and our Parent’s Board of Directors, has announced his intention to retire as our chief executive officer and is expected to retire as such as soon as a successor is hired. Mr. Carroll is expected to continue serving as chairman of our and our Parent’s Board of Directors.

 

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We may be adversely affected by any natural or man-made disruptions to our distribution and manufacturing facilities.

We are a manufacturing company that is heavily dependent on our manufacturing and distribution facilities in order to maintain our business and remain competitive. Any serious disruption to a significant portion of our distribution or manufacturing facilities resulting from fire, earthquake, weather-related events, an act of terrorism or any other cause could materially impair our ability to manufacture and distribute our products to customers. Moreover, we could incur significantly higher costs and longer lead times associated with manufacturing or distributing our products to our customers during the time that it takes for us to reopen or replace damaged facilities. Many of our facilities are located at or near Houston, Texas, which is in close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This region is particularly susceptible to natural disruptions, as evidenced by the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. If any of these events were to occur, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

If we are unable to access funds generated by our subsidiaries we may not be able to meet our financial obligations.

Because we conduct our operations through our subsidiaries, we depend on those entities for dividends, distributions and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our financial obligations. Legal and contractual restrictions in certain agreements governing current and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries, as well as the financial condition and operating requirements of our subsidiaries, may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. All of our subsidiaries are separate and independent legal entities and have no obligation whatsoever to pay any dividends, distributions or other payments to us.

Our business operations could be negatively impacted if we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights or if third parties claim that we are in violation of their intellectual property rights.

Our products are marketed primarily under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brand names and, as such, we are dependent on those brand names. Failure to protect these brand names and other intellectual property rights or prevent their unauthorized use by third parties could adversely affect our business. We seek to protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as licensing and confidentiality agreements. These protections may not be adequate to prevent competitors from copying or reverse engineering our products, or from developing and marketing products that are substantially equivalent to or superior to our own. In addition, we face the risk of claims that we are infringing third parties’ intellectual property rights. Any such claim, even if it is without merit, could be expensive and time-consuming; could cause us to cease making, using or selling certain products that incorporate the disputed intellectual property; could require us to redesign our products, if feasible; could divert management time and attention; and could require us to enter into costly royalty or licensing arrangements.

The interests of our controlling stockholder may differ from the interests of the holders of the notes.

As of February 13, 2008, Hellman & Friedman LLC (H&F) and its affiliates owned, in the aggregate, approximately 87.2% of Parent’s common stock and Parent indirectly owns all of our common stock. In addition, H&F and its affiliates, by virtue of their ownership of our Parent’s common stock and their voting rights under a stockholders agreement, control the vote, in connection with substantially all matters subject to Parent stockholder approval. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.” As a result of this ownership and the terms of a stockholders agreement, H&F is entitled to elect directors with majority voting power in our Parent’s Board of Directors, to appoint new management and to approve actions requiring the approval of the holders of our Parent’s outstanding voting shares as a single class, including adopting most amendments to our certificate of incorporation and approving mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our Parent’s assets. H&F, through its control of Parent and us, also controls all of our subsidiary guarantors.

 

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The interests of H&F and its affiliates may differ from yours in material respects. For example, if we encounter financial difficulties or are unable to pay our debts as they mature, the interests of H&F and its affiliates, as equity holders, might conflict with your interests as a note holder. H&F and its affiliates may also have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, financings or other transactions that, in its judgment, could enhance its equity investments, even though such transactions might involve risks to you as a note holder, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness. Additionally, the indenture governing the notes permits us to pay certain advisory fees, dividends or make other restricted payments under certain circumstances, and H&F may have an interest in our doing so.

H&F and its affiliates are in the business of making investments in companies and may, from time to time in the future, acquire interests in businesses that directly or indirectly compete with certain portions of our business or are suppliers or customers of ours. You should consider that the interests of H&F and its affiliates may differ from yours in material respects.

The requirements of publicly filing periodic and other reports in compliance with the federal securities laws may strain our resources and distract management.

Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we will be required to include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and our independent public accountants auditing our financial statements will be required to attest to and report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This requirement will first apply to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. If we are unable to conclude that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are effective, or if our independent public accounting firm is unable to provide us with an unqualified report as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in future years, the trading price of the notes may decline.

We may lose the right to use the Amana® brand name which may have an adverse effect on our business.

Under an agreement between the Amana Society and Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana Refrigeration, Inc. agreed that it would discontinue the use of the Amana® brand name in its corporate name or in connection with any other business enterprise if it were ever to abandon manufacturing operations in Amana, Iowa. Maytag Corporation purchased the Amana appliance business in July 2001 and now controls the manufacturing operations in Amana, Iowa. Subsequently, Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool Corporation in March 2006. We maintained the right to use the Amana name and trademark under a license agreement with Maytag. Prior to a cessation of such operation or following a decision by Maytag to not maintain trademark registrations for the Amana name, Maytag has agreed to consult with us and provide reasonable assistance to us so that we may register the Amana name as a trademark. However, we have no control over Maytag’s decision to continue operations at that facility, and if such operations are discontinued, it is possible that we could lose the right to use the Amana name in connection with our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements. In particular, statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance contained in this prospectus under the headings “Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements such as we believe that we have sufficient liquidity to fund our business operations for at least the next twelve months. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations about future events. While we believe these expectations are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements for various reasons, including those discussed in this prospectus under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations are:

 

   

changes in weather patterns and seasonal fluctuations;

 

   

changes in customer demand relating to the 13 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER, federally mandated minimum efficiency standards;

 

   

the maturation of our new company-operated distribution centers;

 

   

increased competition and technological changes and advances;

 

   

increases in the cost of raw materials and components;

 

   

our relations with our independent distributors; and

 

   

damage or injury caused by our products.

Although forward-looking statements reflect management’s good faith beliefs, they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions in the regions in which we do business; general industry conditions, including competition and product, raw material and energy prices; the realization of expected tax benefits; changes in exchange rates and currency values; capital expenditure requirements; access to capital markets and the risks and uncertainties described in “Risk Factors.” Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments.

 

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THE TRANSACTIONS

On October 21, 2007, Chill Holdings Inc. (which we refer to as Parent), Chill Acquisition, Inc., a subsidiary of Parent (which we refer to as Merger Sub), and Goodman Global, Inc. entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the Merger Agreement) pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. on February 13, 2008. These transactions are referred to in this prospectus as the Merger. Merger Sub was incorporated on October 15, 2007 (Inception) for the purpose of acquiring Goodman Global, Inc. and did not have any operations prior to February 13, 2008 other than in connection with the Goodman acquisition.

Effect of the Merger on Goodman Global, Inc. Common Stock. At the effective time of the Merger on February 13, 2008, each share of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than shares held in treasury by Goodman or any of its subsidiaries, owned by Merger Sub, Parent or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent or held by stockholders who were entitled to and who properly exercised appraisal rights under Delaware law) was converted into the right to receive $25.60 in cash, without interest.

Treatment of Goodman Global Inc. Stock Options and Restricted Stock. All options to acquire Goodman common stock issued pursuant to Goodman’s equity plans, whether or not vested, became fully vested as of the time immediately prior to the Merger and were cancelled and converted into cash payments, without interest, equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock subject to each option as of the effective time of the Merger multiplied by (2) the excess, if any, of $25.60 over the exercise price per share of common stock subject to such option (other than in the case of certain options held by members of our senior management who exchanged a portion of their vested options for new vested options in Parent). Immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of our restricted stock under Goodman Global, Inc.’s 2006 Incentive Award Plan vested in full and was converted into the right to receive the merger consideration at the effective time of the Merger, less any amounts required to be withheld or deducted under applicable tax laws.

Management Investment. As described below and in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” members of our management made $36.1 million of equity investments in the company through the acquisition of common stock of Parent. In addition, members of our management rolled certain existing Goodman Global, Inc. options into Parent options. Members of our management who made equity investments are referred to collectively in this prospectus as the Management Participants.

Equity Financing. Investment funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC invested approximately $1,114.7 million in equity securities of Parent in connection with the Merger. In addition, investment funds affiliated with GSO (the GSO Equity Entities), investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., (the Farallon Equity Entities) and investment funds affiliated with AlpInvest Partners (AlpInvest), along with certain other investors that the GSO Equity Entities syndicated their investments to (collectively, the Fund Co-Investors), invested approximately $127.5 million in equity securities of Parent in connection with the Merger. All of these investment funds are referred to in this prospectus as the Investors. Further, there were approximately $36.1 million of investments in equity securities of Parent through the acquisition of its common stock by the Management Participants.

Debt Tenders and Consent Solicitations. On January 10, 2008, we commenced cash tender offers to purchase Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.’s outstanding 7-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 ($400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding), and Floating Rate Notes due 2010 ($179.3 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) (together, the Existing Notes) and solicitations of consents from the holders of the Existing Notes with respect to amendments to the indentures governing the Existing Notes that would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants contained in the indentures and in the Existing Notes and also eliminate certain events of default, certain covenants relating to mergers and certain conditions to legal defeasance and covenant defeasance, but would not eliminate, among other things, certain repurchase obligations in respect of the Existing Notes. On January 24, 2008, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of

 

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each series of the Existing Notes had validly tendered, and not validly withdrawn, their Existing Notes and consented to, and not withdrawn their consents relating to, the amendments to the indentures with respect to the Existing Notes. On January 25, 2008, we executed the proposed amendments to the indentures for the Existing Notes, which amendments became operative immediately prior to the Merger. On February 13, 2008, we accepted the tenders and made payment to holders of the Existing Notes the tender offer consideration and consent payment, and called for redemption and deposited the redemption payment with the trustee in respect of untendered Existing Notes, and discharged the indentures governing the Existing Notes.

Reimbursement of Other Indebtedness. In addition, on February 13, 2008, we fully reimbursed the $76.1 million outstanding under our then-existing credit facility and $11.5 million outstanding under our then-existing revolving loan and swing note.

Debt Financing. On February 13, 2008, Merger Sub issued and sold $500.0 million of notes, which are the subject of the exchange offer for exchange notes described in this prospectus, and borrowed (1) $800.0 million under a new senior secured term credit agreement with Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, and (2) $105.0 million under a new asset-based revolving credit agreement with Barclays Capital and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto.

The Merger, the repurchase of the Existing Notes, the repayment of the existing credit facility, revolver and swing note and the fees and expenses relating to the Transactions, were financed by borrowings under Goodman’s new senior secured term credit agreement, Goodman’s new asset-based revolving credit agreement, the issuance of the notes, the equity investments and participations described above, as well as Goodman’s cash on hand at the closing of the Merger.

The initial offering of the notes, the initial borrowings under Goodman’s senior secured term credit agreement and asset-based revolving credit agreement, the tender offers and consent solicitations with respect to the Existing Notes, the reimbursement of Goodman’s then-existing credit facility, revolver and swing note, the equity investment and participations by the Investors and the Management Participants, the Merger and the other related transactions are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the Transactions. For a more complete description of the Transactions, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of Notes.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the exchange notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange a like principal amount of outstanding notes, the terms of which are identical in all material respects to the exchange notes. The outstanding notes surrendered in exchange for the exchange notes will be retired and canceled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the exchange notes will not result in any change in our capitalization.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2007, on a historical basis and on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions. The information in this table should be read in conjunction with “The Transactions,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Data,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of December 31, 2007
     Historical    Pro
Forma
     (in millions)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 19.0    $ 19.0
             

Debt:

     

Existing credit facility

     76.1      —  

Existing notes

     579.3      —  

Senior secured term credit agreement(1)

     —        800.0

Asset-based revolving credit agreement(2)

     —        105.0

13.50%/14.00% notes

     —        500.0
             

Total debt

     655.4      1,405.0

Shareholders’ equity

     622.1      1,278.2
             

Total capitalization

     1,277.5      2,683.2
             

 

(1) In connection with the Transactions, we entered into a senior secured term credit agreement with a six year maturity under which we borrowed an aggregate of $800.0 million in term loans.
(2) In connection with the Transactions, we entered into an asset-based revolving credit agreement with a seven year maturity which provided for revolving credit loans of up to $300.0 million, subject to borrowing base availability. In connection with the Transaction, we borrowed $105.0 million under this agreement.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA

The following unaudited pro forma condensed financial data has been developed by applying pro forma adjustments to the historical audited consolidated financial statements of Goodman Global, Inc., our predecessor, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2007. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on December 31, 2007.

The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data is presented for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data does not purport to represent what our results of operations or financial condition would have been had the Transactions actually occurred on the dates indicated and they do not purport to project our results of operations or financial condition for any future period or as of any future date. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the information contained in “The Transactions,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. All pro forma adjustments and their underlying assumptions are described more fully in the notes to our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Merger will be accounted for using purchase accounting. The final purchase price allocation is dependent on, among other things, the finalization of asset and liability valuations. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed the valuation studies necessary to estimate the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related allocation of purchase price. We have allocated the total estimated purchase price, calculated as described in the notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Data, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on preliminary estimates of their fair values. A final determination of these fair values will reflect our consideration of a final valuation prepared by third-party appraisers. This final valuation will be based on the actual net tangible and intangible assets that existed as of the closing of the Merger. Any final adjustment will change the allocations of purchase price, which could affect the fair value assigned to the assets and liabilities and could result in a material change to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, including a material change to amortizable intangible assets and goodwill.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

     Historical    Adjustments for
the Transactions
    Pro Forma
     (in thousands)
ASSETS        

Current assets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 18,955    $ —       $ 18,955

Restricted cash

     2,600      —         2,600

Receivables, net of allowance

     217,035      —         217,035

Inventories

     277,723      44,000      (a)     321,723

Deferred income taxes

     41,062      (16,940 )    (f)     24,122

Other current assets

     18,246      —         18,246
                     

Total current assets

     575,621      27,060       602,681

Property, plant and equipment, net

     159,395      38,722      (g)     198,117

Identifiable intangible assets

     398,707      386,293      (h)     785,000

Goodwill

     391,287      1,031,015      (i)     1,422,302

Deferred income taxes

     28,059      (28,059 )    (f)     —  

Deferred financing costs

     14,548      29,974      (j)     44,522
                     

Total assets

   $ 1,567,617    $ 1,485,005     $ 3,052,622
                     
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        

Current liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

   $ 104,438    $ —       $ 104,438

Accrued warranty

     39,669      —         39,669

Other accrued expenses

     92,040      —         92,040

Current portion of long-term debt

     3,500      4,500      (k)     8,000
                     

Total current liabilities

     239,647      4,500       244,147

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     651,925      713,075      (k)     1,365,000

Deferred income taxes

     —        111,289      (f)     111,289

Other long-term liabilities

     53,939      —         53,939
                     

Total liabilities

     945,511      828,864       1,774,375
                     

Total shareholders’ equity

     622,106      656,141      (l)     1,278,247
                     

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,567,617    $ 1,485,005     $ 3,052,622
                     

See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Data.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2007

 

     Historical     Adjustments for
the Transactions
    Pro Forma  
     (in thousands)  

Sales

   $ 1,935,690     $ —       $ 1,935,690  

Costs of goods sold

   $ 1,462,776       44,000      (a)     1,506,776  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     210,613       —         210,613  

Depreciation expense

     26,254       1,803      (b)     28,057  

Amortization expense

     8,865       11,051      (c)     19,916  
                        

Operating profit

     227,182       (56,854 )     170,328  

Interest expense

     68,378       101,636      (d)     170,014  

Other income

     (2,752 )     —         (2,752 )
                        

Earnings before income taxes

     161,556       (158,490 )     3,066  

Provision for income taxes

     60,177       (59,035 )    (e)     1,142  
                        

Net income

   $ 101,379     $ (99,455 )   $ 1,924  
                        

 

See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Data.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

(a) Represents the adjustment to record inventory at the estimated fair market value and the resulting impact to cost of goods sold as the inventory was sold in 2007.

 

(b) Represents the adjustment to reflect the depreciation resulting from the fair value adjustments to property, plant and equipment that were acquired.

 

(c) Represents the adjustment to reflect the amortization resulting from the fair value adjustments to the amortizable intangible assets that were acquired.

 

(d) Represents the incremental interest expense related to the incurrence of additional indebtedness consisting of $500.0 million of the outstanding notes, $800.0 million of term loans under the senior secured term credit agreement and $105.0 million of revolving credit loans under the asset-based revolving credit agreement. The adjustment assumes amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount of approximately $10.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively. Assuming a weighted average floating rate of 9.3%, a 0.125% increase in the floating rate would increase our interest expense on a pro forma basis for the year ended December 31, 2007 by $1.1 million.

 

(e) Reflects the estimated tax effect on the historical results of operations on a pro forma basis.

 

(f) Reflects net deferred tax assets resulting for the fair value adjustments.

 

(g) Represents the adjustment to record property, plant and equipment value as part of the Merger at their estimated fair value.

 

(h) Represents the adjustment to record the estimated fair value of identifiable intangible assets acquired in the Merger with an aggregate fair value in the amount of $785.0 million, based on preliminary valuations. The table below summarizes the intangible assets acquired:

 

Intangible asset

   Fair value
(in thousands)
   Useful life
(years)

Customer Relationships

   $ 530,000    40

Trade Names—Amana

     40,000    15

Trade Names—Other

     175,000    Indefinite

Technology

     40,000    10
         
   $ 785,000   
         

 

(i) Represents the amount of total consideration paid above the fair values of the net assets acquired.

 

(j) Represents an estimated $44.5 million in financing fees related to the Transactions less the elimination of approximately $14.5 million in deferred financing fees related to the historical debt that was eliminated at the date of the Merger.

 

(k) Represents the change in indebtedness that was incurred as a result of the Transactions consisting of $500.0 million of the outstanding notes, $800.0 million of term loans under the senior secured term credit agreement net of $32.0 million of original issue discount and $105.0 million of revolving credit loans under the asset-based revolving credit agreement.

 

(l) Represents the adjustment to eliminate the historical equity balance of our company, and to record the new equity issued as part of the Merger. Not included in the pro forma financial statements are approximately $78.5 million of expenses that were incurred as a result of the Transactions and are recorded in the predecessor company financial statements.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

Set forth below is summary historical consolidated financial data of our business, at the dates and for the periods indicated. The historical data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 have been derived from our audited historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Goodman Global, Inc., not included in this prospectus.

The summary historical consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The 2004 financial data is a combination of the previous transaction’s predecessor and successor statements disclosed in our consolidated financial statements.

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2003     2004     2005     2006   2007  
    (in thousands)  

Consolidated statement of operations data:

         

Sales, net(1)

  $ 1,192,671     $ 1,317,580     $ 1,565,406     $ 1,794,753   $ 1,935,690  

Cost of goods sold

    915,272       1,024,426       1,243,408       1,374,774     1,462,776  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    147,687       220,551       170,077       205,894     210,613  

Depreciation and amortization expense

    14,851       18,887       37,717       32,641     35,119  
                                     

Operating profit

    114,861       53,716       114,204       181,444     227,182  

Interest expense, net

    26,081       12,478       74,213       77,825     68,378  

Other (income) expense, net

    (331 )     (1,406 )     (706 )     5,264     (2,752 )

Earnings before income taxes

    89,111       42,644       40,697       98,355     161,556  

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    1,745       (5,049 )     15,817       34,188     60,177  
                                     

Net income

  $ 87,366     $ 47,693     $ 24,880     $ 64,167   $ 101,379  
                                     

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
    (in thousands, except for ratios)  

Consolidated balance sheet data:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 5,359     $ 3,856     $ 23,779     $ 11,569     $ 18,955  

Total assets

    615,558       1,544,595       1,621,537       1,623,971       1,567,617  

Total debt

    213,244       1,024,135       961,375       838,050       655,425  

Redeemable preferred stock

    —         225,000       225,570       —         —    

Shareholders’ equity

    150,279       102,719       107,815       521,085       622,106  

Statement of cash flows data:

         

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  $ 150,807     $ (18,558 )   $ 105,519     $ 53,724     $ 204,217  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (811 )     (1,477,622 )     (24,957 )     (39,343 )     (14,181 )

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (167,856 )     1,494,677       (60,639 )     (26,591 )     (182,650 )

Other financial data:

         

Capital expenditures

  $ 16,801     $ 27,772     $ 28,806     $ 39,383     $ 26,416  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2)

    4.2x       3.8x       1.5x       2.2x       3.2x  

 

(1) Sales are presented net of certain rebates paid to customers. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the notes to consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
(2) For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” represents income before taxes less capitalized interest, plus amortization of capitalized interest and fixed charges. “Fixed charges” include interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance costs), capitalized interest, and the portion of operating rental expense which management believes is representative of the interest component of rent expense.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition includes the predecessor periods prior to the consummation of the transactions. We refer to the operations of both the predecessor and the successor as ours, unless specifically stated otherwise. You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included above. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors.”

Overview

We participate in the HVAC industry. We are the second largest domestic manufacturer of residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning products based on unit sales. Founded in 1975 as a manufacturer of flexible duct, we expanded into the broader HVAC manufacturing market in 1982. Since then, we have expanded our product offerings and maintained our core competency of manufacturing high-quality products at low costs. Our growth and success can be attributed to our strategy of providing a quality, competitively priced product that is designed to be reliable and easy-to-install.

Acquisition by Chill Holdings, Inc. and Related Events

On October 21, 2007, Chill Holdings, Inc. (which we refer to as Parent), Chill Acquisition, Inc., a subsidiary of Parent (which we refer to as Merger Sub), and Goodman Global, Inc. entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the Merger Agreement) pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. on February 13, 2008. These transactions are referred to in this prospectus as the Merger. Merger Sub was incorporated on October 15, 2007 (Inception) for the purpose of acquiring Goodman Global, Inc. and did not have any operations prior to February 13, 2008 other than in connection with the Goodman acquisition. Chill Holdings, Inc., our Parent, is controlled by investment funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC, and other stockholders include investment funds affiliated with GSO, Farallon Capital Partners, and AlpInvest Partners, along with certain other investors that GSO syndicated their investments to, as well as certain members of management. For a more complete description of the Transactions, see “The Transactions,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of Notes.”

The Merger is being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the results of operations will be included in the consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date and are not reflected in our 2007 consolidated financial statements. Goodman has allocated the purchase price to the acquired assets and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair market value, considering a number of factors, including the use of an independent valuation firm. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The increase in basis of the assets will result in non-cash charges in future periods, principally related to the step-up in the value of inventory, property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The initial purchase price allocation made by Goodman is preliminary and subject to change for a period of one year following the acquisition.

2004 Transactions

On December 23, 2004, we were acquired by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P., our senior management and certain trusts associated with members of the Goodman family (the 2004 Transactions). In connection with the 2004 Transactions, the seller sold all of its equity interest in its subsidiaries as well as substantially all of its assets and liabilities for $1,477.5 million plus a working capital adjustment of $29.8 million. The 2004 Transactions were financed with the net proceeds of a private offering of senior unsecured notes, borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities and $477.5 million of equity contributions by affiliates of Apollo, the Goodman family trusts and certain members of senior management, which consisted of $225.0 million of our Series A Preferred Stock and $252.5 million of our common stock. As part of the equity contribution, the

 

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Goodman family trusts and members of senior management invested approximately $101.0 million and $18.2 million, respectively. In exchange for the equity contribution, affiliates of Apollo, the Goodman family trusts and certain members of our senior management received a combination of our common stock and our Series A Preferred Stock.

The 2004 Transactions were recorded as of December 23, 2004, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard, or “SFAS,” No. 141, Business Combinations, and Emerging Issues Task Force, or “EITF,” 88-16, Basis in Leveraged Buyout Transactions. As such, the acquired assets and assumed liabilities were recorded at fair value for the interests acquired and estimates of assumed liabilities by the new investors and at the carrying basis for continuing investors. The acquired assets and assumed liabilities were assigned new book values in the same proportion as the residual interests of the continuing investors and the new interests acquired by the new investors. Under EITF 88-16, we revalued the net assets at the acquisition date to the extent of the new investors’ ownership of 79%. The remaining 21% ownership was accounted for at the continuing investors’ carrying basis of the company. An adjustment of $144.6 million to record this effect was included as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. The excess of the purchase price over the historical basis of the net assets acquired was applied to adjust net assets to their fair market values to the extent of the new investors’ 79% ownership, with the remainder of $391.3 million allocated to goodwill. The increase in basis of the assets will result in non-cash charges in future periods, principally related to the step-up in the value of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

On April 11, 2006, Goodman Global, Inc. completed the initial public offering of its common stock. Goodman Global, Inc. offered 20.9 million shares and selling shareholders sold an additional 6.1 million shares, which included 3.5 million shares sold by selling shareholders pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Before expenses, Goodman Global, Inc. received proceeds of approximately $354.5 million. These proceeds were used to redeem all of Goodman Global, Inc.’s outstanding Series A Preferred Stock including associated accrued dividends, to satisfy a $16.0 million fee resulting from the termination of Goodman Global, Inc.’s management agreement with Apollo and to redeem $70.7 million of Goodman’s subsidiary’s floating rate notes. On February 13, 2008 in connection with the Transactions, Goodman Global, Inc.’s common stock was deregistered and its senior subordinated 7-7/8% notes due 2012 and its senior floating rates notes due 2012 were repurchased and redeemed, and Goodman Global, Inc. issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 13.5%/14.0% senior subordinated notes due 2016.

Markets and Sales Channels

We manufacture and market an extensive line of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products for the residential and light commercial markets primarily in the United States and Canada. These products include split-system air conditioners and heat pumps, gas furnaces, package units, air handlers, package terminal air conditioners, evaporator coils and accessories. Essentially all of our products are manufactured and assembled at facilities in Texas, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona, and are distributed through over 850 distribution points across North America.

Our products are manufactured and marketed primarily under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brand names. We position the Goodman® brand as a leading residential and light commercial HVAC brand in North America and as the preferred brand for quality HVAC equipment at low prices. Our premium Amana® branded products include enhanced features such as higher efficiency and quieter operation. The Amana brand is positioned as the “great American brand” that outlasts the rest, highlighting durability and long-life. Quietflex® branded products include flexible duct products that are used primarily in residential HVAC markets.

Our customer relationships include independent distributors, installing contractors or “dealers,” national homebuilders and other national accounts. We sell to dealers primarily through our network of independent distributors and company-operated distribution centers. We sell to some of our independent distribution channel under inventory consignment arrangements. We focus the majority of our marketing on dealers who install

 

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residential and light commercial HVAC products. We believe that the dealer is the key participant in a homeowner’s purchasing decision as the dealer is the primary contact for the end user. Given the strategic importance of the dealer, we remain committed to enhancing profitability for this segment of the supply chain while allowing our distributors to achieve their own profit goals. We believe the ongoing focus on the dealer creates loyalty and mutually beneficial relationships between distributors, dealers and us.

Weather, Seasonality and Business Mix

Weather patterns have historically impacted the demand for HVAC products. For example, hot weather in the spring season causes existing older units to fail earlier in the season, driving customers to accelerate replacement of a unit, which might otherwise be deferred in the case of a late season failure. Similarly, unseasonably mild weather diminishes customer demand for both commercial and residential HVAC replacement and repairs. Weather also impacts installation during periods of inclement weather as fewer units are installed due to dealers being delayed or forced to shut down their operations.

Although there is demand for our products throughout the year, in each of the past three years approximately 56% to 58% of our total sales occurred in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year. Our peak production occurs in the first and the second quarters in anticipation of our peak sales quarters.

We believe approximately 20 to 25% of our sales is for residential new construction, with the balance attributable to repair, retrofitting and replacement units. With the current downturn in residential new construction activity, we are seeing a decline in the products we sell into this market.

Costs

The principal elements of cost of goods sold in our manufacturing operations are component parts, raw materials, factory overhead, labor, transportation costs and warranty. The principal component parts, which, depending on the product, can approach up to 41% of our cost of goods sold, are compressors and motors. We believe that we have good relationships with quality component suppliers. The principal raw materials used in our processes are steel, copper and aluminum. In total, we spent over $302.7 million in 2007 on these raw materials and their cost variability can have a material impact on our results of operations. Shipping and handling costs associated with sales are recorded at the time of the sale. Warranty expense, which is also recorded at the time of sale, is estimated based on historical trends such as incident rates, replacement costs and other factors. We believe our warranty expense, which equaled 2.3% of our net sales in 2007, is less than or equal to the industry average.

In 2004 and 2005, our cost of goods sold reflects a short-term increase as a result of the purchase accounting treatment of the step-up in basis of inventory as a result of the 2004 Transactions. As a result of these adjustments to our asset basis, during the nine days following the Acquisition in 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2005, our cost of goods sold was increased by $4.4 million and $39.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, respectively, as we recognized the non-cash increase in our inventory value.

Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist of costs incurred to support our marketing, distribution, engineering, information systems, human resources, finance, purchasing, risk management, legal and tax functions. We have historically operated at relatively low levels of selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales compared to other large industry participants. Savings from this lean overhead structure allow us to offer an attractive value proposition to our distributors and support our low-priced philosophy throughout the distribution system. In 2004, our selling, general and administrative expenses were negatively affected by approximately $68.8 million of expenses related to the 2004 Transactions. In addition, in 2006, our selling, general and administrative expenses were negatively impacted by $16.1 million of transaction costs related to our April 2006 initial public offering.

 

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Depreciation expense is primarily impacted by capital expenditure levels. Prior to the 2004 Transactions, we used the double declining depreciation method for equipment, which results in higher depreciation expense in the early years of an asset’s life. Following the 2004 Transactions, equipment is depreciated on a straight line over the assets’ remaining useful lives. Under the rules of purchase accounting, in December 2004 we adjusted the value of our assets and liabilities to their respective estimated fair values, to the extent of the new investors’ ownership, with any excess of the purchase price over the fair market value of the net assets acquired allocated to goodwill. As a result of these adjustments to our asset basis, our depreciation and amortization expenses increased.

Interest expense, net consists of interest expense, interest income and gains or losses on the related interest rate derivative instruments. In addition, interest expense includes the amortization of the financing costs associated with the Transactions.

Other income, net consists of gains and losses on the disposals of assets and miscellaneous income or expenses.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Many of the estimates require us to make significant judgments and assumptions. Actual results could differ from our estimates and could have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows. We consider the estimates used to account for warranty liabilities, self-insurance reserves and contingencies, rebates and the impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill as our most significant judgments.

We base many of our assumptions on our historical experience, recent trends and forecasts. We develop our forecasts based upon current and historical operating performance, expected industry and market trends, and expected overall economic conditions. Our assumptions about future experience, cash flows and profitability require significant judgment since actual results have fluctuated in the past and are expected to continue to do so.

Warranties

We offer a variety of parts warranties on our products. Provisions for warranties are made at the time revenues are recognized. These reserves are based on estimations derived from historical failure rates, estimated service costs and historical trends. In addition, when new products are introduced, we consult with engineering, manufacturing and quality control personnel to determine the initial warranty expense. On a quarterly basis, we reevaluate the estimated liability related to the installed units still under warranty based on updated failure rates and will, at times, adjust our warranty reserve. We do not discount this liability when making this calculation.

We also sell extended service contracts for certain of our products with terms of up to 10 years. Revenues from extended warranty contracts are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the contracts. Expenses relating to obtaining and servicing these contracts are expensed as incurred.

Income taxes

The owner prior to the 2004 Transactions, and most of its subsidiaries, historically elected S corporation or partnership status for income tax purposes. Accordingly, most income prior to December 2004 was taxed directly to the previous owner’s shareholders. The previous owner typically made cash distributions to its shareholders to pay those taxes. Following the 2004 Transactions, we became taxable at the corporate level and we began recording an income tax obligation at a rate comparable to the federal and state statutory rates, which was approximately 38.5%. As a result of the 2004 Transactions, there was a significant step-up in the book basis of

 

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our assets. We believe that for a majority of the step-up in basis, we will receive tax deductions, significantly reducing our cash tax payments from what they would have been without such deductions. It is also expected that a substantial portion of the goodwill recorded in the 2004 acquisition will be deductible for income tax purposes.

At December 31, 2007, we had a valuation allowance of $3.5 million against certain net operating loss carryforwards. We believe that the remaining deferred tax assets at December 31, 2007, amounting to $84.7 million, are realizable through carrybacks, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and future taxable income. Uncertainties that affect the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets include the risk of not having future taxable income. These factors have been considered in determining the valuation allowances.

As noted below under the heading “Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” we adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. FIN 48 requires significant judgment in determining what constitutes an individual tax position as well as assessing the outcome of each tax position. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating our tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. Changes in judgment as to recognition or measurement of tax positions can materially affect the estimate of the effective tax rate and consequently, affect our operating results. The accounting treatment for recorded tax assets associated with our tax positions reflect our judgment that it is more likely than not that our positions will be respected and the recorded assets will be realized. However, if such positions are challenged, then, to the extent they are not sustained, the expected benefits of the recorded assets and tax positions will not be fully realized.

Self Insurance Reserves and Contingencies

We self-insure worker’s compensation, product liability, general liability, vehicle liability, group health and physical damage up to certain stop-loss amounts. We work with our claims administrator to estimate our self-insurance expenses and liabilities. The expense and liabilities are determined based on historical company claims information, as well as industry factors and trends in the level of such claims and payments. Our self-insurance reserves, calculated on an undiscounted basis, as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, represent the best estimate of the future payments to be made on incurred claims reported and unreported for 2007 and prior years. We maintain safety and injury prevention programs that are designed to improve the work environment, and as a result, reduce the incident rate and severity of our various self-insured risks. Actual payments for claims reserved may vary depending on various factors including the development and ultimate settlement of reported and unreported claims. Non-routine litigation and other uninsured contingencies require significant judgment and not all risks are insured.

Rebates and Advertising Co-op Expenditures

We offer multiple rebate programs to our national accounts, dealers and builders as inducement to encourage utilization of Goodman® and Amana® branded equipment across replacement and new construction markets. These rebates are part of our volume and new construction incentive programs. In addition, we offer a variety of rebate programs to our independent distributors to encourage distributors to pass on lower equipment costs to dealers in order to drive market share expansion.

Rebates are accrued based on sales. For certain rebates, the accrual rate is impacted by estimates of the customer’s ability to reach targeted purchase levels. Rebates paid or credited to independent distributors, dealers and homebuilders are netted against revenues in accordance with the provisions of EITF Number 01-9, Accounting for Consideration Given to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products).

Co-op marketing expenditures are funds reserved for cooperative marketing programs between us and our distributors. These expenditures are reflected in selling costs because they are based on an annual marketing plan whereby the distributor commits to spending the funds on marketing and advertising our products.

 

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Impairment of Long-lived Assets other than Intangibles

We conduct periodic reviews for idle and under-utilized equipment and facilities and review business plans for possible impairment implications. If an impairment were detected, these costs would be expensed in the same period. Historically, no significant impairment charges have been recorded.

Impairment of Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess cost of an acquired company over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount could be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at the reporting unit level, which is one level below the business segment level. Under the criteria set forth by SFAS No. 142, we have two reporting units based on the structure in place as of December 23, 2004. Goodwill was allocated to these reporting units based on the net assets acquired. An impairment charge generally would be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair market value of the reporting unit. We performed our annual test as of October 1, 2007 and determined that no impairment exists.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

The values assigned to amortizable intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for potential impairment. The estimated useful lives are based on an evaluation of the circumstances surrounding each asset, including an evaluation of events that may have occurred that would cause the useful life to be decreased. In the event the useful life would be considered to be shortened, or if the asset’s future value were deemed to be impaired, an appropriate amount would be charged to amortization expense. Future operating results and residual values could therefore reasonably differ from our current estimates and could require a provision for impairment in a future period. Indefinite lived intangible assets are reviewed in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and other Intangibles by comparison of the fair market value with its carrying amount.

The values assigned to our identifiable intangible assets were determined using the income approach, whereby the fair value of an asset is based on the present value of its estimated future economic benefits. This approach was considered appropriate, as the inherent value of these intangible assets is their ability to generate current and future income. The key assumption in using this approach is the identification of the revenue streams attributable to these assets based on budgeted future revenues.

At the time of the 2004 Transactions, we assigned a value of approximately $11.0 million to a particular renewable sales contract. During the fourth quarter of 2005, a decision was made not to renew this agreement before its expiration. As a result, the net balance of this intangible, approximately $10.3 million, was taken as a charge to the income statement in December 2005. We do not believe the expiration of the agreement had a material effect on us.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, as a percentage of net sales, our statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2005     2006     2007  

Consolidated statement of operation data:

      

Sales, net

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of goods sold

   79.4     76.6     75.6  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   10.9     11.5     10.9  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   2.4     1.8     1.8  
                  

Operating profit

   7.3     10.1     11.7  

Interest expense, net

   4.7     4.3     3.5  

Other (income) expense, net

   —       0.3     (0.1 )
                  

Earnings before taxes

   2.6     5.5     8.3  

Provision for income taxes

   1.0     1.9     3.1  
                  

Net income

   1.6     3.6     5.2  

December 31, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006

Sales, net. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $1,935.7 million, a $140.9 million, or 7.9%, increase from $1,794.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was primarily due to approximately 6% growth in sales volume and favorable product mix including the continued shift to higher priced, higher SEER cooling products. In addition, we benefited from our April 1 and October 1, 2006 price increases, which added approximately 2% to 2007 sales dollars as compared to the prior year. Our sales volume benefited from seven new company-operated distribution centers that were opened in 2006 and 13 in 2007 on a net basis, and the maturing of the 39 company-operated distribution centers opened in 2004 and 2005.

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2007, was $1,462.8 million, an $88.0 million, or 6.4%, increase from $1,374.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase primarily relates to higher sales volume and higher commodity costs associated with copper and aluminum. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales decreased from 76.6% for the year ended December 31, 2006 to 75.6% for the year ended December 31, 2007. This decrease in cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was due to cost-reducing product design modifications, increased productivity and efficiencies in our factories and the two price increases implemented in 2006, partially offset by higher commodity costs.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2007, were $210.6 million, a $4.7 million, or 2.3%, increase from $205.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expense were 10.9% and 11.5% for the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 included IPO-related expenses associated with the termination of the management agreement with Apollo and the acceleration of stock options totaling $16.1 million. Excluding these non-recurring IPO-related expenses, selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2007 increased in dollars and as a percentage of net sales from the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was primarily due to our continued investment in several of our key growth initiatives, increased incentive compensation expenses, and the additional costs of operating as a public company. These key growth initiatives included costs for expansion of our company-operated distribution network, including our sales manager training program and an increase in our dealer recruitment activities.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2007, were $35.1 million, a $2.5 million or 7.6% increase from $32.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase was primarily due to higher depreciation expense related to capital

 

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expenditures associated with the transition to the federally mandated 13 SEER minimum efficiency requirements and capacity expansion at our production facilities.

Operating profit. Operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2007, was $227.2 million, a $45.8 million, or 25.2%, increase from $181.4 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2006. Operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2006 was negatively impacted by the $16.1 million IPO-related expenses discussed above. In addition, operating profit increased during the year ended December 31, 2007, as compared to the prior year, due to higher gross profit as a result of the growth in sales volume with an increased proportion of sales from higher SEER products, the 2006 price increases, cost-reducing product design modifications and increased productivity and efficiencies in our factories, partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses, higher commodity costs and depreciation.

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2007, was $68.4 million, a decrease of $9.4 million or 12.1% from $77.8 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2006. Interest expense, net for 2006 included a $1.4 million premium paid for the early pay-down of debt and the acceleration of $2.3 million of deferred financing costs as the result of the early debt pay-down using a portion of the proceeds from our initial public offering. In addition, interest expense, net decreased due to the lower amount of debt outstanding and more interest income. The outstanding long-term debt balance as of December 31, 2007 was $655.4 million compared to $838.1 million as of December 31, 2006.

Other (income) expense, net. Other (income) expense for the year ended December 31, 2007, was $2.7 million of income, a net change of $8.0 million from $5.3 million of expense reported for the year ended December 31, 2006. The change in other (income) expense, net is primarily due to a $6.0 million charge taken in 2006 for unrealized losses resulting from the change in fair market value of some of our commodity derivatives that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and $2.0 million net gain from asset dispositions recognized in 2007.

Provision for income taxes. The income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2007, was $60.2 million, an increase of $26.0 million compared to the tax provision of $34.2 million for the same period in 2006. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 was 37.3% and 34.8%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate is due to the impact of recently enacted higher Texas state taxes, the effect of FIN 48, and the expiration of the 2006 benefits from the Extraterritorial Income Exclusion (the amount of extraterritorial income, gross income of the taxpayer attributable to foreign trading gross receipts, that is excluded from gross income for the tax year), net of the benefit of the increased Domestic Production Activities Deduction (the deduction from taxable income attributable to domestic production activities) for 2007.

December 31, 2006 compared to December 31, 2005

Sales, net. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006 were $1,794.8 million, a $229.4 million, or 14.7%, increase from $1,565.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Approximately 85% of the sales increase was driven by the shift to a higher proportion of higher priced 13-and-higher SEER products. As a result of the federal mandated 13 SEER efficiency that went into effect January 23, 2006, we experienced a shift to higher efficiency products beginning in the first quarter of 2006. The remainder of the sales increase was attributable to our April 1 and October 1, 2006 price increases. Our equipment volume was consistent with the prior year as the mild seasonal weather in the late summer and early winter and a second half slow down in residential new construction was offset by the contribution from new company-operated distribution centers that were opened in 2006 and 2005, seven and 17 respectively, and the maturing of the 22 company-operated distribution centers opened in 2004. Finally, the increase in the sales of our other non-equipment products was offset by the impact of unfavorable product line mix.

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $1,374.8 million, a $131.4 million, or 10.6%, increase from $1,243.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Cost of goods

 

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sold increased primarily due to a high sales mix of 13-and-higher SEER products, which have higher unit costs than lower SEER products, and an escalation in new material costs. In addition, 2005 was affected by the non-recurring, non-cash expense of $39.6 million as a result of the purchase accounting treatment of the step-up in basis of inventory. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales decreased from 79.4% for the year ended December 31, 2005 to 76.6% for the year ended December 31, 2006. Excluding the impact of the inventory valuation step-up, costs of goods sold as a percentage of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2005 was 76.9%, relatively consistent with the ratio for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2006, were $205.9 million, a $35.8 million, or 21.1%, increase from $170.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 were negatively affected by $16.1 million of expenses related to our April 1, 2006 initial public offering. These expenses consisted of costs associated with the termination of the management agreement with Apollo and the acceleration of stock options. Excluding the IPO related expenses, selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $19.7 million, or 11.6%. Selling, general and administrative expense for 2006 increased as a result of opening and operating new company-operated distribution centers and higher sales volumes. As a percentage of sales, excluding the IPO related expenses, selling, general and administrative expense in 2006 were 10.5% of net sales compared to 10.9% of net sales for 2005.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2006, were $32.6 million, a $5.1 million decrease from $37.7 million for the year ended December 30, 2005. Impacting 2005 was a $10.3 million impairment charge in the fourth quarter for the remaining value of a non-renewed sales contract. Excluding this charge, depreciation and amortization increased $5.2 million over the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to higher depreciation expense related to recent capital expenditures associated with the transition to the federal mandated 13 SEER minimum efficiency requirements and capacity expansion at our production facilities. Additionally, depreciation expense for the period increased as a result of the step-up in cost basis of the assets and resetting of asset lives in conjunction with the 2004 Transactions.

Operating profit. Operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $181.4 million, a $67.2 million, or 58.8%, increase from $114.2 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2005. Operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2005 was negatively impacted by the $39.6 million non-recurring, non-cash charge incurred in connection with the step-up in inventory basis, as described above. The remaining increase in operating profit was due primarily to higher revenues from the increased proportion of 13-and-higher SEER products sold and the price increases mentioned above, partially offset by higher selling, general, and administrative expenses, including $16.1 million of costs associated with our IPO, and higher cost of goods sold.

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $77.8 million, an increase of $3.6 million from $74.2 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2005. Interest expense, net was higher in 2006 due to the $1.4 million premium paid for the early pay-down of debt using a portion of the proceeds from our initial public offering. In addition, as a result of our debt pay-down, we accelerated the amortization of $3.9 million of deferred financing costs. Adding to the increase were higher interest rates on our floating rate debt outstanding. These increases were partially offset by lower outstanding revolving credit facility balances and interest earned on cash balances.

Other (income) expense, net. Other (income) expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 was expense of $5.3 million, a net change of $6.0 million from income of $0.7 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2005. This increase in other expense primarily represents the change in fair value of certain of our commodity derivatives that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

Provision for income taxes. The income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $34.2 million, an increase of $18.4 million compared to the tax provision of $15.8 million for the same period in 2005.

 

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The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 was 34.8% and 38.9%, respectively. The effective tax rate was lower primarily as a result of three items. First, recent federal legislative changes permitted us to take a deduction for qualified domestic production activity income. Second, we qualified and computed the exclusion of foreign sales income. Finally, the mix of sales, payroll, and property in the various jurisdictions favorably impacted our state tax rate.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of $19.0 million and working capital of $317.9 million, excluding current maturities of long-term debt of $3.5 million, and the ability to borrow $141.7 million under our prior revolving credit facility. Giving effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred, as of December 31, 2007, we would have had pro forma cash and cash equivalents of $19.0 million and pro forma working capital of $345.0 million, and $160.0 million in undrawn commitments under our new senior secured credit facilities, after giving effect to $35.0 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2008. We have funded, and expect to continue to fund, operations through cash flows generated by operating activities and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Operating activities

For the year ended December 31, 2007 we generated $204.2 million of cash from operations compared to $53.7 million and $105.5 million of cash generated from operations in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Cash flow from operations in 2007 increased due to higher net income as well as lower inventory levels resulting from improved production attainment, reduction in cooling SKU’s, improved order cycle times and higher sales, offset by an increase in accounts receivable. Cash flow from operations in 2006 was negatively impacted by higher inventory as a result of the industry shift to more costly 13-and-higher SEER products and increased commodity costs. Also affecting 2006 cash flow from operations were decreases in accounts payable offset by an increase in accounts receivable. Cash flow from operations in 2005 increased from 2004 primarily due to higher net income generated from our higher sales volume, partially offset by higher interest expense associated with the debt incurred in connection with our Transactions.

Investing activities

For the year ended December 31, 2007 cash used in investing activities was $14.2 million compared to $39.3 million and $25.0 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Capital expenditures totaled $26.4 million, $39.4 million and $28.8 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2007 were offset by the proceeds of $12.2 million primarily from the sale of three buildings and associated land used in our company operated distribution network.

Financing activities

In 2007, we used $182.7 million in cash from financing activities, compared to $26.6 million and $60.6 million in cash used in financing activities in 2006 and 2005, respectively. During 2007, we repaid $182.6 million of our long-term debt. In April of 2006 as a result of our initial public offering, we received proceeds of $354.5 million, redeemed $255.2 million of preferred stock and accrued dividends, and paid $2.5 million in transaction costs. Also during 2006, we repaid $123.3 million of our long-term debt. During 2005, we repaid $24.1 million on our revolving credit facility and made payments of $38.6 million on our long-term debt facility.

Our primary sources of liquidity will continue to be cash flow from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We expect that ongoing requirements for debt service and capital expenditures will be funded from these sources.

On December 31, 2007 we had $655.4 million of indebtedness incurred in connection with the 2004 Transactions outstanding (excluding approximately $33.3 million of letters of credit) and up to $141.7 million of additional debt available under our then-existing revolving credit facility, which was refinanced in connection with the Transactions.

 

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In connection with the 2004 Transactions, we issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our floating rate notes and $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our fixed rate notes and entered into the senior secured credit facilities consisting of a term loan in the principal amount of $350.0 million and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $175.0 million. As of December 31, 2007, we had no revolver borrowings outstanding and the ability to borrow up to $141.7 million of additional indebtedness under our revolving credit facility. The borrowings under the revolving credit facility were available to fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes. Borrowings under the term loan were due and payable in quarterly installments. The term loan amortization payments due before the stated maturity date were nominal.

On January 10, 2008, we commenced cash tender offers to purchase our outstanding $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of fixed rate notes outstanding and our $179.3 million aggregate principal amount of floating rate note outstanding (together, the Existing Notes) and solicitations of consents from the holders of the Existing Notes with respect to amendments to the indentures governing the Existing Notes that would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants contained in the indentures and in the Existing Notes and also eliminate certain events of default, certain covenants relating to mergers and certain conditions to legal defeasance and covenant defeasance, but would not eliminate, among other things, certain repurchase obligations in respect of the Existing Notes. On February 13, 2008, we accepted the tenders and made payment to holders of the Existing Notes the tender offer consideration and consent payment, and called for redemption and deposited the redemption payment with the trustee in respect of untendered Existing Notes, and discharged the indentures governing the Existing Notes. In addition, on February 13, 2008, we repaid the $76.1 million outstanding under our then-existing credit facility and $11.5 million outstanding under our then-existing revolving loan and swing note.

On February 13, 2008, Merger Sub issued and sold $500.0 million of notes, which are the subject of the exchange offer for exchange notes described in this prospectus, and borrowed (1) $800.0 million under a new senior secured term credit agreement with Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, and (2) $105.0 million under a new asset-based revolving credit agreement with Barclays Capital and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. See “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of the Notes” for a description of the terms of such financings.

The Merger, the repurchase of the Existing Notes, the repayment of the existing credit facility, revolver and swing note and the fees and expenses relating to the Transactions, were financed by borrowings under our new senior secured term credit agreement, our new asset-based revolving credit agreement, the issuance of the notes, as well as the equity investments described under “The Transactions” and Goodman’s cash on hand at the closing of the Merger.

For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, we spent $28.8 million, $39.4 million and $26.4 million, respectively, on capital expenditures primarily to enhance our products and information technology systems. In 2006, our existing production capacity was increased in certain areas to meet our current growth expectations, and tooling and modifications were required to prepare for the growth expected to result from the change in minimum SEER standards.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal of, to pay the interest on, or to refinance our indebtedness or to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

Based on our current level of operations, we believe that cash flow from operations and available cash, together with available borrowings under our asset-based revolving credit agreement, will be adequate to meet

 

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our short-term and long-term liquidity needs over the next 12 to 24 months. Our future liquidity requirements will be for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes.

As a holding company, our investments in our operating subsidiaries constitute substantially all of our operating assets. Consequently, our subsidiaries will conduct all of our consolidated operations and own substantially all of our operating assets. Our principal source of the cash we need to pay our obligations and to repay the principal amount of our obligations is the cash that our subsidiaries generate from their operations and their borrowings. Our subsidiaries are not obligated to make funds available to us. The terms of our senior secured credit facilities and our indentures governing the fixed rate notes and floating rate notes significantly restrict our subsidiaries from paying dividends and otherwise transferring assets to us. Our subsidiaries will be permitted under the terms of the senior credit facilities and our indentures governing the fixed rate notes and floating rate notes to incur additional indebtedness that may severely restrict or prohibit the making of distributions, the payment of dividends or the making of loans by such subsidiaries to us. If we consummate an acquisition, our debt service requirements could increase. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Financial Covenant Compliance

Under our new senior secured term credit agreement, we are required to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests, including a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum total leverage ratio. We will be required to be in compliance with such covenants under our senior secured term credit agreement beginning with our fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2008. In addition, under our new asset-based revolving credit agreement, we are required to satisfy and maintain, in certain circumstances, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those ratios and tests as required. A breach of any of these covenants would result in a default (which, if not cured, could mature into an event of default) and in certain cases an immediate event of default under our senior secured term credit agreement and our senior secured asset-based revolving credit agreement. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under such agreements, all amounts outstanding under such agreements could be declared to be (or could automatically become) immediately due and payable and all commitments to extend further credit could be terminated.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, is a non-GAAP financial measure used to determine our compliance with certain covenants contained in our senior secured term credit agreement and our asset-based revolving credit agreement. Covenant EBITDA represents EBITDA further adjusted to exclude unusual items and other adjustments permitted in calculating covenant compliance under our senior secured credit agreements. We believe that the presentation of Covenant EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors regarding our compliance with the financial covenants under such agreements. The breach of financial covenants in such agreements (i.e., those that require the maintenance of ratios based on Covenant EBITDA) would result in an event of default under such agreements, in which case the lenders could elect to declare all amounts borrowed thereunder due and payable. Any such acceleration would also result in a default under the indenture governing the notes. Additionally, under our debt agreements and instruments, our ability to engage in activities such as incurring additional indebtedness, making investments and paying dividends is also tied to ratios based on Covenant EBITDA.

Covenant EBITDA does not represent net income or cash flow from operations as those terms are defined by GAAP and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. While Covenant EBITDA and similar measures are frequently used as measures of operations and the ability to meet debt service requirements, these terms are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. Covenant EBITDA does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters that we may consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations. In particular, the definition of Covenant EBITDA in our senior secured term credit agreement and our asset-based revolving credit agreement allows us to add back certain non-cash, extraordinary, unusual or

 

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non-recurring charges that are deducted in calculating GAAP net income. Our senior secured term credit agreement requires that Covenant EBITDA be calculated for the most recent four fiscal quarters, and will be first tested at March 31, 2008. As a result, Covenant EBITDA can be disproportionately affected by a particularly strong or weak quarter and may not be comparable to Covenant EBITDA for any subsequent four-quarter period or any complete fiscal year.

The following is a reconciliation of net income, which is a GAAP measure of our operating results, to Covenant EBITDA as defined in our debt agreements and instruments.

 

     Year Ended December 31,    Pro Forma
Year Ended
December 31,
2007
     2005    2006    2007   
     (in millions)

Net income

   $ 24.9    $ 64.2    $ 101.4    $ 1.9

Add:

           

Provision for income taxes

     15.8      34.2      60.2      1.1

Interest expense, net

     74.2      77.8      68.8      170.0

Depreciation and amortization expense

     37.7      32.6      35.1      48.0
                           

EBITDA

     152.6      208.8      265.5      221.1

Add:

           

Inventory valuation step-up

     39.6      —        —        44.0

Transaction-related charges and expenses

     —        16.1      —        —  

Monitoring fees

     2.0      0.6      —        —  

Non-cash impairment charges

     —        —        1.0      1.0

Non-cash stock option expense

     —        —        2.1      2.1

Other non-cash expenses

     —        —        0.6      1.0
                           

Covenant EBITDA

   $ 194.2    $ 225.5    $ 269.2    $ 269.2
                           

Our covenant ratios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, on a pro forma basis, are as follows:

 

     Ratio

Senior secured credit facilities (1)

  

Minimum Covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense ratio

   1.76x

Maximum consolidated total debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio

   5.22x

Minimum Covenant EBITDA to fixed charges ratio

   1.0x

Senior subordinated notes (2)

  

Minimum Covenant EBITDA to fixed charges ratio required to incur additional indebtedness pursuant to ratio provision

   1.1x

 

(1)

Our senior secured term credit agreement requires us to maintain a Covenant EBITDA to interest expense ratio starting at a minimum of 1.55x for the one-quarter period ending March 31, 2008 and stepping up over time to 1.60x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, 1.80x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, 2.10x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010, 2.50x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, 3.20x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 and 4.15x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Interest expense is defined in the senior secured term credit agreement as consolidated cash interest expense less cash interest income and is further adjusted for certain non-cash interest expenses and other items. Again beginning with the one-quarter period ending March 31, 2008, we are also required to maintain a total debt to Covenant EBITDA ratio starting at a maximum of 6.80x and stepping down over time to 6.25x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, 5.75x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, 4.75x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010, 4.00x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, 3.10x by the end

 

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of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 and 2.40x by the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Total debt is defined in the senior secured term credit agreement as consolidated total debt other than certain indebtedness and is reduced by the amount of cash and cash equivalents on our balance sheet. In addition, our asset-based revolving credit agreement requires us to maintain a Covenant EBITDA to fixed charges ratio at a minimum of 1.00x when excess availability under the asset-based revolving credit agreement is less than $30.0 million. Fixed charges is defined in the asset-based revolving credit agreement as the sum of consolidated cash interest expense, scheduled payments of principal of indebtedness and cash dividends paid on any preferred or disqualified capital stock. Failure to satisfy these ratio requirements would constitute a default under the senior secured credit facilities. If our lenders failed to waive any such default, our repayment obligations under the senior secured credit facilities could be accelerated, which would also constitute a default under the indenture governing the notes.

(2) Our ability to incur additional indebtedness and make certain restricted payments under the indenture governing the notes, subject to specified exceptions, is tied to a Covenant EBITDA to fixed charges ratio of at least 2.0x, except that we may incur certain indebtedness and make certain restricted payments and certain permitted investments without regard to the ratio. Covenant EBITDA, as defined in the indenture governing the notes, is substantially similar to the definition of such term in the senior secured credit agreements. Fixed charges is defined in the indenture governing the notes as consolidated interest expense and tax-effected dividends payable on any preferred or disqualified capital stock, as adjusted for acquisitions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109 (SFAS 109). FIN 48 clarifies the application of SFAS 109 by defining criteria that an individual tax position must meet for any part of the benefit of that position to be recognized in the financial statements. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on the measurement, derecognition, classification and disclosure of tax positions, along with accounting for the related interest and penalties. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principal recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. We adopted the provisions of FIN 48, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (SFAS 109) on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized an adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits of $1.1 million which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. In addition, at January 1, 2007 we reclassified $18.2 million from deferred taxes to other long-term liabilities. At December 31, 2007 we have $30.1 million of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $2.4 million would impact the effective tax rate at recognition. Subject to future interpretations, we believe our unrecognized tax benefits will increase in future periods.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157 (SFAS 157), Fair Value Measurements, which addresses how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes under generally accepted accounting principles. As a result of SFAS 157 there is now a common definition of fair value to be used throughout GAAP. The FASB believes that the new standard will make the measurement of fair value more consistent and comparable and improve disclosures about those measures. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Management is currently evaluating the requirements of the standard and does not believe the impact will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159 (SFAS 159), The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which permits entities to elect to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. This election is irrevocable. SFAS 159 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of the standard and does not currently expect to elect the fair value option for any of its assets and therefore does not expect this standard to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table reflects our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2007 on a pro forma basis. Commercial commitments include lines of credit, guarantees and other potential cash outflows resulting from a contingent event that requires our performance pursuant to a funding commitment.

 

     Payments due by period
     Total    Less than 1    2 to 3    4 to 5    More than 5
     (in millions)

Term loans

   $ 800.0    $ 8.0    $ 16.0    $ 16.0    $ 760.0

Revolving credit loans

     105.0      —        —        —        105.0

13.50%/14.00% notes

     500.0      —        —        —        500.0

Operating leases

     101.0      25.0      39.4      21.1      15.5

Related party payments

     1.4      0.2      0.4      0.4      0.4

Interest payments

     932.3      107.4      263.6      261.2      300.1

Self insurance

     8.4      4.4      2.6      1.2      0.2

Pension payments

     16.0      1.2      2.6      2.9      9.3
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 2,464.1    $ 146.2    $ 324.6    $ 302.8    $ 1,690.5
                                  

Excluded from the foregoing contractual obligations table are open purchase orders at December 31, 2007 for raw materials and supplies used in the normal course of business, supply contracts with customers, distribution agreements and other contracts without express funding requirements.

Contingencies

Various claims, lawsuits and administrative proceedings with respect to commercial, product liability and environmental matters are pending or threatened against us and our subsidiaries arising from the ordinary course of business. We are also subject to various regulatory and compliance obligations.

Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities

As part of the equity contribution associated with the sale of the Amana Appliance business in July 2001, Goodman Global, Inc. agreed to indemnify Maytag for certain product liability, product warranty, and environmental claims. In light of these potential liabilities, Goodman purchased insurance that we expect will shield us from incurring material costs for such potential claims. Other than the matters disclosed in “Legal Proceedings” and in Note 11 to the notes to our audited financial statements included in this prospectus, Goodman does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks, which arise during the normal course of business from changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices. A discussion of our primary market risks are presented below.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to interest rate and related cash flow risk in connection with borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities totaling, on a pro forma basis, $905.0 million at December 31, 2007, net of our interest rate hedges. To reduce the risk associated with fluctuations in the interest rate of our floating rate debt, we intend to enter into hedging arrangements. Under these arrangements, we may pay a specified fixed interest rate and, if so, would expect to receive the variable rate applicable to the underlying debt. We expect the hedging arrangements to be designated as cash flow hedges of the underlying debt. The fair value of the hedges will be recorded in other assets or liabilities with a corresponding increase or decrease in other comprehensive income.

 

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For debt existing prior to the closing of the Transactions, we entered into interest rate swaps that effectively converted a portion of our variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. Under these swaps, we paid a specified fixed interest rate and received the variable rate applicable to the underlying debt. The interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges of the underlying debt. The fair value of the swap was recorded in other assets or liabilities with a corresponding increase or decrease in other comprehensive income. The cash flow hedge was 100% effective and therefore there was no effect on current earnings from hedge ineffectiveness. In February 2005, we entered into two interest rate hedges to offset our interest rate risk. We entered into a two-year hedge with a notional amount of $150.0 million and a three-year hedge with a notional amount of $100.0 million. During the first quarter of 2007, the interest rate swap with a notional amount of $150.0 million matured based on its terms and the interest rate swap with a notional amount of $100.0 million was scheduled to mature on February 10, 2008 based on its terms. The aggregate notional value (the value of the underlying debt) of interest rate swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 was $100.0 million and $250.0 million, respectively. Including that $100.0 million, as of December 31, 2007, approximately 24% of our $655.4 million total debt bore interest at variable rates based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). A 10% change in swap rates would have changed the fair market value of the interest rate swaps by an immaterial amount as of December 31, 2007 and approximately $0.5 million as of December 31, 2006.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

We conduct our business primarily in the United States. We have limited sales in Canada, which are transacted in Canadian dollars. Other export sales, primarily to Latin America and the Middle East, are transacted in United States dollars. Therefore, we have only minor exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Sales outside the United States have not exceeded 5% in any of the three years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 or 2007. Approximately 1% of our total assets are outside the United States. There has been minimal impact on our commodity costs operations due to currency fluctuations.

Commodity Price Risk

We are subject to price risk as it relates to our principal raw materials: copper, aluminum and steel. In 2007, we spent over $302.7 million on these raw materials compared to $357.0 million in 2006, with the decrease driven by lower commodity costs. Cost variability of raw materials can have a material impact on our results of operations. To enhance stability in the cost of major raw material commodities, such as copper and aluminum used in the manufacturing process, we have and may continue to enter into commodity derivative arrangements. Maturity dates of the contracts are scheduled to coincide with market purchases of the commodity. Cash proceeds or payments between the derivative counter-party and us at maturity of the contracts are recognized as an adjustment to the cost of the commodity purchased, to the extent the hedge is effective. Charges or credits resulting from ineffective hedges are recognized in income immediately. We generally do not enter commodity hedges extending beyond eighteen months. During 2006 and 2007, we entered into commodity hedges for both aluminum and copper. During 2007, we entered into swaps for a portion of our aluminum and copper supply which expire by December 31, 2008. The notional value of commodity swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $143.3 million and $87.1 million, respectively. The change in the notional value was due to the timing of when we entered into the underlying commodity swap agreements. A 10% change in the price of commodities hedged would change the fair value of the hedge contracts by approximately $6.9 million as of December 31, 2007 and $4.3 million at December 31, 2006.

We continue to monitor and evaluate the prices of our principal raw materials and may decide to enter into hedging contracts in the future.

 

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BUSINESS

Our History

Harold Goodman founded our business in 1975 with the intention to design and manufacture a product that would simplify the installation of central air conditioning. Our first product offering was flexible duct which offered several benefits over the standard metal duct that was predominantly used at the time. We expanded on the success of this initial product and entered the air conditioning equipment distribution business in 1980 and then the air conditioning equipment manufacturing business in 1982. Since our beginning, we have experienced rapid, mostly organic growth, yet maintained our core competency of manufacturing quality products at low costs that we believe provide a profitable and compelling value proposition for installing contractors, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as “dealers,” while allowing distributors to achieve their profit goals. In 1984, we began manufacturing heat pumps and introduced our first gas furnaces in 1985, light commercial package units in 1988 and commercial air conditioning products in 1990. In 1997, we acquired the appliance and HVAC manufacturing operations of Amana Refrigeration, Inc. from Raytheon Company. This acquisition provided us a line of premium branded appliance and HVAC products. An affiliate by common ownership controlled the brand name and the appliance operations of Amana. The non-HVAC operations of Amana were sold to Maytag Corporation in 2001. Charles Carroll became our President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2001 and has significantly expanded and enhanced our management team since joining us. Mr. Carroll assembled a management team that has over 110 years of industry and related experience. During the past five years, our management team has strengthened our balance sheet by reducing inventory, decreasing costs, improving productivity and increasing customer satisfaction and market share.

On December 23, 2004, Apollo Management, L.P., or “Apollo,” through its affiliate, Frio Holdings LLC, acquired our business from Goodman Global Holdings, Inc., a Texas corporation, and following a reorganization, we operated as Goodman Global, Inc.

On February 13, 2008, Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation formed on October 15, 2007, merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., with Goodman Global, Inc. as the surviving corporation, now a subsidiary of Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation formed on October 12, 2007 by affiliates of Hellman & Friedman LLC. See “The Transactions.”

General

We are the second largest domestic manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, products for residential and light commercial use based on unit sales. Our activities include engineering, manufacturing, assembling, marketing and distributing an extensive line of HVAC and related products. Our products are predominantly marketed under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brand names. The Goodman® brand is one of the leading HVAC brands in North America and caters to the large segment of the market that is price sensitive and desires reliable and low-cost climate comfort, while our premium Amana® brand includes enhanced features such as higher efficiency and quieter operation. The Quietflex® brand is a recognized brand of flexible duct.

We sell our products through a North American distribution network with more than 850 total distribution points comprised of approximately 150 company-operated distribution centers and over 700 independent distributor locations. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 60% of our net sales were made through company-operated distribution centers and our direct sales force with the remainder made through independent distributors. Our company-operated distribution centers in key states such as Texas, Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada provide us direct access to large and fast growing regions in North America and enable us to maintain a significant amount of market intelligence and control over how our products are distributed. Our independent distributors, many of which have multiple locations and most of which exclusively sell our products, enable us to more fully serve other major sales areas and complement our broad distribution

 

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network. We offer our independent distributors incentives to promote our brands, which allow them to provide dealers with our products at attractive prices while meeting their own profit targets. We believe that our growth is attributable to our strategy of providing quality, value-priced products through an extensive, growing and loyal distribution network.

We operate three manufacturing and assembly facilities in Houston, Texas, two in Tennessee, one in Arizona, and one in Florida, totaling approximately 2 million square feet. Since 1982, our unit volume sales and market share have grown to surpass all but one of our competitors in the residential and light commercial HVAC sector.

Industry

The U.S. residential and light commercial HVAC industry is estimated at approximately $8.3 billion in annual sales and approximately 8.2 million units shipped in 2007. The top five domestic manufacturers represent over 80% of unit sales. Overall, the industry is characterized by relatively stable long-term growth, a well-established, fragmented distribution system and significant challenges for new entrants. We believe the market shares of the large, incumbent industry participants have been relatively stable in recent years, although we have continued to gain market share.

Stable, Long-Term Industry Growth. On a unit basis, the HVAC industry has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 2.9% over the last 20 years, driven primarily by increased central air conditioning penetration in both existing and new homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006, the latest year for which statistics are available, 89% of new single-family homes completed were equipped with central air conditioning, up from 70% in 1985, and 91% of multi-family units completed were equipped with air conditioning, up from 88% in 1985. In the U.S. Census Bureau’s South Region, which accounted for 57% of housing units completed, air conditioning was installed in approximately 99% of new single-family homes. The U.S. Census Bureau reported 2.0 million privately-owned housing units were completed during 2006 and the percentage of homes completed with greater than 2,400 square feet increased to approximately 44% in 2006 from approximately 17% in 1985.

Prior to the 1980s, HVAC unit shipments were strongly correlated to new housing construction. As the overall housing base expanded due to increased new home sales and central air conditioning increased its penetration into homes, the HVAC industry became more driven by replacement demand. As older units within the large base of existing homes approach the end of their useful lives, they will need to be replaced by newer and more efficient models, creating a relatively stable base of demand for HVAC products. We estimate that replacement products currently account for approximately 70% of industry sales.

Highly Fragmented Customer Base. HVAC manufacturers sell to a highly fragmented two-tier distribution system, as no single distributor represents a large share of industry-wide HVAC sales. Additionally, the distributors’ customer base is a fragmented group of independent dealers across the country that buy HVAC units from distributors and install them for the ultimate end user. There is limited pricing transparency to the end user due to this tiered distribution system.

We believe that dealers become increasingly loyal as they become accustomed to the installation and service of a particular product and brand. Therefore, dealers prefer distributors that continue to carry a specific manufacturer’s product and prefer product lines that do not change dramatically so that retraining is not required. If a distributor changes the brand of products it carries, that distributor risks alienating dealers who have customized their operations to maximize their efficiency in sourcing and installing the discontinued brand. This distributor/dealer dynamic further encourages independent distributors to continue carrying a specific manufacturer’s products.

Significant Challenges for New Entrants. The HVAC industry is characterized by a fragmented distribution system, high switching costs for distributors and dealers and the need for sufficient production volume to

 

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generate economies of scale. Distributors and dealers are unlikely to switch manufacturers as a result of expenses associated with inventory stocking, marketing material and personnel training requirements. Distributors and dealers also value an established brand with an extensive history to ensure reliable warranty coverage for the end user. As manufacturers build scale, they benefit from a broader distribution network and more efficient manufacturing.

We believe domestic manufacturers represented over 90% of unit shipments in 2006, as competition from foreign manufacturers has remained limited. Foreign manufacturers are presented with logistical challenges, due to the expense of shipping HVAC products, as well as other business challenges resulting from differences in consumer preferences for single room HVAC systems abroad versus central systems domestically. Additionally, labor costs represent a small percentage of our total costs of goods sold, making it less economical to capitalize on overseas labor efficiencies, particularly given the added cost of transporting products from outside North America. While foreign competition is limited, HVAC manufacturers do source a significant amount of their components overseas which serves to reduce costs of goods sold and increase margins.

Products

We manufacture and market an extensive line of HVAC products for residential and light commercial use. These products include split-system air conditioners and heat pumps, gas furnaces, packaged units, air handlers, Package Terminal Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps, or “PTACs,” evaporator coils, flexible duct and accessories. Our products are predominantly marketed under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brands.

Our principal HVAC products are outlined in the following table and summarized below.

 

    

Size(1)

  

Efficiency(2)

Product line

     

Split systems:

     

Air conditioners

   1.5 to 10 Tons    13 to 18 SEER

Heat pumps

   1.5 to 10 Tons    13 to 18 SEER

Gas furnaces

   45,000–140,000 BTUH    80 to 96% AFUE

Packaged units(3):

     

Gas/electric

   2 to 10 Tons    13 to 15 SEER

Electric/electric (A/C)

   2 to 10 Tons    13 SEER

Electric/electric (heat pump)

   2 to 5 Tons    13 to 15 SEER

Air handlers

   1.5 to 5 Tons    NA

PTAC(3):

     

A/C & electric heat coil

   7,000 to 15,000 BTUH    9.5 to 12.8 EER

Heat pump

   7,000 to 15,000 BTUH    9.3 to 12.8 EER

Evaporator coils

   1.5 to 5 Tons    NA

Flexible duct

   3” to 22”    R–4.2, 6, 8

 

(1) Based on cooling tons of thousands of British Thermal Units Per Hour (BTUH). 12,000 BTUH = 1 ton.
(2) Measure of a product’s efficiency used to rate it comparatively and to calculate energy usage and cost: SEER—Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating; AFUE—Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency; EER—Energy Efficiency Rating. R-value is a comparative measure of thermal resistance used to quantify insulating properties.
(3) Products with commercial product characteristics and certain other products are not subject to the 13 SEER minimum efficiency standards.

Split-system air conditioners and heat pump units. A split-system air conditioner consists of an outdoor unit that contains a compressor and heat transfer coils and an indoor heat transfer unit with ducting to move air

 

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throughout the structure. A split-system heat pump is similar to a split-system air conditioner, but also includes a device that reverses the flow of refrigerant and thus heats when heating is required and cools when cooling is required.

Gas Furnaces. A gas furnace is typically used with a ducting system to heat indoor air. Furnaces use a natural gas-fueled burner and a heat exchanger to heat air and a blower to move the heated air throughout a structure through ducting.

Packaged units. A packaged unit consists of a condensing unit and an evaporator coil combined with a gas or electric heat source in a single, self-contained unit. It is typically placed outside of the structure on a ground slab or roof.

Air handlers. An air handler is a blower device used in connection with heating and cooling applications to move air throughout the indoor comfort control system.

Package terminal air conditioners. A PTAC is a single unit heating and air conditioning system used primarily in hotel and motel rooms, apartments, schools, assisted living facilities and hospitals.

Evaporator coils. An evaporator coil is a key component of the indoor section of a split-system air conditioner or heat pump unit. An evaporator coil is comprised of a heat transfer surface of copper tubes surrounded by aluminum fins in which compressed gas is permitted to expand and absorb heat, thereby cooling the air around it.

Other. Other products include flexible duct and other HVAC related products and accessories.

Distribution Network

We sell our products through a North American distribution network with more than 850 total distribution points comprised of approximately 150 company-operated distribution centers and over 700 independent distributor locations. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 60% of our net sales were made through company-operated distribution centers and our direct sales force while the remaining 40% of our net sales were made through our independent distributors. Our distribution strategy consists of maintaining broad geographic coverage and strong distributor and dealer relationships.

We operate company-operated distribution centers in key growth states such as Texas, Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada. This strategy provides us direct access to large and fast growing regions in North America and allows us to maintain a significant amount of control over the distribution of our products. Our company-operated distribution center network provides us with considerable operational flexibility by giving us (i) direct access to dealers which provides us continuous, real-time information regarding their preferences and needs, (ii) better control over inventory through direct information flow which allows us to market our full line of products in our company-operated distribution centers, (iii) the ability to manage margins at our discretion, (iv) an additional channel in which to conduct market tests of new products and (v) the ability to introduce new products broadly and quickly. Our company-operated distribution centers employ a low-cost distribution strategy to provide competitive pricing. Since the beginning of 2004 through December 31, 2007, we added 59 net new company-operated distribution centers across North America, resulting in an approximate 63% increase in our company-operated distribution center base. We expect to continue to seek opportunities to expand our company-operated distribution center footprint in targeted North American markets.

We regularly perform market analyses to determine new distribution locations based on whether a given market is either under-served or has poor independent distributor representation. Once an under-served or poorly represented market is identified, we evaluate whether to look for a new independent distributor, open a company-operated distribution center or acquire the under-performing independent distributors.

 

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We maintain an extensive independent distributor network, which provides us access to major sales areas not addressed by our company-operated distribution centers. We have maintained longstanding relationships with our leading distributors. We seek to effectively align the incentives of our independent distributors, while avoiding expensive brand marketing campaigns, through the following programs:

 

   

Mark-up Rebate Programs: We offer distributor rebates that are inversely related to the distributor’s markup, thus motivating distributors to meet certain pricing targets to the dealers. This program is structured to encourage distributors to pass on lower equipment costs to dealers in order to drive market share expansion while preserving the distributors’ margins. Through this program we are able to encourage low final prices of our products to the ultimate consumer.

 

   

Inventory Consignment: We provide inventory on consignment to many of our independent distributors. This strategy positions finished goods from our factories directly in the market to be sold as demand requires. Under the consignment program, we carry the cost of appropriate finished goods inventories until they are sold by the distributors, which substantially reduces their investment in inventory and allows us to more easily develop new distributor relationships. We also benefit from reduced warehousing costs.

 

   

New Dealer Program: We offer a program through which dealers tour our manufacturing and research facilities, are educated on our products, review our quality control process and meet with our engineers and management. This interaction allows us to provide visual reinforcement of the quality and care taken in the manufacture of our products. The program also provides us with the opportunity to garner direct feedback from dealers on end user receptivity to current products, as well as gauge the dealers’ interest in future products ahead of a broader product introduction.

Our independent distributor network provides us market access where we do not employ company-operated distribution centers. Independent distributors are typically selected and retained on the basis of (i) a demonstrated ability to meet or exceed performance targets, (ii) a solid financial position and (iii) operating with a low-cost structure and competitive pricing. Our selection process coupled with our incentive programs, which make switching costs high, has resulted in a low distributor turnover rate. Since the beginning of 2004, we added approximately 200 new independent distributor locations through the addition of new distributors or the expansion of existing distributors.

We also seek to broaden our customer base by developing new customer relationships with national homebuilders and further developing our customer relationships with large national and regional homebuilders. We believe these relationships will increase sales and continue to add credibility and visibility to our brand names and products.

Manufacturing

We operate three manufacturing and assembly facilities in Houston, Texas, two in Tennessee, one in Arizona and one in Florida, totaling approximately two million square feet. At all of our manufacturing facilities, we focus on low-cost production techniques and technology to continually reduce manufacturing costs while improving product quality. Our low-cost design is one of the key drivers of our value proposition. We believe we have sufficient capacity to achieve our business goals for the foreseeable future without the need for further expansion.

Our manufacturing process strategy is to minimize raw materials, component and in-process inventory levels. To achieve this goal, we have standardized many of the production components (e.g., heat exchangers, compressors and coils), which enables us to quickly retool our facilities in order to meet the demand for various products. In addition, we employ a demand flow manufacturing process which coordinates the production of each component thereby reducing raw materials and in-process inventories. We utilize a mix of automated and manual processes to help ensure efficiency and lower costs.

 

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Given the high level of industry competitiveness, product quality is key to maintaining a leading market position. The quality assurance process begins with the supplier. Incoming supply shipments are tested to ensure procured items meet engineering specifications. Purchased components are tested for quality before they enter production lines and are continuously tested as they progress through the manufacturing process. During fabrication, several audits are performed to ensure a quality product and process. We test paint application, electrical integrity, leak status, and controls in addition to conducting run tests under normal and moisture controlled conditions. In order to further monitor product quality, each manufactured finished good includes a customer questionnaire card bearing two quality inspection stamps or signatures. The installing dealer generally completes the questionnaire cards. Accompanying each product are parts warranties that provide terms which generally last longer than do those of our competitors.

We operate two logistics centers, the Houston Logistics Center (a freestanding center) and the Fayetteville Center (a logistics center in the Fayetteville, Tennessee facility). The manufacturing plants feed finished products into these two logistics centers for deployment into the distribution channels. As the distribution network provides point of sale information, these logistics centers deploy products into the marketplace as demand dictates. The Quietflex® branded product is distributed to customers from Quietflex-related manufacturing and assembly facilities located in Houston, Texas, Phoenix, Arizona, Groveland, Florida and Dayton, Tennessee.

Raw Materials and Purchased Components

We purchase most of our components, such as compressors, motors, capacitors, valves and control systems, from third-party suppliers. In order to maintain low input costs, we also manufacture select components when it is deemed cost effective. We also manufacture heat transfer surfaces and heat exchangers for our units.

Our primary raw materials are steel, copper and aluminum, all of which are purchased from third parties. In 2007, we spent over $302.7 million on these raw materials, compared to $357.0 million in 2006, with the decrease driven by lower commodity costs. Cost variability of raw materials can have a material impact on our results of operations. Despite rising raw material prices since 2004, we believe that our manufacturing efficiencies result in unit costs that compare favorably to those of our competitors. We expect to benefit if raw material prices decline from their current levels which are high compared to historical averages. To help address increases in commodity costs in addition to price increases implemented in September 2004 and January 2005, we announced price increases effective April 1, 2006 and October 1, 2006. The realized price increases in 2006 added approximately 3% to our revenue base.

In order to enhance raw material price stability, we monitor principal raw material prices and strategically enter into commodity forward contracts and hedges for the purchase of certain raw materials. We entered into commodity hedges for both aluminum and copper for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the notional value of which substantially increased in 2007. Our procurement initiatives include leveraging our buying power on a global basis to improve purchasing efficiency, reducing the number of suppliers and improving supplier logistics. While we typically concentrate our purchases for a particular material or component with one or two suppliers, alternative suppliers are available and have been identified if we need to procure key raw materials and components.

Where feasible, we solicit bids for our material and component needs from multiple suppliers. Supplier selection is based primarily on cost, quality and delivery requirements. For example, as part of our process in selecting suppliers, we test the supplier’s products to ensure compliance with our specifications and strict quality guidelines. After selecting suppliers, we execute short- and long-term agreements by which we seek to ensure availability and delivery of requisite supplies. As products arrive at our facilities, they are randomly tested to ensure continued compliance with our strict specifications and quality guidelines. We also work with suppliers to develop effective components with lower part counts and easier assembly, resulting in improved quality and reduced costs. We cooperate with suppliers to identify opportunities to substitute lower-cost materials without compromising quality, durability or safety.

 

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In 2007, our top ten suppliers accounted for approximately 69% of our supply expenditures. We believe we have strong and longstanding relationships with many of our suppliers.

Sales and Marketing

Our strategy is to maintain a lean sales and marketing staff, focused primarily on traditional products, in order to derive the greatest value from our marketing budget while minimizing overhead costs. Our longstanding distributor relationships, low turnover rates and company-operated distribution center footprint allow us to implement our sales and marketing strategy with a modest corporate staff. Our corporate sales and marketing staff monitors market information, develops programming and provides distributors with the promotional materials they need to sell our products. We review the need for additional sales and marketing staff as business opportunities arise.

Our primary HVAC products are marketed under the Goodman®, Amana® and Quietflex® brand names. Our Goodman® branded products cater to the large segment of the market that is price sensitive and desires reliable and low cost comfort. We position the Goodman® brand as the top selling residential and light commercial HVAC brand in North America and as the preferred brand for quality HVAC equipment at low prices. Our premium Amana® branded products include enhanced features such as higher efficiency and quieter operation and generally longer warranties. The Amana brand is positioned as the “great American brand” that outlasts the rest, highlighting durability and long-life. The Quietflex® brand is a recognized brand of flexible duct. Our products and brands are marketed for their quality, low cost, ease of installation, superior warranty and reliability.

Weather and Seasonality

Weather patterns have historically impacted the demand for HVAC products. For example, hot weather in the spring season causes existing older units to fail earlier in the season, driving customers to accelerate replacement of a unit, which might otherwise be deferred in the case of a late season failure. Similarly, unseasonably mild weather diminishes customer demand for both commercial and residential HVAC replacement and repairs. Weather also impacts installation during periods of inclement weather as fewer units are installed due to dealers being delayed or forced to shut down their operations.

Although there is demand for our products throughout the year, in each of the past three years approximately 56% to 58% of our total sales occurred in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year. Our peak production occurs in the first and the second quarters in anticipation of our peak sales quarters.

Customers

Our customers consist primarily of (1) distributors who supply independent dealers who install our products for the ultimate end user and (2) independent dealers when selling through our company-operated distribution centers. We also sell PTAC products directly to the light commercial sector, including hotels, motels and assisted living facilities.

We have a diverse and fragmented customer base in key regions throughout the United States. In 2007, no independent distributor accounted for more than 10% of our net sales. We believe the loss of any single distributor would not have a material effect on our business and operations. Our top ten independent distributors accounted for approximately 30% of our net sales in 2007. Our sales, marketing and distribution strategy focuses on keeping prices low to the dealer, while allowing distributors to achieve their profit goals.

 

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Research and Development

We maintain an engineering and research and development staff whose duties include testing and improving existing product lines and developing new products. Company-sponsored research and development expense was $8.8 million, $8.8 million and $9.1 million for the years ended December 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Research and development is conducted at our facilities in Houston, Texas, Fayetteville, Tennessee and Dayton, Tennessee. Research and development is focused on maintaining product competitiveness by improving the cost of manufacture, safety characteristics, reliability and performance while ensuring compliance with governmental standards. The engineering staff focuses its cost reduction efforts on standardization, size and weight reduction, the application of new technology and improving production techniques. Our engineering staff maintains close contact with marketing and manufacturing personnel to ensure that their efforts are in line with market trends and are compatible with manufacturing processes.

Information Systems

We use software packages from major publishers to support business operations: MAPICS for manufacturing, order processing, payroll and finance; PkMS for logistics center operation; Kronos for time and attendance reporting; and Mincron for company-operated distribution operations. The major business systems operate on an IBM AS/400 computer. In recent years, we have improved our systems by installing the current version of MAPICS to improve service and data accuracy, converting Quietflex operations to use MAPICS, implementing a bar code-based control system at our Houston Logistics Center and Fayetteville Logistics Center, and completing the installation of Mincron into our company-operated distribution centers. Our company-operated distribution centers provide us with significant, real-time information that allows us to monitor the trends in our business and to rapidly respond to changes in the markets we serve to capitalize on potential growth opportunities. We developed and use a custom application system that computes optimal replenishment quantities of equipment and parts into our company-operated distribution centers.

Independent distributors make use of our systems through Internet-based portals. This service gives distributors access to data, such as replacement part lists, and systems, such as the consigned inventory accounting function. Consumers make use of our Internet-based systems to obtain general and product-specific information and register products for warranty coverage. We also link our systems with those of our suppliers in order to manage the procurement of materials on a real-time basis. Each night, the programs recalculate component requirements, allowing faster notification of schedule changes to suppliers which greatly reduces our working capital requirements.

Competition

The production and sale of HVAC equipment by manufacturers is highly competitive. HVAC manufacturers primarily compete on the basis of price, depth of product line, product efficiency and reliability, product availability and warranty coverage. According to industry sources, the top five domestic manufacturers represented over 80% of the unit sales in the United States residential and light commercial HVAC market in 2006. Based on unit sales, we are the second-largest domestic manufacturer of HVAC equipment for residential and light commercial use. Our four largest competitors in this market are Carrier Corporation (a division of United Technologies Corporation), Trane Inc., Lennox International, Inc. and Rheem Manufacturing Company. A number of factors affect competition in the HVAC market, including the development and application of new technologies and an increasing emphasis on the development of more efficient HVAC products. In addition, new product introductions are an important factor in the market categories in which our products compete. Some of our competitors are large and have significantly greater financial, marketing and technical resources than we do. Although we believe we have been able to compete successfully in our markets to date, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.

 

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Patents and Trademarks

We hold a number of patents relating to the design and manufacture of our heating and air conditioning products. We generally endeavor to obtain patent protection for technology that we develop and will enforce such protection as appropriate. Our existing patents generally expire between 2009 and 2014. In connection with the marketing of our products, we have obtained trademark protection for all of our brand names. The trademark registration for these names have an initial term of 10 years, which are renewable for additional 10-year terms so long as the names are still being used by us for the purpose for which they were registered. We have a license to use the Amana brand name and related trademark in connection with our HVAC business. The Amana trademark is controlled by Whirlpool Corporation (subsequent to its acquisition of Maytag) which markets appliances under the Amana brand name. As part of the sale of the Amana appliance business to Maytag in 2001, we entered into a trademark license agreement with Maytag. The trademark license agreement expires in July 2011, with renewal terms available for a total of an additional 15 years. In addition, we possess a wide array of proprietary technology and know-how. We believe that our patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and other proprietary rights are important to the development and conduct of our business as well as the marketing of our products. We vigorously protect these rights.

Employees

As of December 31, 2007, we had 4,852 full-time employees (3,835 hourly and 1,017 salaried employees). Of those, 3,162 employees were directly involved in manufacturing processes (assembly, fabrication, maintenance, quality assurance and forklift operations) at our seven manufacturing and assembly facilities. Our only unionized workforce is at our Fayetteville, Tennessee manufacturing facility, which we acquired with the 1997 acquisition of Amana. The 1,014 Fayetteville hourly employees are represented by the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers. Although the Fayetteville facility has been unionized since the 1960s, there have been no work stoppages or strikes at the plant since 1978. The current contract will expire on December 5, 2009. We believe we have good relations with our employees.

Regulation

We are subject to extensive, evolving and often increasingly stringent international, federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations.

Environmental Refrigeration Regulation. In 1987, the United States became a signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Montreal Protocol addresses the use of certain ozone depleting substances, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or “HCFCs,” a refrigerant commonly used for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act implement the Montreal Protocol and have been used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or “EPA,” to accelerate the phase-out of HCFCs between 2010 and 2020.

The EPA is authorized under the Clean Air Act to promulgate regulations to accelerate the statutory phase-out schedule for any Class II substance, which includes HCFC-22. Various groups have proposed that the EPA phase-out Class II substances, including HCFC-22, substantially earlier than under the schedule provided by the Clean Air Act. It is uncertain whether the EPA will take action to accelerate the phase-out of HCFC-22.

Some cooling products that we manufacture contain HCFC-22. This refrigerant is sealed inside the condensing unit or evaporator coil and is expected to remain within the unit throughout the operating life of the system without leakage to the atmosphere. We believe that our operations materially comply with all current EPA regulations relating to refrigerants. In addition, we do not believe that either the Clean Air Act and its HCFC implementing regulations as currently in effect or any reasonably anticipated accelerated phase-out of HCFC-22 will have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We currently use a substitute refrigerant in some of our air conditioning and heat pump products. This substitute refrigerant, HFC-410A, is a mixture of hydrofluorocarbons that the EPA has determined do not

 

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contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and therefore are not subject to phase-out mandates. We manufacture and sell some of our air conditioning and heat pump equipment incorporating the HFC-410A refrigerant, and have done so for over five years. Equipment using the new refrigerant requires higher pressure compressors, larger condensing and evaporative areas, and seals resistant to the mixture. Although we are unable to predict the full extent of modifications that may be necessary to our manufacturing processes or the costs associated with the use of alternative refrigerants as we transform all manufacturing lines to make products using HFC-410A refrigerant by 2010, we do not expect that either will have a material adverse effect on us or the industry unless the phase-out is accelerated more rapidly than is currently anticipated under the Clean Air Act.

Efficiency Standards. We are subject to international, federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations concerning the energy efficiency of our products, including, among others, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, as amended, or “NAECA,” the Canadian Energy Efficiency Act and regulations promulgated under these acts. Energy efficiency in air conditioning products is measured by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. A higher SEER indicates a lower amount of energy is required for the same amount of cooling capacity. Typical systems range from 10 SEER to 23 SEER, with 14 SEER and higher considered to be premium efficiency systems. Effective January 23, 2006, the U.S. federal minimum efficiency standard for central air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured in the United States increased from 10 SEER to 13 SEER under NAECA, a change we actively supported. We believe such a standard is beneficial to the environment and that our value oriented cost structure and manufacturing expertise has allowed us to capture additional market share as a result of this change. On November 19, 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy issued new regulations increasing the minimum annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, for several types of residential furnaces. These regulations apply to furnaces manufactured for sale in the U.S. or imported into the U.S., on and after November 19, 2015. On December 19, 2007, federal legislation was enacted authorizing the U.S. Department of Energy to study the establishment of regional efficiency standards for furnaces and air conditioners. We anticipate that the U.S. Department of Energy will consider establishing regional standards for heating and air conditioners during future rulemakings. We have established processes that we believe will allow us to offer products that meet or exceed new standards in advance of implementation.

Other Environmental, Health and Safety Matters. We are subject to extensive, evolving and often increasingly stringent international, federal, state, provincial and local environmental and health and safety laws and regulations, including, among others, NAECA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Canadian Energy Efficiency Act, and regulations promulgated under these acts. Many of these laws and regulations relate to the protection of human health and the environment, including those limiting the discharge of pollutants into the environment and those regulating the treatment, storage or disposal and remediation of releases of, and exposure to, hazardous wastes and hazardous materials. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, many of which provide for substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations. Certain environmental laws and regulations impose strict, joint and several liability on potentially responsible parties, including past and present owners and operators of sites, to clean up, or contribute to the cost of cleaning up sites at which hazardous wastes or materials were disposed or released. As such, we may be obligated to pay for greater than our share, or even all, of the liability involved, without regard to whether we knew of, or caused, such disposal or release. We are currently, and may in the future be, required to incur costs relating to the investigation or remediation of such sites, including sites where we have, or may have, disposed of our waste.

As required by a March 15, 2001 Consent Order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, or “FDEP,” Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc., or “GDI Southeast,” our wholly-owned subsidiary, is investigating and pursuing, under FDEP oversight, the delineation of groundwater contamination at and around the GDI Southeast facility in Fort Pierce, Florida. Remediation has not yet begun. The ultimate cost for this remediation cannot be predicted with certainty due to the variables relating to the contamination and the appropriate remediation methodology, the evolving nature of remediation technologies and governmental

 

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regulations, and the inability to determine the extent to which contribution will be available from other parties, all of which factors are taken into account to the extent possible in estimating potential liability. We have reserved approximately $0.7 million as of December 31, 2007, for this matter. It is reasonably possible that the costs could substantially exceed this amount, although we do not believe that this matter is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition, or results of operation.

We believe that this contamination predated GDI Southeast’s involvement with the Fort Pierce facility and that GDI Southeast has not caused or contributed to the contamination. Accordingly, the Company is pursuing litigation against former owners of the Fort Pierce facility in an attempt to recover its costs. At this time, we cannot estimate probable recoveries from this litigation.

We are also subject to various laws and regulations relating to worker health and safety. For example, in 2004, we entered into an agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or “OSHA,” pursuant to which we are conducting certain corrective actions identified during an OSHA inspection of two of our facilities and paid a $277,000 penalty. We have paid the penalty and are currently conducting certain actions required by this settlement. We expect to make capital expenditures at these and other facilities to improve worker health and safety. Expenditures at these and any other facilities to assure compliance with OSHA standards could be significant, and we may become subject to additional liabilities relating to our facilities in the future. In addition, future inspections at these or other facilities may result in additional actions by OSHA.

Although we do expect to incur expenses related to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, based on information presently known to us, we believe that the future cost of complying with such laws and regulations and any liabilities associated with environmental, health and safety obligations will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation. However, we cannot assure you that future events, including new or stricter environmental or health and safety laws and regulations, related damage or penalty claims, the discovery of previously unknown environmental or health and safety conditions requiring investigation or remediation, or more vigorous enforcement or a new interpretation of existing environmental or health and safety laws and regulations, would not require us to incur additional costs that could be material.

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. One of our subsidiaries, AsureCare Corp., a Florida corporation, is licensed as a service warranty association and regulated by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. As a Florida-domestic service warranty association, AsureCare Corp. is subject to regulation as a specialty insurer under certain provisions of the Florida Insurance Code. Under applicable Florida law, no person can acquire, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the voting securities of a service warranty association or its controlling company, including Goodman Global, Inc., without the written approval of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Accordingly, any person who acquires, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our common stock, must first file an application to acquire control of a specialty insurer or its controlling company, and obtain the prior written approval of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The application must be filed with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation no later than five days after any form of tender offer or exchange offer is proposed, or no later than five days after the acquisition of securities or ownership interest if no tender offer or exchange offer is involved.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation may disapprove an acquisition of beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our voting securities by any person who refuses to apply for and obtain regulatory approval of such acquisition. In addition, if the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation determines that any person has acquired 10% or more of our voting securities without complying with the applicable suitability provisions, it may order that person to cease the acquisition and divest itself of any shares of such voting securities which may have been acquired in violation of the applicable Florida law. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation may also take disciplinary action against AsureCare Corp.’s license if it finds that an acquisition made in violation of the applicable Florida law would render the further transaction of its business hazardous to its customers, creditors, stockholders or the public.

 

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Properties

As of December 31, 2007, we owned four manufacturing facilities, one research and development facility and eight Company-operated distribution facilities. We also leased three manufacturing and assembly facilities, two distribution/logistics facilities, 144 Company-operated distribution facilities and one office location. From time to time, we also lease temporary warehouse space when required due to manufacturing cycles. We believe that our facilities are suitable for their present and intended purposes and are adequate for our current and expected level of operations. We do not anticipate any significant difficulties in renewing or relocating our leased facilities as our leases expire.

Our headquarters and material operating, manufacturing and distribution facilities at December 31, 2007 are shown in the following table:

 

Location

  

Use

   Owned/Leased     Approximate
Square Footage

Houston, TX

   Split Systems    Owned     518,000

Houston, TX

   Flexible Duct, Fiberglass Insulation and Mat Materials    Owned     400,000

Houston, TX

   Heating and Air Handler Products    Owned     230,000

Houston, TX

   Research and Development    Owned     142,907

Houston, TX

   Corporate Headquarters    Leased (1)   51,000

Houston, TX

   Logistics Center    Leased (2)   969,843

Fayetteville, TN

   Furnaces, Package Units, PTAC, Split Systems and Logistics Center    Owned     780,000

Dayton, TN

   Air Handlers / Coils & Duct    Leased (3)   159,000

Phoenix, AZ

   Flexible Duct    Leased (4)   39,062

Groveland, FL

   Flexible Duct    Leased (5)   65,100

 

(1) Our current lease commenced on July 1, 2007 and expires September 30, 2014.
(2) Our Logistics Center is leased under three leases. Two of our Logistics Center leases covering 700,039 square feet will expire September 30, 2014. On June 29, 2007, we entered into a third lease covering an additional 269,804 square feet for a term of 95 months. This lease commenced on April 1, 2008.
(3) Our lease expires on December 31, 2010. We have an option to purchase the facility upon the expiration of the lease for $206,400.
(4) Our current lease expires on April 30, 2008. We have signed a lease for new space in Tolleson, AZ for approximately 72,597 square feet and we anticipate this 102-month lease to commence on the week of April 24, 2008.
(5) Our lease expires on June 4, 2014.

Legal Proceedings

In addition to the matters described below, from time to time we are involved in various routine legal proceedings. These primarily involve commercial claims, product liability claims, personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims. We cannot predict the outcome of these lawsuits, legal proceedings and claims with certainty. Nevertheless, we believe that the outcome of these proceedings, even if determined adversely, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On October 26, 2007 a putative class action was filed on behalf of all similarly situated stockholders of Goodman Global, Inc. in the Harris County District Court, Houston, Texas, referred to as Call4U, Ltd. v. Carroll,

Case Number 2007-66888 (“Call4U”). A similar case, Pipefitters Local No. 636 Defined Benefit Plan vs. Goodman Global, Inc., was later filed and then consolidated with the Call4U, Ltd. case. The lawsuits named as defendants Goodman Global, Inc., all of its directors and Hellman & Friedman LLC, and assert claims for breach of

 

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fiduciary duty against the directors and aiding and abetting such breaches against Hellman & Friedman LLC. The complaint sought an injunction restraining the closing of the merger, reimbursement of associated attorneys’ and experts’ fees and other relief. On January 4, 2008, Goodman Global, Inc. entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) setting out an agreement in principal to settle all claims in the litigation, which settlement is subject to certain conditions precedent, including court approval.

In October 2003, the Consumer Product Safety Commission staff issued a preliminary determination that a discontinued design of certain Package Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pump (PTAC) units manufactured by one of our subsidiaries presents a substantial product hazard under the Consumer Product Safety Act, requiring corrective action. In September of 2004, we implemented a voluntary corrective action plan (CAP) under which we will provide a new thermal limit switch to commercial/institutional PTAC owners. We have established a reserve relating to the CAP in an amount we believe is appropriate. Installation of the switch will be at the commercial/institutional owners’ expense, except in special and limited circumstances (e.g., financial hardship, etc.). Under the CAP, we agreed to pay the cost of installing the replacement switch for any individual homeowner having a PTAC unit in their residence. In April 2007, the CPSC staff informed us that it was closing its file with regard to the PTAC CAP.

The costs required to recall or rework any defective products could be substantial, which may have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, our reputation for safety and quality is essential to maintaining our market share. Any recall or rework may adversely affect our reputation as a manufacturer of quality, safe products and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

In December 2001, over 70 Hispanic workers filed suit against certain of our subsidiaries in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas alleging employment discrimination, retaliation, and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission intervened in the lawsuit on the plaintiffs’ behalf. Our insurers agreed to defend us against these allegations and indemnify the Company for any pecuniary losses incurred. On January 23, 2007, the Court approved a settlement which resolved the claims alleged in the lawsuit. The settlement did not have a material adverse effect on our business. The settlement resolved the litigation and resulted in a dismissal of the lawsuit and release of all claims alleged.

Pursuant to a March 15, 2001 Consent Order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), our subsidiary, Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc. (GDI Southeast) (formerly Pioneer Metals Inc.) is continuing to investigate and pursue, under FDEP oversight, the delineation of groundwater contamination at and around the GDI Southeast facility in Fort Pierce, Florida. Remediation has not begun. The contamination was discovered through environmental assessments conducted in connection with a Company subsidiary’s acquisition of the Fort Pierce facility in 2000, and was reported to FDEP, giving rise to the Consent Order.

The ultimate cost for the investigation, remediation and monitoring of the site cannot be predicted with certainty due to the variables relating to the contamination and the appropriate remediation methodology, the evolving nature of remediation technologies and governmental regulations, and the inability to determine the extent to which contribution will be available from other parties. All of these factors are taken into account to the extent possible in estimating potential liability. A reserve appropriate for the probable remediation costs, which are reasonably susceptible to estimation, has been established.

Based on analyses of currently available information we have reserved approximately $0.7 million as of December 31, 2007 in accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, although it is possible that costs could exceed this amount. Management believes any liability arising from potential environmental obligations is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our liquidity or financial position, as such obligations could be satisfied over a period of years. Nevertheless, future developments could require material increases in the recorded reserve amount.

 

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We believe this contamination predated GDI Southeast’s involvement with the Fort Pierce facility and GDI Southeast’s operation at this location has not caused or contributed to the contamination. Accordingly, we are pursuing litigation against former owners of the Fort Pierce facility in an attempt to recover our costs. At this time we cannot estimate probable recoveries from this litigation.

We are party to a number of other pending legal and administrative proceedings and are subject to various regulatory and compliance obligations. We believe that these proceedings and obligations will not have a materially adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. To the extent required, we have established reserves that we believe to be adequate based on current evaluations and our experience in these types of matters. Nevertheless, an unexpected outcome in any such proceeding could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations in the period in which it occurs. Moreover, future adverse developments could require material changes in the recorded reserve amounts.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and directors:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Charles A. Carroll

   58   

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Lawrence M. Blackburn

   53   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Ben D. Campbell

   51   

Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

Donald R. King

   51   

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

Peter H. Alexander

   69   

Senior Vice President, Independent Distribution

Samuel G. Bikman

   39   

Senior Vice President, Logistics and Business Development

Gary L. Clark

   45   

Senior Vice President, Marketing

James L. Mishler

   53   

Senior Vice President and President of Company Owned Distribution

Terrance M. Smith

   58   

Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

William L. Topper

   51   

Senior Vice President, Operations

Mark M. Dolan

   48   

Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer

Ardee Toppe

   44   

Vice President and President and General Manager of Quietflex

Philip U. Hammarskjold

   43   

Director

Robert B. Henske

   46   

Director

Erik Ragatz

   35   

Director

Saloni K. Saraiya

   29   

Director

Mr. Charles A. Carroll joined us in September 2001 after having served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Amana Appliances from January 2000 to July 2001, when substantially all of the assets of Amana Appliances were acquired by Maytag Corporation. From 1971 to March 1999, Mr. Carroll was employed by Rubbermaid, Inc. where, from 1993, he held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Lawrence M. Blackburn joined us in September 2001 after having served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Amana Appliances from February 2000 to July 2001. From April 1983 to August 1999, Mr. Blackburn was with Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. and previously Rubbermaid, Inc., where he had most recently been President and General Manager of its wholly owned subsidiary, Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems, Inc.

Mr. Ben D. Campbell joined us in November 2000 as Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel. Mr. Campbell served as Assistant General Counsel of Centex Corporation from 1998 to 2000 and Senior Group Counsel for J.C. Penney Company, Inc. from 1988 to 1998. Prior to that time, he was a partner in the law firm of Baker, Mills & Glast P.C. in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Donald R. King joined us in November 2000 as Executive Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to joining Goodman, Mr. King was Vice President, Human Resources for the Americas Region of Halliburton Company. Mr. King has over 25 years of experience that spans a variety of industries and Fortune 100 companies, including Ryder Systems, Inc., Aetna Insurance Company, The Prudential and Phillips Petroleum Company.

Mr. Peter H. Alexander has been with the Goodman family of companies for over 20 years in numerous executive level positions with us and Amana. All Amana and Goodman sales personnel responsible for independent distribution, national accounts and residential new construction report to Mr. Alexander.

Mr. Samuel G. Bikman joined us in January 2002 from Compaq, where he was responsible for Worldwide Logistics. The Customer Service, Production Scheduling, Logistics, PTAC Sales and International Sales teams all report to Mr. Bikman.

 

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Mr. Gary L. Clark joined us in April 2002 after four years at Rheem and 14 years at Carrier, where he led their Residential Product marketing efforts. Prior to that time, Mr. Clark worked in the contracting business.

Mr. James L. Mishler joined us in September 2003. Mr. Mishler has over 25 years of marketing, sales, service, distribution, operations and general management experience in the highly competitive major appliance and HVAC industries. Some of his previous affiliations have been with Whirlpool, Frigidaire and Lennox.

Mr. Terrance M. Smith joined us in March 2003. Mr. Smith has over 30 years of business and information technology experience. In his last position, Mr. Smith was the Vice President of Information Systems for Cooper Industries, Ltd.

Mr. William L. Topper joined us in April 2002 after 28 years with Electrolux (Frigidaire), where he had responsibility for all Domestic Refrigeration Production.

Mr. Mark Dolan joined us in April 2005 after 12 years with Lennox, where he held several senior financial and operations positions. Mr. Dolan was previously with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Ardee Toppe was appointed President and General Manager of Quietflex in January of 2005. Mr. Toppe joined us in April 2003 as Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer. Prior to joining Goodman, Mr. Toppe spent approximately three years with Dayton Superior, a construction supply company, most recently as the Vice President and General Manager of the Dur-O-Wal division. Previously he held various financial roles with Clopay, Allied Signal, and Eveready Battery Company (Energizer).

Mr. Philip U. Hammarskjold became one of our directors on February 13, 2008, as well as of Parent. Mr. Hammarskjold joined Hellman & Friedman LLC in 1992, became a partner in January 1996, and has served as a Managing Director of Hellman & Friedman LLC since January 1998. Mr. Hammarskjold also serves as a director of Emdeon Business Services, GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd., AlixPartners LLP and Catalina Marketing Corporation.

Mr. Robert B. Henske became one of our directors on February 13, 2008, as well as of Parent, and is a member of its Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Mr. Henske has served as a Managing Director of Hellman & Friedman LLC since July 2007. From May 2005 until July 2007, he served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Tax Group of Intuit Inc. He was Intuit’s Chief Financial Officer from January 2003 to September 2005. Prior to joining Intuit, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Synopsys, Inc., a supplier of electronic design automation software, from May 2000 until January 2003. From January 1997 to May 2000, Mr. Henske was at Oak Hill Capital Management, a Robert M. Bass Group private equity investment firm, where he was a partner. Mr. Henske also serves on the board of directors of VeriFone, Inc. and Activant Solutions, Inc. Mr. Henske also serves as Chairman of the Board of Activant Solutions, Inc. and is or has been a member of the Board of Directors of Verifone, Inc., Williams Scotsman, Grove Worldwide, Reliant Building Products and American Savings Bank.

Mr. Erik Ragatz became one of our directors on February 13, 2008, as well as of Parent, Chill Holdings, Inc., and is a member of its Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Mr. Ragatz is a Managing Director at Hellman & Friedman LLC. Prior to joining Hellman & Friedman in 2001, Mr. Ragatz was a vice-president with Pacific Equity Partners in Sydney, Australia and an associate with Bain Capital in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Ragatz also worked as a management consultant for Bain & Company in San Francisco, California. Mr. Ragatz is also currently serving as a director of Sheridan Holdings, Inc.

Ms. Saloni K. Saraiya became one of our directors on February 13, 2008, as well as of Parent, and is a member of Parent’s Audit Committee. Ms. Saraiya is a Principal at Hellman & Friedman LLC. Prior to joining Hellman & Friedman in 2006, Ms. Saraiya worked in the Private Equity Group at The Blackstone Group and at Columbia House Company, both in New York.

 

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Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all employees, executive officers and directors of Goodman and each of its subsidiaries, including Goodman’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller, and persons performing similar functions.

The purpose of the Code of Ethics is: (1) to deter wrongdoing; (2) to promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (3) to promote full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with the SEC or otherwise communicate to the public; (4) to promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; (5) to promote prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person; and (6) to promote accountability for adherence to the Code.

We will provide a copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics without charge to any person upon request by contacting Goodman’s Corporate Secretary at our executive office. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on Goodman’s website at www.goodmanglobal.com.

Committees of the Board

Our Board of Directors currently has one standing committee, the Audit Committee.

Audit Committee

Membership

The Audit Committee currently consists of three directors, Messrs. Erik Ragatz (Chairman) and Robert B. Henske and Ms. Saloni K. Saraiya. All were appointed to the Audit Committee in 2008. Our Board of Directors has determined that Robert B. Henske has accounting or related financial management expertise and qualifies as an independent audit committee financial expert as defined under the SEC’s rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

The Audit Committee assists our Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight and monitoring responsibilities by overseeing and evaluating:

 

   

the conduct of our accounting and financial reporting process and the integrity of the financial statements that will be provided to stockholders and others;

 

   

the review of Goodman Global, Inc.’s internal audit function;

 

   

Goodman Global, Inc.’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

 

   

the functioning of our systems of internal accounting and financial controls and

 

   

the engagement, compensation, performance, qualifications and independence of our independent auditors.

The independent auditors have unrestricted access and report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets privately with management and the independent auditors and may meet with our personnel as it deems necessary.

 

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Charter

The Board of Directors has adopted a charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available on our website www.goodmanglobal.com.

Compensation Committee

Membership

While we do not have a compensation committee, Parent’s Compensation Committee is comprised of two members of our Board of Directors, Messrs. Robert B. Henske (Chairman) and Erik Ragatz.

Authority

Parent’s Committee has authority delegated by the Board to fulfill its purposes, and may delegate some or all or its authority to subcommittees when it deems appropriate. Parent’s Committee reviews the performance of Goodman’s executive officers and key employees and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the compensation of executive officers and other compensation arrangements. Parent’s Board reviews and takes action on the Committee’s recommendations. Parent’s Committee also administers Goodman’s incentive plans and programs.

Meetings

Parent’s Compensation Committee meetings are regularly attended by our President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President, Human Resources. On a regular basis, the Compensation Committee also meets in executive session. Our Executive Vice President of Human Resources supports Parent’s Compensation Committee in its duties and, along without management with our President and Chief Executive Officer, may be delegated authority to fulfill certain administrative duties regarding the compensation programs.

Responsibilities

Parent’s Committee’s responsibilities under its charter are to:

 

   

review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our CEO;

 

   

evaluate the performance of the CEO in light of such goals and objectives; and recommend to the Board the annual compensation, including salary, bonus, incentive and equity compensation, of the CEO;

 

   

evaluate the performance and review the compensation of all other executive officers and key employees;

 

   

recommend to Parent’s Board the financial and other performance targets in connection with annual bonuses, performance vesting options issued under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and other performance based compensation plans, as applicable;

 

   

administer Parent’s 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and any other stock-based plans;

 

   

administer Parent’s 2008 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and any other incentive-based plans; and

 

   

recommend to Parent’s Board, for our CEO and our other executive officers and key employees, all benefits, option or stock award grants and perquisites, employment agreements, severance arrangements and change-in-control agreements.

 

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Charter

Parent’s Board of Directors has adopted a charter for the Compensation Committee, a copy of which is available on our website www.goodmanglobal.com.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Compensation decisions are made by the board of directors and compensation committee of Chill Holdings, Inc., our parent. Parent’s board has appointed Messrs. Henske and Ragatz, who are also members of our Board of Directors, to serve on Parent’s compensation committee. None of our executive officers has served as a member of the compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, whose executive officers served as a director of our company or members of our compensation committee.

Messrs. Henske and Ragatz are managing directors of Hellman & Friedman LLC. Affiliates of Hellman & Friedman LLC control approximately 87.2% of the outstanding common stock of Chill Holdings, Inc. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following tables set forth the aggregate compensation during 2007 awarded to, earned by, or paid to the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and our three most highly compensated executive officers other than the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer who were serving as executive officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year.

 

Name and Principal Position

   Year    Salary
($)
    Option
Awards

($) (1)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($) (2)
   Total
($)

Charles A. Carroll

   2007    $ 1,064,084 (3)   $ 963,419    $ 2,306,008    $ 4,333,511

President and Chief Executive Officer

   2006      1,004,166       799,319      1,347,591      3,151,076

Lawrence M. Blackburn

   2007      443,106 (4)   $ 523,514      751,608      1,718,228

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   2006      426,900       477,707      436,955      1,341,562

Ben D. Campbell

   2007      358,399 (5)     204,898      607,873      1,171,170

Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

   2006      346,152       185,252      354,358      885,762

Donald R. King

   2007      323,800 (6)     204,898      549,246      1,077,944

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

   2006      311,927       185,252      319,287      816,466

William L. Topper

   2007      368,102 (7)     133,196      624,395      1,125,693

Senior Vice President, Operations

   2006      355,650       110,209      364,044      829,903

 

(1) The amounts in this column reflect the expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2007, in accordance with FAS 123(R), of outstanding stock options granted in 2004, 2005 and 2007. The assumptions used in calculating these amounts under FAS 123(R) are set forth in Note 2 to our Financial Statements, included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
(2) Amounts listed under the column “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” constitute annual incentive payments earned in 2007 and paid in November 2007 and February 2008.
(3) The executive’s annualized base salary was $1,015,000 until March 1, 2007, when the base salary was increased to $1,073,900 per year.
(4) The executive’s annualized base salary was $432,000 until April 1, 2007, when the base salary was increased to $446,800 per year.
(5) The executive’s annualized base salary was $349,400 until April 1, 2007, when the base salary was increased to $361,350 per year.
(6) The executive’s annualized base salary was $315,700 until April 1, 2007, when the base salary was increased to $326,500 per year.
(7) The executive’s annualized base salary was $358,900 until April 1, 2007, when the base salary was increased to $371,170 per year.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year 2007

 

          Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
     

Name

   Grant
Date
   Threshold
($)
   Target
($)
   Maximum
($) (1)
    All other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
   Exercise
Price of
Options
Awards
   Grant
Date
Fair
Value of
Option
Awards

Charles A. Carroll

   May 7, 2007    $ 399,032    $ 1,064,084    $ 5,122,500        200,000    $ 19.16    $ 7.90

Lawrence M. Blackburn

   May 7, 2007      110,775      332,325      1,717,013     90,000      19.16      7.90

Ben D. Campbell

   May 7, 2007      89,591      268,772      1,388,657     35,000      19.16      7.90

Donald R. King

   May 7, 2007      80,950      242,850      1,254,725     35,000      19.16      7.90

William L. Topper

   May 7, 2007      92,026      276,077      1,426,399     25,000      19.16      7.90

 

(1) Amounts earned for 2007 were between the Target Plus and Superior level specified under the 2007 Bonus Program. Amounts shown in the table as Maximum payout reflect the excellence plus level specified under the 2007 Bonus Program. The potential payout of annual cash incentive to an executive officer under the 2007 Bonus Program could exceed the excellence level if approved by the Board. The annual payout for each executive officer was capped at $3,750,000.

As shown in the Summary Compensation Table, the primary elements of compensation of the named executive officers (or NEOs) are cash in the form of base salary and incentive bonus. For 2007, amounts paid as performance-based cash compensation exceeded base salary.

The amounts shown in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table represent payouts at the threshold, target and highest specified (excellence plus) levels for the annual cash incentives earned by the NEOs in 2007. The potential payouts were performance-driven, based on achievement of pre-established EBITDA levels, and therefore completely at risk. If threshold levels of performance were not met, then the payout could have been zero. If our EBITDA performance exceeded the level corresponding to the highest specified payout (the excellence plus level), the Board had the discretion to award an amount greater than the highest specified payout; provided that no individual could receive an amount in excess of $3,750,000 annually. A portion of the annual incentive compensation for 2007 was paid in November 2007 and the remainder upon the closing of the merger, and reflected performance above the target level but below the maximum, or excellence plus, level.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2007

 

     Option Awards

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Exercisable
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Unexercisable
   Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)
   Option
Exercise
Price
($)
   Option
Expiration
Date

Charles A. Carroll

              

2004(1)

   1,046,479    168,786    135,029    $ 5.28    12/23/14

2005(2)

   37,903    37,900    —        14.52    12/29/15

2007(3)

   50,000    150,000    —        19.16    5/7/17

Lawrence M. Blackburn

              

2004(1)

   597,987    96,449    77,159      5.28    12/23/14

2005(2)

   37,903    37,900    —        14.52    12/29/15

2007(3)

   22,500    67,500    —        19.16    5/7/17

Ben D. Campbell

              

2004(1)

   224,247    36,168    28,934    $ 5.28    12/23/14

2005(2)

   18,951    18,950    —        14.52    12/29/15

2007(3)

   8,750    26,250    —        19.16    5/7/17

Donald R. King

              

2004(1)

   224,247    36,167    28,934    $ 5.28    12/23/14

2005(2)

   18,951    18,950    —        14.52    12/29/15

2007(3)

   8,750    26,250    —        19.16    5/7/17

William L. Topper

              

2004(1)

   119,598    19,290    15,432    $ 5.28    12/23/14

2005(2)

   18,951    18,950    —        14.52    12/29/15

2007(3)

   6,250    18,750    —        19.16    5/7/17

 

(1) 77.5% of the shares subject to these options were fully vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2007. The remaining 22.5% of the shares subject to these options would have vested annually over a one-year period beginning on December 31, 2007 as follows: (a) 12.5% of the shares would have fully vested on December 31, 2008; and (b) 10% of the shares would have vested to the extent Goodman Global, Inc. achieved certain annual performance measures, such that this 10% would have fully vested on December 31, 2008. If Goodman Global, Inc. did not achieve these performance measures, this portion of the options would have become fully vested on December 23, 2012. All of the outstanding options accelerated in connection with the closing of the merger on February 13, 2008.
(2) 50% of the shares subject to these options were fully vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2007. The remaining 50% of the shares subject to these options would have vested in equal installments annually over a two-year period beginning on December 22, 2008, such that 100% of the shares subject to these options would have fully vested on December 22, 2009. All of these options accelerated in connection with the closing of the merger on February 13, 2008.
(3) 25% of these time vesting options were vested as of December 31, 2007; they would have vested in equal 25% installments on each of the next three anniversaries of the grant date. All of these options accelerated in connection with the closing of the merger on February 13, 2008.

Option Exercises

None of our NEOs exercised options in 2007.

 

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New Employment Agreements

Charles Carroll

In connection with the closing of the merger on February 13, 2008, Merger Sub entered into a new employment agreement with Charles Carroll under which Mr. Carroll will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Goodman Global, Inc. until June 30, 2008, or, if earlier, the date on which a suitable replacement commences employment as our next Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Carroll’s employment agreement provides that while serving as our Chief Executive Officer, he will also serve as the Chairman of our Board and that he will continue in such position after his service as our Chief Executive Officer ends, unless otherwise agreed. In the event Mr. Carroll is no longer serving as the Chairman of the Board, the agreement also provides that Mr. Carroll will be given the opportunity to serve as a non-executive employee for the period ending no earlier than June 30, 2010. Mr. Carroll has announced his intention to retire and is expected to retire as soon as a successor is hired.

While employed as our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Carroll will receive a base salary at the annual rate of $1,073,900 and will be eligible to earn a pro-rata annual bonus (based on the number of days Mr. Carroll serves as our Chief Executive Officer) in a target amount equal to 100% of his base salary, with a maximum bonus opportunity equal to 481.4% of his base salary. For the period during which Mr. Carroll provides services to us following the end of his term as our Chief Executive Officer, his base salary will be reduced to the annual rate of $150,000 and he will no longer be entitled to participate in our annual bonus program. During his service with us in any capacity, Mr. Carroll will be entitled to participate in our employee benefit plans on the same basis as those plans are generally made available to other similarly situated executives.

In the event Mr. Carroll is terminated by us without “cause,” or resigns for “good reason,” we will provide him with payments totaling two times his base salary, plus one times his target bonus, over the two-year period following such termination, as well as a pro-rated annual bonus for the year of termination, payable at the time such payment would have otherwise been paid under the bonus program, and post-termination health insurance coverage. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Carroll has agreed not to disclose our confidential information at any time, and, for the period during which he provides services to us and for the two-year period thereafter, he has also agreed not to compete with us, interfere with our business, or solicit or hire our employees or customers.

In the event that any payment or benefit to be received under the employment agreement will trigger the imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (“Excise Tax”), then all payments will be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Excise Tax will not be imposed unless the amount of such reduction would equal or exceed 110% of the Excise Tax that would be imposed on such amounts.

Lawrence Blackburn

On February 13, 2008, Merger Sub also entered into a new employment agreement with Lawrence Blackburn, pursuant to which Mr. Blackburn will continue to serve as our Chief Financial Officer and as an Executive Vice-President. Mr. Blackburn’s employment agreement has an initial term of four years, which will renew for additional one-year periods until either party provides notice of non-renewal at least 180 days prior to the end of the then-current term. The agreement provides that while employed as our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Blackburn will receive a base salary at the annual rate of $446,800, subject to annual review and adjustment, and will be eligible to earn an annual bonus in a target amount equal to 75% of his base salary, with a maximum bonus opportunity equal to 387.5% of his base salary. The agreement further provides that during his employment with us, Mr. Blackburn will be entitled to participate in our employee benefit plans on the same basis as those plans are generally made to other similarly situated executives.

In the event Mr. Blackburn is terminated by us without “cause,” or resigns for “good reason,” we will provide him with payments totaling two times his then-applicable base salary, plus one-times his target bonus, payable over the two-year period following such termination, as well as a pro-rated annual bonus for the year of

 

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termination, payable at the time such payment would have otherwise been paid had Mr. Blackburn’s employment not terminated. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Blackburn has agreed not to disclose our confidential information at any time and, for the period during which he is employed by us and for a two-year period following termination of his employment, he has also agreed not to compete with us, interfere with our business, or solicit or hire our employees or customers.

In the event that any payment or benefit to be received under the employment agreement will trigger the imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (“Excise Tax”), then all payments will be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Excise Tax will not be imposed unless the amount of such reduction would equal or exceed 110% of the Excise Tax that would be imposed on such amounts.

New Severance Agreements

In connection with the closing of the merger on February 13, 2008, Merger Sub also entered into individual severance agreements with our other named executive officers, Messrs. Topper, Campbell and King. Each severance agreement has an initial term of four years and renews automatically for additional one-year periods until either party provides notice of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term. Each agreement provides for the payment of an annual base salary (currently $371,171 for Topper, $361,650 for Campbell, and $326,500 for King), subject to annual review and adjustment, and each agreement also provides that the executive will be eligible to earn an annual bonus in a target amount equal to 75% of the executive’s base salary, with a maximum bonus opportunity in an amount equal to 387.5% of the executive’s base salary.

The severance agreements also provide that if the executive is terminated by us without “cause” or resigns for “good reason,” we will provide the executive with payments totaling one times the executive’s then-applicable base salary, plus one times his bonus, payable over the two-year period following such termination, as well as a pro-rated annual bonus for the year of termination, payable at the time such payment would have otherwise been paid had the executive’s employment not terminated. Each severance agreement further provides that the executive will not disclose our confidential information at any time and, for the period during which the executive is employed by us and for a period following termination of employment, the executive will not compete with us, interfere with our business, or solicit or hire our employees or customers.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control under Pre-Existing Agreements

As of the end of the 2007 fiscal year, we had the pre-existing employment agreements in place for Messrs. Carroll and Blackburn. As amended in 2006, each employment agreement provided that the executive would receive an amount equal to two times base salary and annual target bonus following the executive’s termination of employment by Goodman Global, Inc. without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason,” as provided in the agreements, in addition to a pro-rated annual bonus for the year of termination. In the event of a change of control, Messrs. Carroll and Blackburn could resign for good reason and receive these amounts if the purchaser did not assume these severance provisions and if executive did not accept employment with such purchaser. Additionally, Mr. Carroll’s employment agreement, as amended, provided that, following Mr. Carroll’s termination of employment, Mr. Carroll and his eligible dependents would receive continued group health benefits through Mr. Carroll’s attainment of age 65.

We had also entered into severance agreements with each of Ben D. Campbell, Donald R. King and William L. Topper, as well as with certain other of our executive officers. These severance agreements were in effect as of the end of the 2007 fiscal year. These severance agreements provided that the executive would receive an amount equal to his current base salary plus annual target bonus following the executive’s termination of employment by Goodman Global, Inc. without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason.”

Under the applicable agreement, the amounts that would have been payable on termination would have been payable for two years in the case of Messrs. Carroll and Blackburn and for one year in the case of the other named executive officers subject to severance agreements. Generally, the amounts would have been paid monthly, except that payment was required in a lump sum within 30 days if the executive were to have been

 

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terminated without cause or terminated his employment for good reason within two years following a change of control.

Payment of these amounts would have terminated under the agreements if the executive engaged in a competitive business, recruited or solicited employees, disclosed non-public information of Goodman, or disparaged Goodman, and was therefore subject to the executive’s compliance with these provisions. The provisions regarding non-competition and non-solicitation of employees could have been altered or waived with the prior written consent of the Board or Parent’s Compensation Committee.

As summarized above, following the closing of the merger, our named executive officers entered into new employment or new severance agreements, as applicable, and agreed to terminate the employment and severance agreements that were in place prior to the closing.

The amounts payable to the NEOs upon termination of employment (including termination following a change of control) are summarized in the table below, calculated on the basis of the agreements and arrangements that were in effect as of December 31, 2007 taking into account acceleration of vesting of all outstanding equity awards as contemplated by the merger agreement and the right to receive a pro-rated annual bonus.

Potential Payments on Change of Control or Severance

 

    Severance and Change of Control

Name

  Trigger   Salary $   Bonus $   Pro-rated
Annual
Bonus
  Medical
Benefits
  Change of
Control
Vesting (1)
  Total

Charles A. Carroll

  Termination   $ 2,147,800   $ 2,147,800   $ 2,306,008   $ —     $ 7,038,235   $ 13,639,843

Lawrence M. Blackburn

  Termination     893,600     670,200     751,608     —       4,086,598     6,402,006

Ben D. Campbell

  Termination     361,350     271,013     607,873     —       1,584,969     2,825,205

Donald R. King

  Termination     326,500     244,875     549,246     —       1,584,969     2,705,590

William L. Topper

  Termination     371,170     278,378     624,395     —       959,500     2,233,443

 

(1) The amounts in this column reflect vesting of time-vested options and performance-vested options held by Messrs. Carroll, Blackburn, Campbell, King and Topper upon a change of control, as if a change of control had occurred and the options had vested as of December 31, 2007, based upon our stock price at year-end.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2007 with respect to the shares of our common stock that could have been issued under our equity compensation plans as in effect on December 31, 2007.

 

Plan Category

  Number of
Securities to be
Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights(1)
   Weighted
Average Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights(1)
   Number of Securities
Remaining Available
For Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

  5,212,875    $ 8.25    1,437,676

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(2)

  —        —      —  
           

Total

  5,212,875    $ 8.25    1,437,676
           

 

(1) Includes 4,539,319 outstanding options issued under the 2004 Plan, 668,000 options to purchase common stock issued under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, and 5,556 shares of restricted stock issued to our directors. Because restricted stock awards have no exercise price, they are not included in the weighted average exercise price calculation.
(2) All of our equity compensation plans were approved by our stockholders.

 

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Director Compensation

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or
Paid in Cash
($)(1)
   Stock
Awards
($)(5)
    Option
Awards

($)(6)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
   All Other
Compensation
($)
   Total
($)

David Bechhofer (2)

   $ 68,932    $ 47,314     —      —      —      $ 116,246

Jeffrey Benjamin (2)

     52,000      47,314     —      —      —        99,314

Laurence M. Berg (10)

     57,000      —       —      —      —        57,000

Anthony M. Civale (10)

     50,000      —       —      —      —        50,000

John B. Goodman (10)

     60,298      —       —      —      —        60,298

John J. Hannan (3)(9)

     51,000      17,571 (7)   —      —      —        68,564

Steven Martinez (10)

     57,000      —       —      —      —        57,000

David W. Oskin (9)

     84,995      14,966 (8)   —      —      —        99,953

James H. Schultz (3)(9)

     73,173      17,571 (7)   —      —      —        90,737

Michael D. Weiner (9)

     55,493      14,966 (8)   —      —      —        70,451

Charles A. Carroll (4)

     —        —       —      —      —        —  

 

(1) Fees earned or paid in cash consists of the following amounts: (a) an annual retainer of $40,000, paid quarterly, (b) Board and Committee meeting fees of $2,000 for each meeting attended by a director in person and $1,000 for each meeting held telephonically, and (c) $10,000 paid to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
(2) Messrs. Bechhofer and Benjamin were appointed to the Board of Directors in February 2007 and therefore received no compensation with respect to 2006.
(3) Messrs. Hannan and Schultz were appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2006 and received retainer amounts on a quarterly basis thereafter.
(4) Mr. Carroll is our President and Chief Executive Officer and receives no additional compensation for serving as a director. Mr. Carroll’s compensation is described above under “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table.”
(5) The amounts in this column reflect the expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2007, in accordance with FAS 123(R). The assumptions used in calculating these amounts under FAS 123(R) are set forth in Note 2 to our Financial Statements, included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
(6) Stock options issued to Messrs. Berg, Civale, Goodman and Martinez in 2005 vested immediately. Accordingly, no amounts were recognized with respect to these options for financial statement reporting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2007, in accordance with FAS 123(R).
(7) A restricted stock grant of 2,778 shares of common stock was made on June 30, 2006. These shares vested on June 30, 2007. These shares have an aggregate grant date fair value of $42,170 under FAS 123(R).
(8) A restricted stock grant of 2,778 shares of common stock was made on April 21, 2006. These shares will vest on April 11, 2007. These shares have an aggregate grant date fair value of $59,866 under FAS 123(R).
(9) The aggregate number of restricted stock awards outstanding and held by each of Messrs. Hannan, Oskin, Schultz and Weiner was 11,112 shares at December 31, 2007.
(10) The aggregate number of stock options outstanding and held by each of Messrs. Berg, Civale, Goodman and Martinez was 121,284 options at December 31, 2007.

Discussion of Director Compensation

Following our initial public offering in April 2006, non-employee directors received an annual retainer fee of $40,000, which is paid quarterly following appointment or election to the Board. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $10,000. Non-employee directors received a fee of $2,000 for each board or committee meeting attended in person and a fee of $1,000 for attendance at a Board or committee meeting held telephonically. In February 2007, each of Messrs. Bechhofer and Benjamin received restricted stock awards under our 2006 Incentive Award Plan upon their appointment to the Board of Directors that were valued at $50,000. These restricted stock awards would have vested on the first anniversary of such

 

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director’s appointment to our Board of Directors if they had not been accelerated earlier upon the consummation of the Merger.

All directors are reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or committees and for other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with service on the Board and any committees. Each director will be fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a member of our Board to the extent permitted under Delaware law, as provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and the indemnification agreements by and between us and each of our directors.

Employee directors such as Mr. Carroll do not receive compensation for service on our Board or committees. Mr. Carroll’s compensation as our CEO is described in the Summary Compensation Table for NEOs.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Our executive compensation program, including with respect to our named executive officers, is overseen and administered by the Compensation Committee of our Parent’s Board of Directors (Parent’s Board). Our Named Executive Officers are (1) our current chief executive officer, (2) our current chief financial officer, (3) each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of December 31, 2007.

For 2007, our Board of Directors appointed a compensation committee consisting of Messrs. Martinez, Berg, Goodman and Oskin. None of our executive officers has served as a member of our Compensation Committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, whose executive officers served as a director of our company or member of our Compensation Committee. Following the consummation of the merger, a new Compensation Committee of Chill Holdings, Inc., our Parent, was established, consisting of Erik D. Razatz and Robert B. Henske.

For the 2007 fiscal year, the compensation committee included three independent directors as determined under the standards of the NYSE. The compensation committee administered Goodman Global, Inc.’s 2004 Stock Option Plan and 2006 Incentive Award Plan. The compensation committee reviewed the performance of our executive officers and key employees for 2007 and made recommendations to our Board regarding the compensation of our executive officers and other compensation arrangements. The Board reviewed and took action on the basis of the recommendations of the compensation committee.

Compensation committee meetings were regularly attended by the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President, Human Resources. On a regular basis, the compensation committee also met in executive session. The Executive Vice President of Human Resources supported the compensation committee in its duties and, along with the President and Chief Executive Officer, was delegated authority to fulfill certain administrative duties regarding the compensation programs. Our Chief Executive Officer provided recommendations to our compensation committee and participated in discussions and evaluations regarding the compensation of the other NEOs.

Objectives of Compensation Programs

In 2007, we compensated our senior executives, including the five most highly compensated executive officers (the named executive officers, or NEOs), at levels we believed to be competitive within the HVAC industry and companies from similar durable goods manufacturing businesses of comparable revenue ranges. Our primary objective for executive compensation in 2007 was to ensure our ability to continue to retain our senior level executives, as well as to attract, retain and motivate the management team required to lead the Company in achieving its vision and mission while supporting our core values in a highly competitive marketplace.

 

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Our business strategy depends to a significant degree upon its executive officers and key employees and their relationships with distributors. Therefore, we seek to retain our senior executives over the long-term and believe that continuity of management is in the best interests of our shareholders.

We designed our executive compensation programs to provide a competitive base salary for our NEOs as well as cash and long-term equity incentives. Our executive compensation for 2007 was determined after our IPO, and we determined executive compensation with a view to each NEO’s past compensation levels as well as our future business strategy. The total compensation and benefits package provided to our NEOs in 2007 was designed to be competitive and to exceed median market compensation for talented and experienced senior executives.

Compensation Philosophy

Our overall compensation philosophy is to use straightforward compensation programs that offer appropriate incentives to our executives, while providing transparency to our shareholders. In implementing this philosophy, we have not emphasized perquisites, personal benefits, defined benefit plans or supplemental plans for executives. For 2007, our executive compensation emphasized cash and equity compensation, and consisted primarily of the following:

 

   

base salary to provide stable income to our NEOs during the current year,

 

   

annual performance-based cash incentives tied to our profitability, which bonus awards were granted under our stockholder-approved 2006 Incentive Award Plan, and

 

   

equity awards in the form of additional stock options which were granted under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan to provide retention benefits and long-term incentives to continue to build share price and shareholder value.

For 2007, as for prior years, our former Compensation Committee emphasized a mix of base salary and cash incentives. Equity grants that were made prior to our 2006 IPO continued to vest. A significant proportion of each NEO’s compensation for 2007 was “at risk” incentive compensation that depended upon our profitability for the year. In addition, additional option grants were made in May 2007 in order to encourage the achievement of long-term business objectives that enhance stock price and shareholder value on a continuing basis.

Competitive Analysis

For 2007, our compensation committee had engaged Hewitt Associates (the “Compensation Consultant”) to provide an assessment of our compensation programs. The compensation committee reviewed a report prepared by the Compensation Consultant regarding executive compensation paid by a selected group of companies against which our compensation committee believed we compete for executive talent and stockholder investment. Our compensation committee considered composite measures of executive compensation derived from three comparator groups with comparable revenue ranges: durable goods manufacturers, general industrial companies and companies with significant venture capital investors. The twenty-one companies selected by the Compensation Consultant for purposes of this competitive market analysis were as follows: W.W. Grainger, Inc., Avery Dennison Corporation, USG Corporation, Temple-Inland Inc., Cooper Industries, Inc., BorgWarner Inc., Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Lennox International Inc., Vulcan Materials Company, Steelcase Inc., Walter Industries, Inc., Packaging Corporation of America, Donaldson Company, Inc., Sauer-Danfoss Inc., H. B. Fuller Company, Tupperware Corporation, Valmont Industries, Inc., Brady Corporation, Milacron Inc., Graco Inc. and Andersen Corporation (the “Peer Companies”).

The compensation of each of the NEOs was compared against competitive market ranges derived from the compensation programs of the Peer Companies for executives with comparable positions and job responsibilities. As noted above, the analysis was prepared by the Compensation Consultant and reviewed by the compensation

 

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committee. As noted above, the compensation components reviewed for each position were base salary, annual cash bonus and long-term incentives and benefits, both individually and in the aggregate. Although the survey data was used as a important measure for determining competitive levels of compensation for our NEOs, our compensation committee did not benchmark the compensation of our NEOs against the Peer Companies. Rather, the survey data was used as a guide, such that the compensation committee exercised its discretion in setting both the individual compensation components and the total pay of each of our NEO’s at levels that were commensurate with their specific position and job responsibilities, taking into account the need to retain and motivate our NEO’s to achieve superior levels of performance. The compensation of our NEOs was set at levels that were above the 50 th percentile (and in some cases above the 75th percentile) as compared to the Peer Companies.

Compensation Programs

Design of Compensation Programs

Our compensation programs in 2007 were designed to effectively retain our NEOs and continue to build the Company in a stable management environment as well as attract, retain and motivate highly talented individuals to lead the Company in achieving its vision and mission in a very competitive marketplace. Specifically,

 

   

base salary was designed at levels to attract, retain and motivate employees capable of managing Goodman’s operation as a public company,

 

   

annual cash incentives based on pre-determined performance targets were designed to reward execution of Goodman’s strategy and achievement of profitability objectives, and

 

   

equity awards in the form of stock options (which were granted in May 2007 under our shareholder-approved 2006 Incentive Award Plan) were designed to provide additional retention benefits and long-term incentives to build share price and shareholder value.

Impact of Performance on Compensation

A significant proportion of each NEO’s compensation in 2007 was “at risk” and depended on our performance. On February 5, 2007, the Board adopted our 2007 Performance Bonus Award Program under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan (the “2007 Bonus Program”). Under the 2007 Bonus Program, each NEO’s annual cash incentives were tied to pre-established EBITDA targets which were designed to emphasize profitability. The EBITDA targets provided incentives to increase revenues and also to control costs, to the degree that costs were within the control of the executive officers. As discussed in greater detail below under the heading “Annual Cash Incentive and Description of Performance Metrics,” cash incentive compensation earned by the NEOs in 2007 exceeded target plus levels established under the 2007 Bonus Program, based on our EBITDA for the year.

With respect to equity-based incentive awards, any increase to the stock price as a result of the efforts of the NEOs to improve Goodman’s performance also increased the value of the NEOs’ stock options, and therefore rewarded the NEOs for contributing to shareholder value. In addition, half of the stock options granted to our NEOs in 2004 are performance-based options, for which vesting could be accelerated depending on Goodman’s achievement of annual EBITDA and ROIC targets, as determined by our Board of Directors (see further description of these performance metrics below.)

Elements of Compensation

As discussed above, compensation paid or awarded to the NEOs during 2007 included base salary, an annual cash incentive award and stock options, and as further described below.

 

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Base salary of the NEOs

Each NEO received a significant portion of his total compensation in the form of base salary. The salary component was designed to provide the executives with a stable income and to attract and retain talented and experienced executives capable of managing our operations and strategic growth as a public company.

We determined the salary for each NEO based on the salary of comparable positions in the marketplace and adjusted this amount to reflect the individual’s experience, performance, potential contributions to us and ability to meet our anticipated future needs. The base salary for Mr. Carroll and the other NEOs was increased effective as of March 1 and April 1, 2007, respectively, based on our annual review of these factors by our Compensation Committee and our Board (see “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” for a summary of the actual increases provided to each of our NEOs.) Base salaries where determined utilizing the market study prepared by the Compensation Consultant, as discussed in the section entitled “Competitive Analysis” above. The base salaries for 2007 were set after review of the market range for comparable positions at the Peer Companies, but also taking into consideration notable differences in the corresponding responsibilities of each our NEO’s and other competitive factors, including total compensation opportunity.

In connection with the merger, the NEOs as well as other of our executive officers negotiated new employment arrangements with our controlling stockholders, which became effective on February 13, 2008, upon the closing of the merger. Pursuant to those arrangements, the salaries and the executive positions of each of our NEOs and generally remained unchanged for the 2008 fiscal year, as they were viewed to be competitive for the current year and were sufficient to continue to retain the senior management team going forward.

Annual Cash Incentive and Description of Performance Metrics

Cash Incentive Awards. A significant proportion of each NEO’s cash compensation was paid as a cash incentive award under the 2007 Bonus Program and depended upon Goodman’s profitability, as measured by EBITDA for the 2007 fiscal year. The bonus payment was “at risk” and was designed to reward the executives for reaching pre-established levels of profitability. Awards were structured to be paid based on achieving levels threshold, target, target plus, superior, excellence or excellence plus levels for EBITDA, which comprised 95.2%, 100%, 104%, 108%, 112% and 116% of the target, respectively. We set the EBITDA goals at levels that reflected our internal business plan at the time the awards were established. The EBITDA target level for our cash incentive award was set at $250 million for 2007 and required a challenging but achievable level of financial performance. The highest specified level, excellence plus (at EBITDA of $290 million for 2007), represented truly exceptional performance beyond reasonably likely levels of achievement, and we have never achieved this level of performance. Historically, we have generally achieved performance between the target and target plus levels.

In setting the range of bonus awards to our NEOs, we considered the potential bonuses available for comparable positions in the marketplace and the total compensation payable for such comparable positions, including other elements of compensation and perquisites provided. The range of payouts was based on a multiple of each NEO’s base salary for the 2007 fiscal year. As a multiple of salary, the possible bonus payment in 2007 was 0.375 times at threshold, 1.00 times at target and 4.814 times at excellence plus level for Mr. Carroll and 0.25 times at threshold, 0.75 times at target and 3.875 times at excellence plus level for each of our other NEOs. The range of payouts, assuming EBITDA goals were met at threshold, target or excellence plus levels for 2007, is indicated in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table. For the 2007 year, we achieved EBITDA of $265.1 million, with the result that Mr. Carroll was awarded a bonus of 216.7% of his base compensation or $2,306,008, Mr. Blackburn was awarded a bonus in an amount equal to 169.6% of his base compensation, or $751,608 and our other NEO’s were likewise awarded a bonus equal to 169.6% of their base compensation, or $624,395, $607,873 and $549,246 respectively for each of Messrs. Topper, Campbell and King.

On March 12, 2008, Parent’s Board adopted a new bonus plan arrangement for our NEOs for the 2008 fiscal year. The structure of the bonus program for 2008 is generally similar to the structure for the 2007 fiscal year,

 

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except that Mr. Carroll’s annual bonus payment will be pro-rated for the length of his interim employment term. Additionally, the range of possible bonus payments for 2008 for Mr. Carroll is 0.375 times at threshold, 1.00 times at target and 2.688 times at the superior or higher levels of performance, and threshold, 0.75 times at target and 2.125 times at the superior or higher levels of performance for our other NEOs, 0.25 times at the superior or higher levels of performance for our other named Executive Officers. As was the case for 2007, awards for 2008 are structured to be paid based on achieving a threshold, target, target plus, superior, excellence or excellence plus level of performance, which comprises 93.1%, 100%, 106.9%, 110.3%, 113.8% and 117.2% of the EBITDA target, respectively. Parent’s 2008 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement relating to this prospectus. Pursuant to the bonus award agreements, each of our NEOs agreed that the maximum payout available for the 2008 year will not exceed the payout available at the superior level of performance under the 2008 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.

Performance Metrics. Two financial metrics are commonly referenced in defining Company performance for compensation of NEOs. The primary metrics used are EBITDA and, to a lesser extent, ROIC. These metrics and their use in annual and long-term incentive programs are described below.

 

   

EBITDA: EBITDA as used in our executive compensation programs through 2007 was equal to consolidated net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as reflected in Goodman’s audited consolidated financial statements for such period. Consolidated net income was determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles except that gains and losses from extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring items could be excluded in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board. EBITDA was used as the performance metric for purposes of the annual cash incentive award for 2007 and for accelerated vesting of one-half of the stock options granted to NEOs in 2004. For 2008, a similar approach has been utilized except that the EBITDA metric was generally made consistent with the definition of EBITDA in our credit arrangements.

 

   

ROIC: Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) measures stockholder value creation. It is a non-GAAP measure that supplements traditional accounting measures to evaluate a return on the capital invested in the business. We adopted ROIC as a performance measure under our bonus program and equity incentive program as an incentive for senior management to improve our earnings through the efficient allocation of capital. ROIC was a compensation metric used, together with EBITDA, for accelerating vesting of one-half of the stock options granted in 2004. The ROIC metric has not been used in structuring the executive compensation arrangements for the 2008 fiscal year.

Long-Term Incentives—Stock Options

During the 2007 fiscal year, we made equity awards to our management team under our stockholder-approved 2006 Incentive Award Plan. We granted 385,000 stock options to our NEOs in 2007. Each NEO also continued to vest stock option grants made in December 2004 and in December 2005, before our initial public offering. These earlier stock options were designed to reward the NEO for improving our performance and, as a result, increasing stock price for the benefit of shareholders. Half of the stock options granted in 2004 were performance-based options, for which vesting could be accelerated by our achievement of annual EBITDA and ROIC targets established in 2004. Our Board accelerated 20% of the total performance-based options previously granted to our NEO’s in connection with the completion of our initial public offering in 2006. These pre-determined EBITDA and ROIC targets were based on revenue and expense assumptions about the future business of Goodman as of the date the options were granted and were subject to adjustment by the Board in some circumstances (see description above of these financial metrics). For the 2004 performance-based options, the pre-established ROIC performance target of 12.8% was met in 2007. In addition, we achieved 2007 EBITDA of $265.1 million. As a consequence, an additional 20% of the performance-vested options granted to our NEO’s vested for the 2007 fiscal year.

Option Grants in 2004: In December 2004, we granted non-qualified options to purchase our common stock to certain management employees. The exercise price of these options was $5.28 per share (which was

 

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equal to the purchase price paid in the acquisition of Goodman in that year). All or a portion of the options could have become vested and exercisable earlier than scheduled upon certain sales of the assets or capital stock of Goodman (see “Option Acceleration in Connection with Merger,” below).

 

   

One-half of the options granted to management employees were time vesting options that would have become vested and exercisable in equal annual installments on each December 31 beginning in 2005 and ending in 2008, subject to continued employment.

 

   

The other half of the options granted to management employees were performance vesting options that would have become vested and exercisable on the eighth anniversary of the date of grant, subject to continued employment. However, an installment of 20% of each performance vesting option (i.e., 10% of the total shares subject to the non-qualified stock option) was eligible to become vested and exercisable with respect to each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2008 if we attained certain financial performance targets tied to EBITDA and ROIC (the financial metrics described above). As a result of the completion of our initial public offering, 10% of the options vested, and the Board of Directors determined that vesting requirements were met with respect to 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Option Grants in 2005: In December 2005, we granted additional non-qualified stock options to our NEOs and to certain management employees at an exercise price of $14.52 per share. These options were all time vesting options that generally would have become vested and exercisable in four equal annual installments on each December 22, beginning in 2006 and ending in 2009, subject to continued employment. The maximum term of these options was ten years.

Option Grants in 2007: In 2007, as part of the annual review of our equity compensation program, long-term incentive awards in the form of stock option grants were made to our NEOs on the basis of their job responsibilities and potential for individual contribution, with reference to the levels of total compensation (total cash compensation plus the value of long-term incentives and other benefits) for executives at the Peer Companies. In granting these option awards, the compensation committee also considered the size and value of previous equity grants made to each of our NEOs, as well as the level of total cash compensation provided through each executive’s base salary and bonus opportunity. As with the determination of base salaries and annual cash incentives, the compensation committee exercised its judgment and discretion in view of the criteria discussed above in the section entitled “Competitive Analysis” and its general policies.

In light of the above, we granted additional non-qualified stock options to our NEOs and to certain management employees in May 2007 an exercise price of $19.16 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock in the date before the date of grant. All of the 2007 grants were time-vesting options, which vested in equal annual installments of 25% over a four-year period.

Option Acceleration in Connection with the Merger: All of the outstanding time vesting options granted in 2004 and 2005 automatically accelerated in full upon the closing of the merger; additionally, our Board exercised its discretion to accelerate the remaining unvested portion of the performance vesting options, as well as the time vesting options granted in 2007. Other than options that were subject to option rollover agreements (see “Equity Contribution Agreements,” below), all of the options outstanding at the time of the merger were canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, less applicable tax withholding and without interest, equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of our common stock subject to each option as of the effective time of the merger multiplied by (y) the excess of the merger consideration over the exercise price per share of common stock under such option. On February 13, 2008, Parent’s Board adopted a new equity incentive plan to replace our two pre-existing equity incentive plans, as described in greater detail below under “New Equity Incentive Arrangements.”

 

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Personal Benefits and Perquisites

The NEOs did not receive any perquisites and personal benefits in 2007 other than those broadly available to all employees. We emphasize cash compensation and equity compensation, and therefore perquisites and personal benefits constituted an immaterial portion of each NEO’s total compensation.

Historical Employment Agreements

Employment Agreements. Through the closing of the Merger, we had employment agreements in place with Messrs. Carroll and Blackburn. The employment agreements each had an initial term of three years, with automatic extensions of one year each unless notice was given by either party at least 180 days prior to expiration.

 

   

The employment agreements provided for the payment of an annual base salary for Mr. Carroll and Mr. Blackburn, and for annual target bonuses that were payable in the event that certain financial and other performance targets were met.

 

   

Under the agreements, the executives were each granted a non-qualified stock option under the 2004 Stock Option Plan to purchase shares of our common stock.

 

   

As amended in 2006, each of the employment agreements provided that the executive would receive an amount equal to two times base salary and annual target bonus following the executive’s termination of employment under certain circumstances, as well as a pro-rated annual bonus for the year of termination.

 

   

Each of the employment agreements also contained restrictive covenants providing that the executive would be subject to certain non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions for two years following the executive’s termination of employment.

 

   

Additionally, Mr. Carroll’s employment agreement, as amended, provided that, following Mr. Carroll’s termination of employment under certain circumstances, Mr. Carroll and his eligible dependents would receive continued group health benefits until Mr. Carroll reached age 65, or the qualifying age under Medicare, if later.

Severance Agreements. Through the closing of the Merger, we had severance agreements with several of our executive officers, including Ben D. Campbell, Donald R. King and William L. Topper.

 

   

The severance agreements generally had an initial term of two years with automatic extensions of one year each unless notice was given by either party at least 90 days prior to expiration of the term.

 

   

As amended in 2006, each severance agreement provided for the payment of one times base salary plus an annual target bonus following the executive’s termination of employment under certain circumstances.

Non-Competition Agreements. Through the closing of the Merger, we had non-competition agreements with a number of our executive officers, including Ben D. Campbell, Donald R. King and William L. Topper. These non-competition agreements provided that each executive would be subject to certain non-solicitation and non-competition restrictions for a period of two years following the executive’s termination of employment.

Transaction Bonus and Equity Rollover Incentive

Upon the consummation of the Merger, certain members of senior management received transaction bonuses equal to 75% of their current base salary, totaling more than $3,202,110 in the aggregate. The transaction bonuses paid to our named executive officers are set forth in the table below. In addition, certain members of senior management were given a “rollover” incentive bonus payment equal to 100% of their current

 

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base salary, totaling not more than $4,269,480 in the aggregate. The rollover incentive bonuses paid to our named executive officers are also set forth in the table below.

 

Executive Officers:

   Transaction Bonus Paid
Upon Consummation of
the Merger
   Equity Rollover Incentive
Paid Upon Consummation
of the Merger

Charles A. Carroll

   $ 805,425    $ 1,073,900

Lawrence M. Blackburn

     335,100      446,800

Ben D. Campbell

     271,013      361,350

Donald R. King

     244,875      326,500

William L. Topper

     278,378      371,170

New Employment and Severance Arrangements

Upon the consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub entered into new employment agreements with Messrs. Carroll and Blackburn, and new severance agreements with all our executive officers, including Ben D. Campbell, Donald R. King and William L. Topper. In general, the agreements provided for substantially similar levels of base salary and bonus opportunities, and similar severance provisions as compared with the employment and severance agreements in effect prior to the closing of the merger. The specific terms of the new agreements are set forth below under “Employment Agreements” and “Severance Agreements,” respectively.

Equity Contribution Agreements

Prior to the closing of the merger, Parent entered into equity contribution agreements with each of our named executive officers. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, each executive committed to acquire shares of common stock of Chill Holdings, Inc., our Parent, at closing, by either transferring the number of shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock having a value equal to an agreed upon amount ($10,000,000 in the case of Carroll, $8,771,000 in the case Blackburn, $3,736,000 in the case of Campbell, $2,405,000 in the case of Topper, and $3,687,000 in the case of King) or using cash proceeds from the transaction equal to 90% of such agreed upon amount. At closing, each of the executives purchased that number of shares of Parent stock with the values indicated below at $25.60 per share, which was the price other stockholders paid per share of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock in the Merger.

 

Executive

   Value of Shares Rolled

Charles Carroll

   $ 10,000,000

Lawrence Blackburn

     8,718,208

Ben D. Campbell

     3,736,000

Donald R. King

     3,687,000

William L. Topper

     2,405,000

The shares so acquired by each of our NEOs are subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Stockholders Agreement, described under the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Management Stockholders Agreement.” To the extent that an executive did not own a sufficient number of shares to cover his committed amount, each of the equity contribution agreements also provided that the executive would be able to satisfy such shortfall by rolling over options to acquire shares of our common stock into options to acquire shares of common stock of Parent. As Mr. Blackburn did not have a sufficient number of shares to cover his committed amount, he entered into an option rollover agreement with Parent at closing, pursuant to which he rolled over an option to acquire shares of our common stock having an intrinsic value of approximately $53,000 (i.e., the excess of the value of the shares subject to the option over the aggregate exercise price for such shares), into an option to acquire shares of Parent common stock having substantially the same intrinsic value. The exercise price for each rollover option was set at $2.07 per share, such that Mr. Blackburn received an option over 6,659 shares of Parent common stock. The rollover options, which

 

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became vested in full at closing, are generally subject to the same terms and conditions under which they were originally granted; however, any shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such options will be subject to the terms of the Management Stockholders Agreement.

Timing of Equity Awards

Equity awards were granted to our NEOs in December 2005 before our IPO, and no grants were made in 2006. For 2007, our practice was to make any grants of equity awards during the period after the release of earnings, with an exercise price equal to the closing market price on the day before the grant. Options under the new equity incentive plan, described below, were granted at closing at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, which is equal to the price at which our current stockholders subscribed for common stock of Parent at closing.

New Equity Incentive Plan

The following is a summary of the material terms and conditions of the 2008 Chill Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”). This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the 2008 Plan, a copy of which is attached as exhibit the registration statement relating to this prospectus.

The Board of Directors of Parent adopted the 2008 Plan on February 13, 2008; the Plan obtained stockholder approval on the same date. The 2008 Plan is a comprehensive incentive compensation plan which permits us to grant equity-based compensation awards to employees and consultants of Parent and its subsidiaries. The purpose of the plan is to attract, motivate and retain such persons, to encourage stock ownership by such persons, thereby aligning their interest with those of our stockholders and to provide compensation opportunities to reward superior performance.

Awards under the 2008 Plan may be in the form of stock options (either incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options) or other stock-based awards, including restricted stock purchase awards, restricted stock units and stock appreciation rights. The following is a summary of the principal types of awards available under the plan.

Stock Options. Stock options represent the right to purchase shares of Parent common stock within a specified period of time at a specified price. The exercise price for a stock option will be not less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Stock options will have a maximum term of ten years from the date of grant. Stock options granted may include those intended to be “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock is a share of Parent common stock that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse subject to the recipient’s continued service or the attainment of performance goals. Restricted stock units represent the right to receive shares of Parent common stock in the future, with the right to cash or future delivery of the shares also subject to the recipient’s continued service or the attainment of performance goals.

Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock appreciation rights entitle the holder upon exercise to receive shares of Holdings common stock having a value equal to the excess of (i) the value of the number of shares with respect to which the right is being exercised (which value is based on fair market value at the time of such exercise) over (ii) the exercise price applicable to such shares. The exercise price for a stock appreciation right will be not less than 100% of the fair market value of Parent common stock on the date of grant.

Other Stock-Based Awards. Parent’s Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant awards in the form of other stock-based awards, as deemed to be consistent with the purposes of the 2008 Plan. Such awards may be settled in cash, shares or a combination of cash and shares.

 

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The maximum number of shares reserved for the grant or settlement of awards under the 2008 Plan is 6,734,923 shares of Parent, subject to adjustment in the event of an extraordinary dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase or share exchange or other similar corporate transaction. Any shares subject to awards which are cancelled, forfeited, reacquired or repurchased before vesting under the 2008 Plan will again be available for grants under the 2008 Plan. In the event of a change in control, Parent’s Compensation Committee will have the discretion to accelerate all outstanding awards, cancel awards for fair value, provide for the issuance of substitute awards and/or provide award holders an opportunity to exercise their awards prior to the occurrence of the change in control transaction.

Parent’s Compensation Committee administers the 2008 Plan. Parent’s Compensation Committee has the ability to: select individuals to receive awards; select the types of awards to be granted; determine the terms and conditions of the awards, including the number of shares, the purchase price of the awards, and restrictions and performance goals relating to any award; establish the time when the awards and/or restrictions become exercisable, vest or lapse; determine whether options will be incentive stock options; and make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the plan. Parent’s Compensation Committee may grant awards which, in the event of a “change in control” of Parent, become fully vested and exercisable.

Under the 2008 Plan, awards are generally non-transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

Parent’s Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the 2008 Plan, but no amendment or discontinuation will be made that would materially impair the rights of a participant under any award granted without such participant’s consent. In addition, stockholder approval may be required with respect to certain amendments due to the requirements of applicable law. The 2008 Plan, unless sooner terminated by Parent’s Board of Directors, will remain in effect through the tenth anniversary of its adoption.

All options under the 2008 Plan have been granted at a strike price equal to $10.00 per share, which is the subscription price for each share of Parent common stock paid by our current controlling stockholders at closing. Options granted under the 2008 Plan to our NEOs have generally consisted of both time vesting and performance vesting options, except that only time vesting options were granted to Mr. Carroll in light of the nature of his ongoing employment relationship with us, since he is expected to continue to serve as our CEO only until a replacement is found.

The following non-qualified (i.e., non-statutory) option grants were made to our NEOs on February 13, 2008:

 

Named Executive Officer

   Time-vesting Options    Performance-vesting Options

Charles Carroll

   431,035    —  

Lawrence Blackburn

   581,897    387,932

Ben Campbell

   202,048    134,698

Donald King

   202,048    134,698

William Topper

   202,048    134,698

For all of our NEOs except Mr. Carroll, the time vesting options will vest as to 25% of the award on the first anniversary of the grant date (February 13, 2008), and on each of the following three anniversaries thereafter, subject to the optionholder’s provision of continued services. With respect to Mr. Carroll’s options, the first grant of 269,397 options vests in equal installments of 33-1/3% on June 30 of each of 2008, 2009 and 2010, provided that Mr. Carroll continues to provide services to us. Additionally, Mr. Carroll received a second time vesting award of 161,638 options, which award will vest as to 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the closing date, so long as Mr. Carroll continues to serve as Chairman of our Board. The performance vesting options granted to each of our named executive officers except Mr. Carroll will vest as to 20% of the option if

 

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pre-established EBITDA performance targets are achieved or exceeded in each of our fiscal years 2008 through 2012 inclusive. The EBITDA targets were established in a similar manner as described above under the heading “Annual Cash Incentive and Description of Performance Metrics—Performance Metrics,” and are based on the “Consolidated EBITDA” as such term is defined under our credit agreements. The EBITDA targets were established based on our operating business plan over the next five years and were designed to represent a challenging but achievable level of performance. In the event that a performance target is missed in a given fiscal year, but the performance target for the following fiscal year is achieved, the tranche of the performance option that did not vest during the preceding fiscal year will also become vested. The performance targets are subject to adjustment under certain circumstances such as corporate acquisitions and divestitures. Under the terms of the option grant agreements, both time vesting and performance vesting options will accelerate in full upon the occurrence of a change in control transaction. All of the options have a 10-year term and may be exercised by way of a “cashless exercise” unless such exercise would result in adverse accounting treatment or would be prohibited by the terms of applicable financing arrangements.

Impact of Tax and Accounting Rules

Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that may be deducted by us in any year with respect to the NEOs unless the compensation is performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m) and the related regulations, as well as pursuant to a plan approved by our stockholders. A small portion of the salary that was paid to our CEO in 2007 was not deductible for tax purposes because it exceeded this limit and therefore is not qualified under Code Section 162(m). Cash incentives paid with respect to 2007 were granted under the stockholder-approved 2006 Incentive Award Plan and were fully deductible for purposes of 162(m).

For purposes of 2007 bonus award EBITDA calculation. Although a portion of the salary of the CEO was not deductible for purposes of Section 162(m), our Compensation Committee considered that the importance of a stable base salary for the CEO outweighed our cost of the non-deductible compensation. We had qualified certain compensation paid to senior executives for deductibility under Section 162(m), including certain annual cash incentive payments and certain compensation expense related to performance-based options granted in 2004.

FAS 123(R). Options granted in 2004 and 2005 before the IPO, as well as options granted after our IPO, resulted in compensation expense to us under FAS 123(R), and additional compensation expense will be recognized on account of the acceleration of all unvested options at closing of the merger. New options granted in 2008 will likewise result in ongoing compensation expense to us under FAS 123(R).

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Chill Holdings, Inc., which we refer to as Parent, which indirectly owns all of our issued and outstanding capital stock through its direct ownership of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc. All of Parent’s issued and outstanding capital stock is owned by funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC, investment funds affiliated with GSO (the GSO Equity Entities), investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Partners, L.P. (the Farallon Equity Entities) and investment funds affiliated with AlpInvest Partners (AlpInvest), along with certain other investors that the GSO Equity Entities syndicated their investments to, which we collectively refer to as the Investors, and certain members of our management, whom we refer to as the Management Participants.

The Investors are able to control all actions by the board of directors of Parent by virtue of their being able to appoint a majority of the directors and their rights under the stockholders agreement to which they and Parent are parties. In addition, as a result of the voting and transfer provisions of the stockholders agreement, the Investors may be deemed to constitute a group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, each of the members of this group may be deemed to beneficially own all of the shares of Parent common stock held by the Investors and the Management Participants. Each of the Investors disclaims any beneficial ownership of shares of Parent common stock held by the other Investors and the Management participants. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

All of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock have been pledged as collateral to the lenders under the senior secured term credit facilities described under “Description of Other Indebtedness.” If we were to default on our senior secured credit facilities, the lenders could foreclose on these shares of our common stock, which would result in a change of control.

The following table sets forth as of March 31, 2008 certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the voting securities of Parent by each person who beneficially owns more than five percent of Parent common stock, and by the directors and executive officers of us and Parent, individually, and by the directors and executive officers of us and Parent as a group.

 

     Beneficial Ownership of
Parent Common Stock

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of
Shares
   Percentage

5% Stockholders:

     

Funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC(1)

   111,465,213    87.2

Farallon Equity Entities (2)

   10,000,000    7.8

Directors and Executive Officers:

     

Charles A. Carroll(3)(4)

   1,000,000    *

Lawrence M. Blackburn(3)(5)

   878,479    *

Ben D. Campbell(3)

   373,601    *

Donald R. King(3)

   368,701    *

Peter H. Alexander(3)

   110,000    *

Samuel G. Bikman(3)

   211,415    *

Gary L. Clark(3)(6)

   178,296    *

James L. Mishler(3)(7)

   192,670    *

Terrance M. Smith(3)(8)

   152,484    *

William L. Topper(3)

   240,501    *

Mark M. Dolan(3)

     

Ardee Toppe(3)(9)

   42,213    *

Philip U. Hammarskjold(1)

   111,465,213    87.2

Robert B. Henske(1)

   111,465,213    87.2

Erik Ragatz(1)

   111,465,213    87.2

Saloni K. Saraiya(1)

   111,465,213    87.2

All directors and officers as a group (10)

   115,213,573    90.1

 

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(1) Consists of 62,365,698 shares held by Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P. (“HFCP VI”), 32,555,251 shares held by H&F Chill Partners, L.P. (“H&F Chill”), 16,287,805 shares held by Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P. (“HFCP VI (Parallel)”), 230,418 shares held by Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, LP (“HFCE VI”), and 26,041 shares held by Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, LP (“HFCA VI,” and together with HFCP VI, H&F Chill, HFCP VI (Parallel) HFCE VI and HFCA VI, the “H&F Entities”). Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P. (“H&F VI”) is the general partner of HFCP VI, HFCP VI (Parallel), HFCE VI and HFCA VI, and the managing member of H&F Chill GP LLC, which is the general partner of H&F Chill. Hellman & Friedman LLC is the general partner of H&F VI. The investment decisions of each of the H&F Entities are made by the investment committee of Hellman & Friedman LLC, which exercises voting and dispositive power over these shares. Messrs. Hammarskjold, Henske and Ragatz are managing directors and Ms. Saraiya is a principal of H&F VI. Messrs. Hammarskjold, Henske and Ragatz and Ms. Saraiya disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of their individual pecuniary interest in these entities. The address for the H&F Entities, Messrs. Hammarskjold, Henske and Ragatz and Ms. Saraiya is One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111.

 

(2) Consists of 3,975,000 shares held by Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., 4,950,000 held by Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., 550,000 shares held by Farallon Capital Institutional Partners II, L.P., 350,000 shares held by Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P. and 175,000 shares held by Tinicum Partners, L.P. The address for the Farallon Equity Entities is One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100, San Francisco, California 94111.

 

(3) The address of this individual is c/o Goodman Global, Inc., 5151 San Felipe, Houston, Texas, 77056.

 

(4) Includes 0 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

(5) Includes 6,659 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

(6) Includes 9,160 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

(7) Includes 40,916 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

(8) Includes 50,164 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

(9) Includes 31,950 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

(10) Includes 138,849 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2008.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Agreements Related to the Merger

Goodman Global, Inc. and Merger Sub entered into several related party agreements in contemplation of the Merger, to which we succeeded by operation of law as a result of the Merger.

Merger Agreement

As a result of the merger, certain members of senior management received transaction bonuses equal to 75% of their current base salary, totaling not more than $3,202,110 in the aggregate. The transaction bonuses payable to our named executive officers are set forth in the table below. In addition, certain members of senior management were given a “rollover” incentive bonus payment equal to 100% of their current base salary, totaling not more than $4,269,480 in the aggregate. The rollover incentive bonuses payable to our named executive officers are also set forth in the table below.

 

     Transaction
Bonus Paid Upon
Consummation
of the Merger
   Equity Rollover
Incentive Paid Upon
Consummation of
the Merger

Executive Officers:

     

Charles A. Carroll

   $ 805,425    $ 1,073,900

Lawrence M. Blackburn

     335,100      446,800

Ben D. Campbell

     271,013      361,350

Donald R. King

     244,875      326,500

William L. Topper

     278,378      371,170

Stockholders Agreement

In connection with the closing of the Merger, Chill Holdings, Inc., or Parent, Chill Acquisition, Inc., or Merger Sub, and each of the following: funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC, which we refer to as the Hellman & Friedman Investors, funds affiliated with GSO Capital Partners, which we refer to as the GSO Equity Entities, funds affiliated with Farallon Partners, which we refer to as the Farallon Equity Entities, funds affiliated with AlpInvest Partners which we refer to as AlpInvest along with certain other investors that the GSO Equity Entities syndicated their investments to (collectively, the Fund Co-Investors) (collectively, the Investors) and certain members of our management, whom we refer to as the Management Participants, entered into a stockholders agreement that generally contains the following provisions:

Board of Directors. The stockholders agreement requires that, until an initial public offering of shares of Parent’s common stock, the parties that beneficially own shares of Parent’s common stock will vote those shares to elect a board of directors of Parent comprised of the following persons:

 

   

the chief executive officer of Parent and

 

   

the remaining board members designated by the Hellman & Friedman Investors, with at least one of such designees being designated by Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, L.P. for so long as it owns any share equivalents.

After an initial public offering of Parent’s common stock, the Hellman & Friedman Investors and their affiliates will have the right to nominate the number of individuals for election to the board of directors that is equal to the product of the percentage of Parent’s share equivalents held by the Hellman & Friedman Investors and their affiliates, multiplied by the number of directors then on the board, rounded up to the nearest whole number.

For as long as the Hellman & Friedman Investors are entitled to nominate an individual for election to the board of directors, Parent is required to nominate such individual for election as a director as part of the slate that

 

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is included in the proxy statement or consent solicitation relating to such election and provide the highest level of support for the election of such individual as it provides to any other individual standing for election as part of Parent’s slate.

Indemnification. We generally are required to indemnify and hold harmless each of the stockholders that is party to the stockholders agreement, together with its partners, stockholders, members, affiliates, directors, officers, fiduciaries, controlling persons, employees and agents from any losses arising out of either of the following, subject to limited exceptions:

 

   

the stockholder’s or its affiliate’s ownership of share equivalents or other equity securities of Parent or its ability to control or influence Parent, or

 

   

the business, operations, properties, assets or other rights or liabilities of Parent or any of its subsidiaries.

Participation Rights. Subject to specified exceptions, until an initial public offering, Parent may not issue securities or debt securities, a post closing issuance, without permitting each Investor the opportunity to purchase a pro rata share of the securities being issued, based on the Investor’s respective ownership of share equivalents at that time.

Transfer Provisions and Registration Rights. The stockholders agreement also contains (1) transfer restrictions applicable to the share equivalents held by Parent, the Investors and the Management Participants, (2) tag-along rights in favor of the Hellman & Friedman Investors and each eligible tag-along Investor, (3) drag-along rights in favor of the Hellman & Friedman Investors, and (4) certain registration rights (including customary indemnification) and Rule 144 sale provisions applicable to the Investors and their affiliates and the Management Participants.

Management Stockholders Agreement

The common stock and options in Parent issued to the initial Management Participants, each of whom entered into an equity contribution agreement, are subject to a management stockholders agreement, which generally contains the following provisions:

 

   

transfer restrictions, including rights of first refusal in favor of Parent or its designee,

 

   

repurchase rights in favor of Parent or its designee,

 

   

put rights in favor of the Management Participants,

 

   

piggyback registration rights in favor of the Management Participants,

 

   

tag-along rights in favor of the Management Participants with respect to sales by the Hellman & Friedman Investors, and

 

   

drag-along rights in favor of the Hellman & Friedman Investors.

Subscription Agreement

In connection with the Merger, Parent entered into a subscription agreement with each of the following: funds affiliated with the Hellman & Friedman Investors, GSO Equity Entities, Farallon Equity Entities, AlpInvest, and the Fund Co-Investors, each a “Subscriber,” which set forth the terms of the sale and purchase of the subscription securities. Under the subscription agreement, the Subscribers were also required to enter into the stockholders agreement, described above.

Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement

Merger Sub, prior to the Merger, entered into a registration rights agreement with funds affiliated with GSO Capital Partners, funds affiliated with Farallon Partners, funds affiliated with AlpInvest Partners and funds

 

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affiliated with the Fund Co-Investors (the Purchasers), pursuant to which the we were required to file this registration statement and deliver to the Purchasers the exchange notes registered hereunder, in exchange for the initial notes tendered by the Purchasers. Under the agreement, Goodman Global, Inc. and each guarantor, jointly and severally, agreed to indemnify and hold harmless each holder and controlling person against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and reasonable expenses (Losses), if any Losses are based upon any untrue statement of material fact in any registration statement, prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, in any preliminary prospectus or any free-writing prospectus or “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Pursuant to the closing of the Merger, Parent entered into indemnification agreements with Messrs. Alexander, Bikman, Blackburn, Campbell, Carroll, Clark, King, Mishler, Smith, Toppe and Topper. Parent agreed that, for a period of six years following the effective time of the Merger, it will indemnify each of the directors and officers of our predecessor to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law against claims arising out of or pertaining to the fact that the person was an officer or director of our predecessor or any of our subsidiaries prior to the Merger. The certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation provides that we will indemnify each of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising by reason of the fact that he or she is a director, officer or employee of us, or of any of our subsidiaries. On March 6, 2008, Goodman Global, Inc. entered into indemnification agreements with our directors, Messrs. Carroll, Henske and Ragatz and Ms. Saraiya, with similar terms as described above.

Employment and Severance Agreements

In connection with the closing of the Merger, Merger Sub entered into a new employment agreement with Charles Carroll on February 13, 2008, under which Mr. Carroll will continue as the Chief Executive Officer of Goodman Global, Inc. until June 30, 2008 or, if earlier, the date on which his replacement commences employment. On February 13, 2008, Merger Sub also entered into a new employment agreement with Lawrence Blackburn pursuant to which Mr. Blackburn continues to serve as our Chief Financial Officer. In connection with the closing, Merger Sub also entered into individual severance agreements with our other executive officers. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—New Employment Agreements” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—New Severance Agreements.”

Equity Contribution Agreements

Certain members of senior management, including our named executive officers, have entered into equity contribution agreements with Parent. Pursuant to the equity contribution agreements, at the effective time of the Merger, each executive contributed to Parent a portion of the shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock he then held in exchange for shares of Parent common stock having an equivalent value based on the price per share our current controlling shareholders paid for their shares of Parent common stock. To the extent that an executive did not hold a sufficient number of shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock at the effective time of the Merger to contribute the specific value described in his equity contribution agreement, he contributed a sufficient number of vested options to purchase shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock in exchange for vested options for Parent stock so that the total value of the shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock and vested options to purchase shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock contributed to Parent was equal to the value the executive agreed to contribute in his equity contribution agreement. These options were contributed pursuant to the terms of option rollover agreements dated as of February 13, 2008. The aggregate value of Goodman (predecessor) stock contributed for common stock of Chill Holdings, Inc. by all members of senior management, including our named executive officers pursuant to the equity contribution agreements, was $36.1 million. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Contribution Agreements.”

 

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In addition, Messrs. Blackburn, Clark, Mishler, Smith and Toppe entered into option rollover agreements to “roll” options over Goodman Global, Inc. common stock in exchange for new Parent options to purchase shares of Parent equity, at an exercise price per share calculated on the basis of a ratio of the price paid for each share of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock in the Merger over the price per share of Parent common stock paid by our current controlling stockholders. Although the intrinsic value of the shares rolled varied for each executive, the terms of these option rollover agreements are identical to the terms summarized at “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Contribution Agreements.” Each member of senior management who contributed his existing equity for new equity in Parent or invested in additional equity in Parent was required to become a party to a management stockholders’ agreement, the terms of which are summarized at “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

Overview

In connection with the Transactions, we and Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc. entered into (1) a senior secured term credit agreement with Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, and (2) an asset-based revolving credit agreement with Barclays Capital and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. We refer to these facilities as the senior secured credit facilities.

The senior secured credit facilities provide senior secured financing in the amount of up to $1.1 billion, consisting of:

 

   

an $800.0 million senior secured term credit agreement; and

 

   

an asset-based revolving credit agreement of up to $300.0 million, subject to borrowing base availability.

Goodman Global, Inc. is the borrower under the senior secured credit facilities. The amount from time to time available under the asset-based revolving credit agreement (including in respect of letters of credit) shall not exceed the borrowing base. The borrowing base under the asset-based revolving credit agreement will equal the sum of (1) 85% of all eligible accounts receivable of ours and each guarantor thereunder and (2) 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of all eligible inventory of ours and each guarantor thereunder and, in each case, subject to customary reserves established or modified from time to time by and at the permitted discretion of the administrative agent or collateral agent thereunder. The asset-based revolving credit agreement includes borrowing capacity of up to $30.0 million for short-term borrowings referred to as swingline loans and up to $50.0 million for letters of credit.

Interest Rate and Fees

Borrowings under the senior secured credit facilities bear interest at a rate equal to an applicable margin plus, at our option, either (1) a base rate determined by reference to the higher of (a) the prime lending rate published by The Wall Street Journal and (b) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1% or (2) a reserve adjusted Eurodollar rate determined by reference to the higher of (a) the London interbank rate for deposits in dollars for the applicable interest period of one, two, three or six months (or if available to all applicable lenders, nine or twelve months or a period shorter than one month) and (b) 3.25%.

The initial applicable margin for borrowings is, under the senior secured term credit agreement, 3.25% with respect to base rate loans and 4.25% with respect to Eurodollar rate loans and, under the senior secured asset-based revolving credit agreement, 1.00% with respect to base rate loans and 2.00% with respect to Eurodollar rate loans. The applicable margin for loans under the senior secured term credit agreement may be reduced subject to our attaining a certain leverage ratio.

In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the senior secured credit facilities, we are required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder. The initial commitment fee rate is 0.50% per annum. The commitment fee rate may be reduced subject to our attaining a certain leverage ratio. We must also pay customary letter of credit fees.

 

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Prepayments

The senior secured term credit agreement requires us to offer to prepay outstanding term loans, subject to certain exceptions, as follows:

 

   

100% of the net proceeds from non-ordinary course asset sales by us and our restricted subsidiaries (with a 100% reinvestment exception);

 

   

100% of the net proceeds from issuances of debt by us and our restricted subsidiaries, other than proceeds from debt permitted under the senior secured term credit agreement;

 

   

100% of the net proceeds from permitted sale leasebacks consummated by us or our restricted subsidiaries (with a 100% reinvestment exception);

 

   

100% of the net proceeds from insurance recovery and condemnation events of us and our restricted subsidiaries (with a 100% reinvestment exception); and

 

   

75% (which percentage shall be reduced to 50% or 25% subject our attaining certain leverage tests) of our annual excess cash flow.

The foregoing mandatory prepayments are applied pro rata to the remaining amortization payments under the senior secured term credit agreement.

We may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the senior secured term credit agreement at any time. A prepayment fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the prepayment must accompany all prepayments of term loans made on or prior to February 13, 2009. All prepayments of term loans made after February 13, 2009 may be made without premium or penalty, other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to Eurodollar rate loans.

The asset-based revolving credit agreement requires us to prepay outstanding loans under the asset-based revolving credit agreement, subject to certain exceptions, as follows:

 

   

on any date on which the sum of all outstanding revolving credit loans, all outstanding swingline loans and the total lenders’ letter of credit exposure exceeds the total revolving credit commitments under the asset-based revolving credit agreement, 100% of such excess amount;

 

   

except for permitted overadvances, if on any date the sum of all outstanding revolving credit loans, all outstanding swingline loans and the total lenders’ letter of credit exposure exceeds 100% of the borrowing base then in effect, then 100% of such excess amount; and 100% of all available funds credited to a designated collection account after the occurrence and during the continuation of a cash dominion event (as defined in the asset-based revolving credit agreement).

We may voluntarily repay outstanding revolving credit loans and swingline loans under the asset-based revolving credit facility at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to Eurodollar rate loans. In addition, we may elect to permanently terminate or reduce all or a portion of the revolving credit commitments and the letter of credit sub-limit under the asset-based revolving credit facility at any time without premium or penalty.

Amortization

Beginning June 30, 2008, we are required to repay installments on the term loans under the senior secured term credit agreement in quarterly principal amounts of $2.0 million, with the balance payable on February 13, 2014. There is no amortization under the senior secured asset-based revolving credit agreement. The entire principal amounts (if any) of revolving credit loans outstanding under the senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility are due and payable in full at maturity, February 13, 2013, on which day the revolving credit commitments thereunder will terminate. The entire principal amounts (if any) of swingline loans outstanding

 

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under the senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility are due and payable in full at maturity, five business days prior to February 13, 2013, on which day the swingline commitments thereunder will terminate.

Guarantee and Security

All obligations under the senior secured credit facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., and each of our direct and indirect U.S. material restricted subsidiaries (other than AsureCare Corp.), which we refer to, collectively, as Guarantors.

All obligations under the senior secured term credit agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured by, subject to certain exceptions:

 

   

a first-priority pledge of 100% of the capital stock of us and each of our direct restricted subsidiaries and of each subsidiary Guarantor (but not more than 65% of the capital stock of any material first-tier non-U.S. subsidiary) (we refer to such pledged capital stock as the Equity Collateral);

 

   

a first-priority security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all of our and the Guarantors’ tangible and intangible assets (we refer to such assets, together with the Equity Collateral, as the Term Facility Collateral) that do not constitute Asset-Based Facility Collateral (as defined below); and

 

   

a second-priority security interest in all Asset-Based Facility Collateral.

All obligations under the asset-based revolving credit agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured by, subject to certain exceptions:

 

   

a first-priority security interest in substantially all of our and the Guarantors’ accounts receivable, inventory, cash, deposit accounts, other bank accounts and securities accounts, intercompany notes and intangible assets to the extent attached to the foregoing and all proceeds of the foregoing (we refer to such assets, collectively, as the Asset-Based Facility Collateral); and

 

   

a second-priority security interest in all Term Facility Collateral.

Covenants and Events of Default

The senior secured term credit agreement includes financial covenants requiring us to maintain a maximum total leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio and the asset-based revolving credit agreement includes a financial covenant requiring us to maintain, in certain circumstances, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. In addition, the senior secured credit facilities also contain other customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

General

Certain terms used in this description are defined under the subheading “Certain Definitions.” In this description, (i) the terms “we”, “our” and “us” each refer to Goodman Global, Inc. and its consolidated Subsidiaries; and (ii) the term “Issuer” refers only to (a) prior to the consummation of the Transactions, Chill Acquisition, Inc. and not any of its Affiliates and (b) from and after the consummation of the Acquisition, Goodman Global, Inc. and not any of its Subsidiaries.

The Issuer issued $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 13.50%/14.00% senior subordinated notes due 2016 (the “Notes”) under an indenture dated as of February 15, 2008 (as amended, the “Indenture”) by and between the Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of those agreements, including the definitions therein of certain terms used below. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, not this description, defines your rights as Holders of the Notes. You may request copies of the Indenture at our address set forth under the heading “Prospectus Summary.”

Brief Description of Notes

The Notes are:

 

   

unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the Issuer;

 

   

subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (including the Credit Facilities) of the Issuer;

 

   

effectively subordinated to all secured Indebtedness of the Issuer (including the Credit Facilities);

 

   

senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer;

 

   

guaranteed on an unsecured senior subordinated basis by each Subsidiary that guarantees the Credit Facilities; and

 

   

subject to registration with the Commission pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

Guarantees

The Guarantors jointly and severally unconditionally guarantee, on a senior subordinated basis, that the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes shall be duly and punctually paid in full or performed when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control Offer, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise, and interest on overdue principal, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any interest, if any, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes (including fees, expenses or other) shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms set forth in the Indenture.

The subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Unrestricted Subsidiaries (such subsidiaries, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) (other than as detailed below) guarantee the Notes. Each of the Guarantees of the Notes is a general unsecured obligation of each Guarantor, subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of each such entity and is effectively subordinated to all secured Indebtedness of each such entity. The Notes are structurally subordinated to Indebtedness of subsidiaries of the Issuer that do not Guarantee the Notes.

 

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Not all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries Guarantee the Notes. As of the date of this prospectus, all of the Issuer’s domestic Subsidiaries, other than AsureCare Corp., Guarantee the Notes, and none of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries Guarantee the Notes. See “Certain Covenants—Subsidiary Guarantors.” As of the date of this prospectus, the Issuer does not have any Unrestricted Subsidiaries. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these non-guarantor Subsidiaries, the non-guarantor Subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Issuer. As of the date of this prospectus, substantially all of our consolidated assets and revenues were attributable to the Issuer and the Guarantors.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantees are limited as necessary to prevent the Guarantees from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.

If a Guarantee were rendered voidable, it could be subordinated by a court to all other indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent liabilities) of the Guarantor, and, depending on the amount of such indebtedness, a Guarantor’s liability on its Guarantee could be reduced to zero. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.”

A Guarantor will be deemed released from its obligations under its Guarantee of the Notes upon:

(1) the sale or disposition (including by merger or stock purchase) of a Guarantor (as an entirety) or of all or substantially all of its assets to an entity which is not and is not required to become a Guarantor, which transaction is otherwise in compliance with the Indenture,

(2) the exercise by the Issuer of Legal Defeasance (upon such Legal Defeasance becoming effective) in accordance with the Indenture or the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture being discharged in accordance with the Indenture, or

(3) the designation of a Guarantor to become an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Furthermore, if any Guarantor became a Guarantor because it guaranteed any of the Issuer’s other Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness of the Guarantors, or, because more than 66% of its Voting Equity Interests were pledged to a lender to secure the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, and such Guarantor is released from that guarantee, then it shall also be released from its Guarantee under the Indenture.

Ranking

Senior Indebtedness Versus the Notes

The payment of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes and the payment of any Guarantee are subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in cash in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or the relevant Guarantor, as the case may be, including the obligations of the Issuer and such Guarantor under the Credit Facilities.

The Notes are also effectively subordinated to all of the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s existing and future secured Indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness. As of December 31, 2007, Goodman Global, Inc. had, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions as of such date, $905.0 million of Senior Indebtedness (which was also secured Indebtedness), consisting of secured Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, and Goodman Global, Inc. had $160.0 million in undrawn commitments under the revolving portion of the Credit Facilities, after giving effect to $35.0 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2008.

Although the Indenture contains limitations on the amount of additional Indebtedness that the Issuer and the Subsidiaries may incur, under certain circumstances the amount of such Indebtedness could be substantial. See “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock.”

 

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Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes

The Issuer maintains one or more paying agents for the Notes. The initial paying agent for the Notes is the Trustee.

The Issuer also maintains a registrar. The initial registrar will be the Trustee. The registrar maintains a register reflecting ownership of the Notes outstanding from time to time and makes payments on and facilitates transfer of Notes on behalf of the Issuer.

The Issuer may change the paying agents or the registrars without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as a paying agent or registrar.

Subordination of the Notes

Any Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is Senior Indebtedness ranks senior to the Notes and the Guarantees in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

The Issuer and the Guarantors will not incur, or suffer to exist, any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such Person, unless, by its terms, such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate in right of payment to, or ranks pari passu with, the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable.

Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor may make payment (by set-off or otherwise) to the Holders of the Notes on account of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes, or on account of the redemption provisions of the Notes (including any repurchases of Notes), for cash or property (other than Junior Securities):

(i) upon the maturity of the Issuer’s Senior Indebtedness or any Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor by lapse of time, acceleration (unless waived) or otherwise, unless and until all principal of, premium, if any, and the interest and other amounts on such Senior Indebtedness are first paid in full in cash and, in the case of Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities shall either have been terminated or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms thereof; or

(ii) in the event of default in the payment of any principal of, premium, if any, or interest or other amounts on the Issuer’s Senior Indebtedness or Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, as applicable, when such Senior Indebtedness becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise (a “Payment Default”), unless and until such Payment Default has been cured or waived or otherwise has ceased to exist or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash and all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities have been terminated or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms thereof.

Upon (i) the happening of an event of default other than a Payment Default that permits the holders of any Designated Senior Indebtedness to declare such Designated Senior Indebtedness to be due and payable and (ii) written notice of such event of default delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee by the holders or representatives of any Designated Senior Indebtedness (a “Payment Blockage Notice”), then, unless and until such event of default has been cured or waived or otherwise has ceased to exist, no payment (by set-off or otherwise) may be made by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor, in each case, which is an obligor or guarantor under such Designated Senior Indebtedness, to the Holders of the Notes on account of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Liquidated Damages) on the Notes, (including any repurchases of any of the Notes), or on account of the redemption provisions of the Notes, in any such case, other than payments made with Junior Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Designated Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such event of default exists has been declared due and payable in its entirety within 179 days after the Payment Blockage Notice is delivered as set forth above (the “Payment Blockage Period”) (and such declaration has not been rescinded or waived), at the end of the Payment Blockage Period, the

 

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Issuer and the Guarantors will be required to pay all sums not previously paid to the Holders of the Notes during the Payment Blockage Period due to the foregoing prohibitions and to resume all other payments as and when due on the Notes.

Any number of Payment Blockage Notices may be given; provided, however, that: (i) not more than one Payment Blockage Notice shall be given within a period of any 360 consecutive days, and (ii) no non-Payment Default that existed upon the date of such Payment Blockage Notice or the commencement of such Payment Blockage Period shall be made the basis for the commencement of any other Payment Blockage Period unless such default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days (for purposes of this provision, any subsequent action, or any subsequent breach of any financial covenant for a period commencing after the expiration of such Payment Blockage Period that, in either case, would give rise to a new event of default, even though it is an event that would also have been a separate breach pursuant to any provision under which a prior event of default previously existed, will constitute a new event of default for this purpose).

Upon any distribution of assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor upon any dissolution, winding up, total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or a Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary, in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or a similar proceeding or upon assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshaling of assets or liabilities:

(1) the holders of all of the Issuer’s Senior Indebtedness or such Guarantor’s Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, will first be entitled to receive payment in full in cash and all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities will either have been terminated or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms thereof before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment (other than in the form of Junior Securities) on account of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (or Liquidated Damages) on the Notes; and

(2) any payment or distribution of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s assets of any kind or character from any source, whether in cash, property or securities (other than Junior Securities) to which the Holders or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders would be entitled (by set-off or otherwise), except for the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture, will be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such a payment or distribution directly to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative to the extent necessary to make payment in full in cash on all such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid and to cash collateralize all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities that remain outstanding, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the subordination and payment blockage provisions described above, any payment or distribution of assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other than Junior Securities) that is received by the Trustee or the Holders at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by the payment blockage provisions described above will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, and will be immediately paid or delivered by the Trustee or such Holders, as the case may be, to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid for or to their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate principal amounts remaining unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, for application to the payment of all such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full in cash and to cash collateralize all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities that remain outstanding after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes by reason of any of the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture will not prevent the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default as described under “Events of Default and Remedies” or in any way limit the rights of the Trustee or any Holder to pursue any other rights or remedies with respect to the Notes.

 

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The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of Notes pursuant to the Indenture. In the event that the Trustee or the Holders receive any payment from a Guarantor at a time when such payment is prohibited by the foregoing sentence, such payment will be held in trust for the benefit of, and immediately paid over and delivered to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay in full in cash all such Senior Indebtedness and to cash collateralize any letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities that remain effective.

Each Holder of the Notes by his acceptance thereof authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture and to protect the rights of the Holders pursuant to the Indenture, and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purpose, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Issuer or any Guarantor), the immediate filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of his Notes in the form required in said proceedings and cause said claim to be approved. In the event of any liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding, if the Holders of the Notes (or the Trustee on their behalf) have not filed any claim, proof of claim, or other instrument of similar character necessary to enforce the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor in respect of the Notes at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of the time to file the same, then in such event, but only in such event, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or a representative on their behalf may, as an attorney-in-fact for such Holders, file any claim, proof of claim, or other instrument of similar character on behalf of such Holders. Neither the Trustee nor the holders of Senior Indebtedness nor their representative may authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

The terms of the subordination provisions described above will not apply to amounts deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions described under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” and “Satisfaction and Discharge,” to the extent the making of such deposit by the Issuer shall (i) not be in contravention of any term or provision of the Credit Facilities when made and (ii) be allocated for the payment of the Notes. Otherwise, any deposit of assets with the Trustee or the registrar or paying agent (whether or not in trust) for the payment of principal of or interest on any Notes will be subject to the subordination and payment blockage provisions described above; provided that, if prior to one Business Day preceding the date on which by the terms of the Indenture any such assets may become distributable for any purpose (including without limitation, the payment of either principal of or interest on any Note) the Trustee or such paying agent has not have received with respect to such assets the written notice provided for in the Indenture, then the Trustee or such paying agent will have full power and authority to receive such assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and will not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such date.

Transfer and Exchange

A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuer is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuer is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

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Principal, Maturity, Interest and HYDO Redemption

The Issuer issued $500,000,000 in principal amount of Notes to the initial Holders on February 13, 2008 and will issue up to the same principal amount of Exchange Notes in this offering. The Notes will mature on February 15, 2016. Subject to compliance with the covenant described below under the caption “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock,” the Issuer may issue additional Notes from time to time after this offering under the Indenture (Additional Notes). The Notes offered by the Issuer and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Notes” for all purposes of the Indenture and this “Description of Notes” include any Additional Notes that are actually issued.

Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15, commencing on August 15, 2008, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding February 1 and August 1. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

For any interest payment period after the initial interest payment period, the Issuer may, at its option, elect to pay interest on the Notes:

 

   

entirely in cash at a rate equal to 13.50% per annum; or

 

   

at a rate per annum equal to 14.00%, of which up to 3.00% per annum may be paid by issuing PIK Notes (“PIK Interest”); provided that the Issuer may not make any interest payment in PIK Notes after the first HYDO Determination Date (as defined below) to the extent such interest payment in PIK Notes would cause the accrued and unpaid interest and original issue discount on the Notes to exceed the amount described in clause (b) of the definition of HYDO Redemption Amount (as defined below).

The Issuer must elect the form of interest payment with respect to each interest period by delivering a notice to the Trustee prior to the beginning of each interest period. The Trustee shall promptly deliver a corresponding notice to the Holders. In the absence of such an election for any interest period, interest on the Notes shall be payable according to the election for the previous interest period. Interest for the first interest period commencing on the Issuer Date shall be payable entirely in cash.

PIK Interest on the Notes will be payable (x) with respect to Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of, or held by, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee on the relevant record date, by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding global Note by an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable interest period (rounded up to the nearest $1,000) and (y) with respect to Notes represented by definitive certificated notes, by issuing PIK Notes in definitive certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable period (rounded up to the nearest whole dollar), and the Trustee will, at the request of the Issuer, authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes in certificated form for original issuance to the Holders on the relevant record date, as shown by the records of the register of Holders. Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding global Notes as a result of a payment of PIK Interest, the global Notes will bear interest on such increased principal amount from and after the date of such payment of PIK Interest. Any PIK Notes issued in definitive certificated form will be dated as of the applicable interest payment date and will bear interest from and after such date. All PIK Notes will mature on February 15, 2016 and will be governed by, and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of, the Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the Notes issued on the Issue Date. Any definitive certificated PIK Notes will be issued with the description PIK on the face of such PIK Note.

If the Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(l) of the Code, at the end of each “accrual period” (as defined in Section 1272(a)(5) of the Code) ending after February 13, 2013, the fifth anniversary of the outstanding Notes’ issuance (each, a “HYDO

 

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Determination Date”), the Issuer will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Note then outstanding equal to the HYDO Redemption Amount (each such redemption, a “HYDO Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each Note redeemed pursuant to any HYDO Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. “HYDO Redemption Amount” means, as of each HYDO Determination Date, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the Notes over (b) and amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the Notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the Notes. No partial redemption or repurchase of the Notes prior to any HYDO Determination Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture will alter the Issuer’s obligation to make any HYDO Redemption with respect to any Notes that remain outstanding on such HYDO redemption date.

Principal of, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose, payment of cash interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account in the United States. Until otherwise designated by the Issuer, the Issuer’s office or agency will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

Liquidated Damages

Liquidated damages (“Liquidated Damages”) may accrue on the Notes in certain circumstances pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases

The Issuer is not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuer may be required to offer to purchase Notes as described under the caption “Repurchase at the Option of Holders.” We may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below, the Issuer is not entitled to redeem Notes at its option prior to February 15, 2011.

At any time prior to February 15, 2011, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder of Notes, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, and accrued and unpaid interest including Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), except that installments of interest which are due and payable on dates falling on or prior to the applicable redemption date will be payable to the persons who were the Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates.

 

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On and after February 15, 2011, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice as described under the heading “—Selection and Notice,” at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), thereon to the applicable date of redemption of the Notes, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on February 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2011

   106.75 %

2012

   104.50 %

2013

   102.25 %

2014 and thereafter

   100.00 %

In addition, until February 15, 2011, the Issuer may, at its option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 113.500% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon to the redemption date, within 90 days of the closing of any Qualified Equity Offering from the net cash proceeds of such Qualified Equity Offering; provided that immediately following each such redemption not less than 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued pursuant to the Indenture on the Issue Date remain outstanding.

Selection and Notice

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the rules of DTC, if applicable, or on a pro rata basis.

Notices of redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, any notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that is to be redeemed.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer will issue a new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note for the Holder. Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the date fixed for redemption at the redemption price. Interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption on and after the redemption date if the Issuer deposits with the Trustee or the paying agent immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on all Notes to be redeemed on that date, in accordance with the Indenture.

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

Change of Control

In the event that a Change of Control has occurred, each Holder of Notes will have the right, at such Holder’s option, pursuant to an offer (subject only to conditions required by applicable law, if any) by the Issuer (the “Change of Control Offer”), to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes (provided that the principal amount of such Notes must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof or, for PIK Notes in definitive form, $1.00 or an integral multiple thereof) on a date (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”) that is no later than 60 calendar days after the occurrence of such Change of Control, at a cash price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”), together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), to the Change of Control Purchase Date.

 

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The Change of Control Offer shall be made within 30 calendar days following a Change of Control and shall remain open for 20 Business Days following its commencement, or such other period as may be required by applicable law (the “Change of Control Offer Period”). Upon expiration of the Change of Control Offer Period, the Issuer shall purchase all Notes properly tendered in response to the Change of Control Offer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer, including any requirements to repay in full all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, any of the Issuer’s other Senior Indebtedness or Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor or obtain the consents of such lenders to such Change of Control Offer as set forth in the following paragraph, and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (2) the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described above under “Optional Redemption.”

Any Change of Control Offer will be made in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, if applicable, Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Indenture, the Issuer’s compliance or compliance by any of the Guarantors with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of their obligations under the Indenture.

On or before the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Issuer will:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,

(2) deposit with the paying agent cash sufficient to pay the Change of Control Purchase Price (together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) to the Change of Control Purchase Date) of all Notes so tendered, and

(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate listing the Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Issuer.

The Credit Facilities may prohibit or limit, and future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Indebtedness to which the Issuer becomes a party may prohibit or limit, the Issuer from purchasing any Notes as a result of a Change of Control. The Indenture requires that, prior to the commencement of a Change of Control Offer, but in any event within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer will:

(1) (a) repay in full in cash and terminate all commitments under Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities and all other Senior Indebtedness the terms of which require repayment upon a Change of Control or (b) offer to repay in full and terminate all commitments under all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities and all such other Senior Indebtedness and repay the Indebtedness owed to each lender which has accepted such offer in full; or

(2) obtain the requisite consents under the Credit Facilities and all such other Senior Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided in the Indenture.

The Issuer’s failure to comply with the preceding sentence shall constitute an Event of Default.

The Credit Facilities provide that certain change of control events with respect to the Issuer would constitute a default thereunder (including a Change of Control under the Indenture). If we experience a change of control that triggers a default under our Credit Facilities, we could seek a waiver of such default or seek to refinance our Credit Facilities. In the event we do not obtain such a waiver or refinance the Credit Facilities, such default could result in amounts outstanding under our Credit Facilities being declared due and payable.

 

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Our ability to pay cash to the Holders of Notes following the occurrence of a Change of Control may be limited by our then-existing financial resources. Therefore, sufficient funds may not be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.

The Change of Control purchase feature of the Notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of us and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control purchase feature is a result of negotiations between the Initial Purchasers and us. After the Issue Date, we have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, we could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings. Restrictions on our ability to incur additional Indebtedness are contained in the covenants described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock” and “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Liens.” Such restrictions in the Indenture can be waived only with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Except for the limitations contained in such covenants, however, the Indenture will not contain any covenants or provisions that may afford Holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Issuer. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control has occurred and whether a Holder of Notes may require the Issuer to repurchase the Notes as described above.

The provisions under the Indenture relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes.

Asset Sales

The Indenture provides that the Issuer and the Guarantors will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, in one or a series of related transactions, convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of their property, business or assets, including by merger or consolidation (in the case of one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries), and including any sale or other transfer or issuance of any Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, whether by the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or through the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests by one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries and including any sale and leaseback transaction, other than in any such case to the Issuer or another Subsidiary and other than sales of Disqualified Capital Stock in compliance with the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock” (any of the foregoing, an “Asset Sale”), unless:

(1) at least 75% of the total consideration for such Asset Sale or series of related Asset Sales consists of cash, Cash Equivalents, Related Business Assets or a combination thereof;

(2) with respect to any Asset Sale or related series of Asset Sales involving a conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of securities, property or assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $10,000,000, senior management determines in good faith that the Issuer shall receive or such Subsidiary shall receive, as applicable, Fair Market Value for such Asset Sale; and

(3) with respect to any Asset Sale or related series of Asset Sales involving a conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of securities, property or assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $15,000,000, the Issuer’s Board of Directors determines in good faith that the Issuer receive or such Subsidiary receives, as applicable, Fair Market Value for such Asset Sale.

 

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For purposes of clause (1) above, the following shall be deemed cash consideration: (x) Senior Indebtedness or balance sheet liabilities (other than contingent liabilities) assumed by a transferee in connection with such Asset Sale; provided that the Issuer is and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are fully released from obligations in connection therewith; (y) property that within 135 days of such Asset Sale is converted into cash or Cash Equivalents; and (z) any non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other non-cash consideration received pursuant to this clause (z) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25,000,000, with the Fair Market Value of each item of non-cash consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents shall be treated as Net Cash Proceeds attributable to the original Asset Sale for which such property was received.

Within 365 days following such Asset Sale, the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom (the “Asset Sale Amount”) may be:

(a) invested in Related Business Assets, used to make Restricted Investments that are not prohibited under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”

(b) used to retire Senior Indebtedness or Indebtedness of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries; provided that if such Senior Indebtedness is Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, the Issuer will permanently reduce the amount of such Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (c) of “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock”, provided that in the case of a revolver or similar arrangement that makes credit available, such commitment is so permanently reduced by such amount;

(c) applied to the optional redemption of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and to the optional redemption of other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to repurchase such Indebtedness with the proceeds from such Asset Sale, pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding; or

(d) applied in any combination of the foregoing.

Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds, the Issuer may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Cash Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture.

The accumulated Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Sales not applied as set forth in the preceding paragraph shall constitute “Excess Proceeds.” Within 30 days after the date that the amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25,000,000, the Issuer shall apply an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds (rounded down to the nearest $1,000) (the “Asset Sale Offer Amount”) by making an offer to repurchase the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to make an offer to purchase such Indebtedness with the proceeds from such Asset Sale pursuant to a cash offer (subject only to conditions required by applicable law, if any), pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding (the “Asset Sale Offer”). The Issuer will offer to purchase the Notes in the Asset Sale Offer at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes (the “Asset Sale Offer Price”), together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) to the date of payment. Each Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for 20 Business Days following its commencement (the “Asset Sale Offer Period”).

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Asset Sale Offer Amount, the Issuer may use any remaining Net Cash Proceeds for general corporate purposes as otherwise permitted by the Indenture and following the consummation of each Asset Sale Offer the Excess Proceeds amount shall be reset to zero.

 

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Notwithstanding, and without complying with, the provisions of this covenant:

(1) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may, in the ordinary course of business, convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of inventory and other assets acquired and held for resale in the ordinary course of business;

(2) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may liquidate Cash Equivalents;

(3) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of assets pursuant to and in accordance with “Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets;”

(4) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell or dispose of damaged, worn out or other obsolete personal property in the ordinary course of business so long as such property is no longer necessary for the proper conduct of the Issuer’s business or the business of such Subsidiary, as applicable;

(5) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may surrender or waive contract rights or settle, release or surrender contract, tort or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(6) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may grant Liens (and permit foreclosure thereon) not prohibited by the Indenture;

(7) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell or grant licenses to use the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary’s intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business, other than the licensing of intellectual property on a long-term basis;

(8) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell assets received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary upon the foreclosure on a Lien;

(9) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell or exchange equipment in connection with the purchase or other acquisition of other equipment;

(10) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may dispose any Capital Stock or other ownership interest in or assets or rights of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(11) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may make conveyances, sales, assignments or other dispositions that constitute Permitted Investments (excluding clauses (1), (2) and (3) in the definition thereof) and Restricted Payments not prohibited by “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”

(12) the Issuer may, and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may, in one or a series of related transactions, sell or dispose of assets for which the Issuer or the Issuer’s Subsidiaries receive aggregate consideration of less than $10,000,000;

(13) a Subsidiary of the Issuer may dispose of property or assets to the Issuer and the Issuer or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer may dispose of property or assets to another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(14) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code or any comparable or successor provision, engage in any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Related Business;

(15) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may lease, assign or sub-lease any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(16) foreclosures, condemnation or any similar action on assets shall not be subject to this covenant;

(17) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may sell or discount inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or convert accounts receivable to notes receivable in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(18) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may unwind any Hedging Obligation; and

(19) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of property or assets described in Schedule 9.4 of the credit facility described in clause (1) of the definition of Credit Facility.

All Net Cash Proceeds in excess of $10,000,000 from an Event of Loss shall be reinvested or used as otherwise provided above in clauses (a) or (b) or the first paragraph of this covenant.

Any Asset Sale Offer shall be made in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including, if applicable, Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the Issuer’s compliance or the compliance of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of the Issuer’s obligations under this covenant.

If the payment date in connection with an Asset Sale Offer hereunder is on or after the Record Date for an Interest Payment Date and on or before the associated Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) due on such Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

The Credit Facilities limit, and future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Indebtedness to which the Issuer becomes a party may prohibit or limit, the Issuer from purchasing any Notes pursuant to this Asset Sales covenant. In the event the Issuer is prohibited from purchasing the Notes, the Issuer could seek the consent of its lenders to the purchase of the Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Issuer does not obtain such consent or repay such borrowings, it will remain prohibited from purchasing the Notes. In such case, the Issuer’s failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. If, as a result thereof, a default occurs with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions in the Indenture would restrict payments to the Holders of the Notes under certain circumstances.

Certain Covenants

During any period of time that (a) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will not be subject to the covenants specifically listed under the following captions under this “Description of Notes” section of this prospectus (collectively, the “Suspended Covenant”):

(1) “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control;”

(2) “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”

(3) “—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”

(4) “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(5) clause (3) of the first paragraph of “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;”

(6) “—Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates;”

(7) “—Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries;”

(8) “—Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantors;” and

(9) “—Limitations on Layering Indebtedness.”

 

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In the event that the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenant under the Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies (x) withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to such series of Notes below an Investment Grade Rating and/or (y) the Issuer or any of its Affiliates enters into an agreement to effect a transaction that would result in a Change of Control and one or more of the Rating Agencies indicate that if consummated, such transaction (alone or together with any related recapitalization or refinancing transactions) would cause such Rating Agency to withdraw its Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the ratings assigned to such series of Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenant under the Indenture with respect to future events, including, without limitation, a proposed transaction described in clause (y) of this paragraph. During the period when a Suspended Covenant is in effect (a “Suspension Period”), (A) the amount of Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales shall be reset to zero and (B) no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer or any Subsidiary prior to the Reversion Date will give rise to a Default or Event of Default, provided that (i) with respect to Restricted Payments made after the Reversion Date, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though the limitations contained under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” had been in effect prior to, but not during such Suspension Period and (ii) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Capital Stock issued, during such Suspension Period will be deemed to have been incurred or issued pursuant to clause (e) under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock.”

There can be no assurance that the Notes will ever achieve or maintain Investment Grade Ratings.

Limitation on Restricted Payments

The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payment if, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis:

(1) a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(2) the Issuer is not permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;” or

(3) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, including after giving effect to such proposed Restricted Payment on and after the Issue Date, would exceed, without duplication, the sum of:

(a) 50% of the Issuer’s aggregate Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on the first day of the first full fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to and including the last day of the most recent fiscal period for which internal financial statements are available (or, in the event Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, then minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(b) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer from a Capital Contribution or from the sale of the Issuer’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or of debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than (i) to one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, (ii) the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer from a Capital Contribution or from the sale of the Issuer’s Equity Interests in connection with the Merger and Related Financing Transactions, (iii) to the extent applied in connection with a Qualified Exchange, (iv) Excluded Contributions, or (v) used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (a)(ii)(A) of the following paragraph, or, to avoid duplication, otherwise given credit for in any provision of the following paragraph), after the Issue Date, plus

(c) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash, less the cost of disposition, by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such

 

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Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or

(ii) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Subsidiary pursuant to paragraph (i) of the following paragraph of this Restricted Payments covenant or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

(d) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the Fair Market Value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary, not to exceed the amount of Investments previously made by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in such Person through the designation of such Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

The foregoing clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the first paragraph of this Restricted Payments covenant, however, will not prohibit:

(a) (i) other Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (a)(i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000, and (ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, payments of cash dividends to any Parent Entity for repurchases of Equity Interests, or regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Restricted Payments in the form of repurchase of Equity Interest in exchange for subordinated Indebtedness described in clause (13) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness,” in each case, from the Issuer’s employees, distributors or directors (or their heirs or estates) or employees or directors (or their heirs or estates) of, any Parent Entity or any Subsidiary of the Issuer upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment, provided such repurchases are made with the proceeds of such dividends within ten Business Days of the payment of such dividends, provided, further, that, the aggregate amount of such repurchases (x) in any calendar year does not exceed $5,000,000, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to the immediately succeeding calendar year and (y) the aggregate amount of such repurchases after the Issue Date shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate; provided, still further, that such amounts specified above relating to calendar and aggregate limits may be increased by an amount equal to

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any Parent Entity, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests are not Excluded Contributions and have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Restricted Payments covenant; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary after the Issue Date; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (a)(ii);

(b) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Capital Stock issued after the Issue Date in accordance with this Restricted Payments covenant to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charges;”

(c) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee (i) with Excess Proceeds to the extent such Excess

 

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Proceeds are permitted to be used for general corporate purposes under the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” or (ii) with, after the completion of a Change in Control Offer pursuant to the terms of the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control”, cash offered to redeem Notes pursuant to such Change of Control Offer less any cash paid to Holders of the Notes pursuant to such Change in Control Offer;

(d) the declaration and payment of any dividend, distribution or other payments by any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries on its Equity Interests that is paid pro rata to all holders of such Equity Interests;

(e) a Qualified Exchange;

(f) the payment of any dividend on shares of Capital Stock within 60 days after the date of its declaration if such dividend could have been made on the date of such declaration in compliance with the foregoing provisions;

(g) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price thereof;

(h) payments to a Parent Entity (or a subsidiary of a Parent Entity), pursuant to this clause (h), (1) to enable the Parent Entity to pay Federal, state or local tax liabilities (any such payments to a Parent Entity, a “Tax Payment”), not to exceed the amount of any tax liabilities that would be otherwise payable by the Issuer and its United States subsidiaries to the appropriate taxing authorities to the extent that the Parent Entity has an obligation to pay such tax liabilities relating to the operations, assets, or capital of the Issuer or its United States subsidiaries; provided that (x) notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of determining the amount of a Tax Payment that is permitted to be paid by the Issuer and any of its United States subsidiaries in respect of their consolidated Federal income tax liability, or consolidated, combined, unitary or group, state or local income tax liability, such payment shall be determined assuming that the Issuer is the parent company of an affiliated group (the “Company Affiliated Group”) filing a consolidated Federal income tax return or consolidated, combined, unitary, or group, state or local income tax return, and that the Parent Entity and each such United States subsidiary is a member of the Issuer Affiliated Group and (y) any Tax Payments shall either be used by the Parent Entity to pay such tax liabilities within 90 days of the Parent Entity’s (or a subsidiary of a Parent Entity) receipt of such payment or refunded to the payee, (2) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 during any calendar year, in each case in order to pay legal and accounting expenses, payroll and other compensation expenses in the ordinary course of business, and filing and listing fees and other corporate overhead expenses in the ordinary course of business, and (3) in order to pay the fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Issuer, related to any unsuccessful equity of such Parent Entity. For purposes of this clause (h), “tax liabilities” shall include any penalties and interest related to a tax liability;

(i) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances to any Parent Entity to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of, or issuance of Capital Stock in lieu of cash dividends on, any Capital Stock of any Parent Entity, up to an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (i) not to exceed $1,000,000;

(j) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions; and

(k) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Merger and the Related Financing Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto.

The full amount of any Restricted Payment made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) and (d) (but not pursuant to clause (a), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k)) of the immediately preceding sentence, however, will be counted as Restricted Payments made for purposes of the calculation of the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments available to be made referred to in clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Restricted Payments covenant.

 

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For purposes of this Restricted Payments covenant, the amount of any Restricted Payment made or returned, if other than in cash, shall be the Fair Market Value thereof, as determined in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Issuer’s Board of Directors, unless stated otherwise, at the time made or returned, as applicable.

Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock

Except as set forth in this covenant, the Issuer shall not and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, issue, assume, guaranty, incur, become directly or indirectly liable with respect to (including as a result of an acquisition), or otherwise become responsible for, contingently or otherwise (individually and collectively, to “incur” or, as appropriate, an “incurrence”), any Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock and Acquired Indebtedness), other than Permitted Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the foregoing if:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of, or would occur after giving effect on a pro forma basis to, such incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof; and

(2) on the date of such incurrence (the “Incurrence Date”), the Issuer’s Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Reference Period immediately preceding the Incurrence Date for which internal financial statements of the Issuer are available, after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, would be at least 2.0 to 1.0 (the “Debt Incurrence Ratio”),then the Issuer and the Guarantors may incur such Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock and Acquired Indebtedness).

In addition, the foregoing limitations of the first and second paragraphs of this covenant will not prohibit:

(a) the Issuer’s incurrence or the incurrence by any Subsidiary of (1) Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that (A) the amount of such Indebtedness shall not constitute more than 100% of the Issuer’s cost or the cost to such Subsidiary (determined in accordance with GAAP in good faith by the Issuer), as applicable, of the property so purchased, constructed, improved or leased, (B) such Indebtedness is not incurred to acquire the Capital Stock of any Person, and (C) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (1) shall not exceed $50,000,000; (2) Capital Lease Obligations; (3) Indebtedness for the financing of insurance premiums; and (4) any Refinancing of Indebtedness described in clause (2) or (3); provided, that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to clauses (2), (3) and (4) of this clause (a) shall not exceed $20,000,000,

(b) the Issuer’s incurrence or the incurrence by any Guarantor of Indebtedness in an aggregate amount incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (b) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof of up to $25,000,000;

(c) the Issuer’s incurrence or the incurrence by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness pursuant to the Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (c) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) of up to $1,225,000,000, with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the full amount thereof, minus the amount of any such Indebtedness (1) retired with the Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale applied to permanently reduce the outstanding amounts or the commitments with respect to such Indebtedness pursuant to clause (b) of the third paragraph of the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” or (2) assumed by a transferee in an Asset Sale;

(d) the incurrence by any Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate amount incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (d) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) of up to $20,000,000; and

 

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(e) Existing Indebtedness and the incurrence by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant:

(i) Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of any Person which is outstanding at the time such Person becomes one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries (including upon designation of any subsidiary or other Person as a Subsidiary) or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have been incurred at the time such Person becomes or is designated one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries as applicable.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, but only to avoid duplication, a guarantee of the Issuer’s Indebtedness or of the Indebtedness of a Subsidiary incurred in accordance with the terms of the Indenture will not constitute a separate incurrence, or amount outstanding, of Indebtedness. Upon each incurrence the Issuer may designate (and later redesignate) in the Issuer’s sole discretion pursuant to which provision of this covenant or the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” any Indebtedness is being incurred and the Issuer may subdivide an amount of Indebtedness and designate (and later redesignate) more than one such provision pursuant to which such amount of Indebtedness is being incurred and such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been incurred or outstanding under any other provision of this covenant or the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness.” Accrual of interest or dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock paid in kind, changes in obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations, and any increase as a result of currency fluctuations will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant.

(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, outstanding Indebtedness shall be determined without duplication of Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

(iv) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

(v) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Limitations on Liens

The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind, other than Permitted Liens, upon any of their respective assets now owned or acquired on or after the Issue Date or upon any income or profits therefrom securing any of the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, unless the Issuer provides, and cause the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to provide, concurrently therewith, that the Notes and the applicable Guarantees are equally and ratably so secured for so long as such other Indebtedness is secured by such Lien; provided that if such Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, the Lien securing such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be contractually subordinate and junior to the Lien securing the Notes (and any related

 

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applicable Guarantees) with the same relative priority as such Subordinated Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Notes (and any related applicable Guarantees).

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge with or into another Person or, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, convey or transfer all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets (such amounts to be computed on a consolidated basis), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, to another Person or group of affiliated Persons or adopt a plan of liquidation, unless:

(1) either (a) the Issuer is the continuing entity or (b) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity or, in the case of a plan of liquidation, the entity which receives the greatest value from such plan of liquidation, is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of the Issuer’s obligations in connection with the Notes and the Indenture;

(2) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall occur immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such transaction;

(3) unless such transaction is solely the merger of the Issuer and one of the Issuer’s previously existing Wholly Owned Subsidiaries which is also a Guarantor for the purpose of reincorporation into another jurisdiction, which transaction is not for the purpose of evading the restrictions imposed by the Indenture, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, either (a) the consolidated resulting, surviving or transferee entity would immediately thereafter be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock” or (b) so long as the Debt Incurrence Ratio prior to such transaction is greater than 1.25 to 1.0, the Debt Incurrence Ratio for the resulting, surviving or transferee entity would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(4) each Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (1)(b) above shall apply) shall have, by amendment to its Guarantee set forth in the Indenture, if necessary confirmed in writing that its Guarantee shall apply to the obligations of the Issuer or the surviving entity in accordance with the Notes and the Indenture.

Notwithstanding clauses (2) and (3) of this covenant, (a) any Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer, and (b) the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

Upon any consolidation or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets in accordance with the foregoing, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to and (except in the case of a lease or any transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets) be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named therein as the Issuer, and (except in the case of a lease or any transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets) the Issuer shall be released from the obligations under the Notes and the Indenture except with respect to any obligations that arise from, or are related to, such transaction.

For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries, the Issuer’s interest in which constitutes all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties and assets, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties and assets.

 

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Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates

Neither the Issuer nor any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries shall enter into or amend any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction with any Affiliate (an “Affiliate Transaction”), or any series of related Affiliate Transactions (other than Exempted Affiliate Transactions),

(1) unless it is determined that the terms of such Affiliate Transactions are fair and reasonable to the Issuer, and no less favorable to the Issuer than could have been obtained in an arm’s length transaction with a non-Affiliate,

(2) if involving consideration to either party in excess of $10,000,000, unless such Affiliate Transaction(s) has been approved by a majority of the members of the Issuer’s Board of Directors (including a majority of members of the Issuer’s Board of Directors that are disinterested in such transaction, if there are any directors who are so disinterested), and

(3) if involving consideration to either party in excess of $20,000,000, unless, in addition the Issuer, prior to the consummation thereof, obtain a written favorable opinion, which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications, as to the fairness of such transaction to the Issuer from a financial point of view from an independent investment banking firm of national reputation in the United States or an appraisal or valuation firm of national reputation in the United States.

Within 10 days of any Affiliate Transaction(s) involving consideration to either party of $10,000,000 or more (other than Exempted Affiliate Transactions), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate addressed to the Trustee certifying that such Affiliate Transaction(s) were made in compliance with the Indenture and a copy of the board resolutions and opinion as to the fairness of such transaction, as applicable.

Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, assume or suffer to exist any consensual restriction on the ability of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to or on behalf of, or to pay any obligation to or on behalf of, or otherwise to transfer assets or property to or on behalf of, or make or pay loans or advances to or on behalf of, the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, except:

(1) restrictions imposed by the Notes or the Indenture or by the Issuer’s other Indebtedness (which may also be guaranteed by the Guarantors) ranking senior or pari passu with the Notes or the Guarantees, as applicable, provided that such restrictions are no more restrictive taken as a whole than those imposed by the Indenture and the Notes;

(2) restrictions imposed by applicable law;

(3) existing restrictions on Existing Indebtedness and restrictions that are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than such existing restrictions, on Refinancing Indebtedness thereof;

(4) restrictions under any Acquired Indebtedness not incurred in violation of the Indenture or any agreement (including any Equity Interest) relating to any property, asset, or business acquired by the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, which restrictions in each case existed at the time of acquisition, were not put in place in connection with or in anticipation of such acquisition and are not applicable to any Person, other than the Person acquired, or to any property, asset or business, other than the property, assets and business so acquired;

(5) restrictions imposed by Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities or other Senior Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;” provided that such restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those imposed by the Credit Facilities;

 

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(6) restrictions with respect solely to any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries imposed pursuant to a binding agreement which has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or any assets of such Subsidiary; provided that such restrictions apply solely to the Equity Interests or assets of such Subsidiary which are being sold or, in the case of a sale of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, the cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Subsidiary;

(7) restrictions on transfer contained in Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;” provided that such restrictions relate only to the transfer of the property acquired, constructed, installed or improved with the proceeds of such Purchase Money Indebtedness;

(8) customary provisions with respect to joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(9) restrictions contained in Indebtedness incurred under clause (b) under the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(10) restrictions contained in Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;” provided that such restrictions relate only to one or more Foreign Subsidiaries;

(11) reserved;

(12) customary restrictions on deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(13) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses or similar agreements, including those with respect to intellectual property and other agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(14) customary restrictions contained in any Hedging Obligation that is Permitted Indebtedness; and

(15) in connection with and pursuant to permitted refinancings, amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings or replacements of restrictions imposed pursuant to clauses (1), (3), (4), (7), (14) or this clause (15) of this paragraph that are not more restrictive taken as a whole than those being replaced and do not apply to any other Person or assets than those that would have been covered by the restrictions in the Indebtedness so refinanced.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with industry practice shall not be prohibited by the foregoing and (b) any asset subject to a Lien which is not prohibited to exist with respect to such asset pursuant to the terms of the Indenture may be subject to customary restrictions on the transfer or disposition thereof pursuant to such Lien.

Subsidiary Guarantors

The Issuer shall cause all of the Issuer’s present and future Subsidiaries that guarantee the obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (other than solely obligations of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries) under the Credit Facilities, to jointly and severally guarantee all principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on a senior subordinated basis.

If any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries (including Foreign Subsidiaries) that is not a Guarantor guarantees any of the Issuer’s other Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness of the Guarantors, or the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, individually or collectively, pledges more than 66% of the Voting Equity Interests of a Subsidiary (including Foreign Subsidiaries) that is not a Guarantor to a lender to secure the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, then such Subsidiary must become a Guarantor.

 

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Limitation on Layering Indebtedness

The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinate in right of payment to any of the Issuer’s other Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness of a Guarantor unless, by its terms, such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate in right of payment to, or ranks pari passu with, the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable.

The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, incur or suffer to exist (a) any Indebtedness that is secured by any Liens that have any form of subordinated lien priority with respect to the Liens securing any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors, or (b) any Indebtedness secured by a common Lien with other Indebtedness, subject to a payment waterfall or similar arrangement whereby one item of Indebtedness has priority over the other in its right to receive proceeds of collateral covered by such common Lien, in each case, other than:

(1) Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities pursuant to clause (c) of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock” may be secured by Liens with respect to assets (the “Purchase Money Debt Common Collateral”) which also secure Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (a) of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock” and the Liens securing the Credit Facilities may have a subordinate priority with respect to the Purchase Money Debt Common Collateral to the Liens securing such Purchase Money Indebtedness; and

(2) if any of the Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities pursuant to clause (c) of the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” is incurred pursuant to an asset based-revolving loan facility (the “ABL Facility”) that makes credit available based on the value of the obligors’ current assets that are collateral for such facility (the “ABL Common Collateral”) and at the same time Indebtedness is incurred under the Credit Facilities pursuant to clause (c) of the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” in the form of one or more term loans (the “Term Loans”), the Liens securing the Term Loans may have a subordinate priority, consistent with customary practice, with respect to any of the ABL Common Collateral, to the Liens securing the ABL Facility, and the Liens securing the ABL Facility may have a subordinate priority, consistent with customary practice, with respect to any of the assets securing the Term Loans, to the Liens securing the Term Loans.

Reports and Other Information

Whether or not the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee, within 5 days after the Issuer is or would have been (if the Issuer was subject to such reporting obligations) required to file such with the Commission, annual and quarterly financial statements substantially equivalent to financial statements that would have been included in reports if the Issuer were subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including, with respect to annual information only, a report thereon by the Issuer’s certified independent public accountants, and, in each case, together with a management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations which would be so required and, from and after the registration of the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, unless the Commission will not accept such reports, file with the Commission the annual, quarterly and other reports which it is or would have been required to file with the Commission; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission, (A) consolidating footnotes as required by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X in any such financial statements will not be required for financial statement provided in respect of any financial period ending prior to December 31, 2007, (B) no certifications or attestations concerning the financial statements or disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls that would otherwise be required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will be required to be included in or accompany any financial statements, (C) financial statements shall not be required to include any financial schedules required by Regulation S-X, (D) financial statements shall not be required pursuant to Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X except in respect of completed acquisitions for the most recent fiscal year of the acquired

 

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business and subsequent interim periods, and shall not be required to include more information than the financial statements of the Issuer, and (E) no financial statements of unconsolidated entities that would be required pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X shall be required.

Unless the information required by this covenant to be delivered is electronically available on EDGAR (or any successor system for reports with the Commission), including on a registration statement on Form S-4, the Issuer will distribute such information and such reports electronically to the Trustee, and will make them available upon request to any Holder, any beneficial owner of the Notes, any prospective investor, any securities analyst and any market maker in the Notes by posting such information and reports on the Issuer’s website, Intralinks or any comparable online data system and the provision of such information through such online data system shall satisfy the Issuer’s obligation to deliver such information pursuant to this covenant.

In the event that (1) the rules and regulations of the Commission permit the Issuer and any Parent Entity to report at such Parent Entity’s level on a consolidated basis and (2) such Parent Entity is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the Capital Stock of the Issuer and its Affiliates, the information and reports required by this covenant may be those of such Parent Entity on a consolidated basis; provided that such information and reports distinguish in all material respects between the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and such Parent Entity and its other subsidiaries, if any; provided, further, that if such Parent Entity’s capitalization (including cash, Cash Equivalents and Indebtedness) differs from that of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in any material respect, such information and reports will include annual and quarterly financial statements substantially equivalent to the financial statements that would have been included in reports filed with the Commission, if the Issuer were subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including, with respect to annual information only, a report thereon by the Issuer’s certified independent public accountants.

To the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, Holders and prospective purchasers that are “qualified institutional buyers” (as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) shall have the right to obtain from the Issuer and the Guarantors, upon request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

The Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under the foregoing clauses of this covenant for purposes of clause (c) under “Events of Default and Remedies” until 30 days after the date any financial statements or reports hereunder are due.

The Issuer will hold a conference call for all the Holders and securities analysts to discuss such financial information no later than (i) ten Business Days after distribution of such information in the case of quarterly financial information other than for the end of a fiscal year, and (ii) fifteen Business Days after the distribution of such information in the case of annual financial information, and, in each case, will give prior notice to Holders of such calls at least two Business Days prior to such conference call. The Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under the foregoing for purposes of clause (c) under “Events of Default and Remedies” until 10 days after receipt of a written notice from the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the outstanding Notes directing the Issuer to hold such conference call.

Maintenance of Properties and Insurance

The Issuer and the Guarantors shall cause all material properties used or useful to the conduct of their business and the business of each of their Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in their reasonable judgment may be necessary, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this covenant shall prevent the Issuer or any Guarantor from discontinuing any operation or maintenance of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such

 

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discontinuance or disposal is (a) (i) in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, desirable in the conduct of the business of such entity and (ii) would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Guarantors to satisfy their obligations under the Notes, the Guarantees and the Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, (b) as otherwise permitted under the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

The Issuer and Guarantors shall provide, or cause to be provided, for themselves and each of their Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Issuer is adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Issuer, the Guarantors and such Subsidiaries.

Events of Default and Remedies

The Indenture provides that “Event of Default” means any one of the following events:

(a) the Issuer’s failure to pay any installment of interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes as and when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for 30 days;

(b) the Issuer’s failure to pay all or any part of the principal, or premium, if any, on the Notes when and as the same becomes due and payable at maturity, redemption, by acceleration or otherwise, including, without limitation, payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price or the Asset Sale Offer Price, on Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable;

(c) the Issuer’s failure or the failure by any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the Notes or the Indenture and, except for the provisions of the caption “Principal, Maturity, Interest and HYDO Redemption,” the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control,” and the caption “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets,” the continuance of such failure for a period of 30 days after written notice is given to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding (provided that, if applicable, failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor to comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the TIA will not in itself be deemed a Default or an Event of Default under the Indenture);

(d) a default in the Issuer’s Indebtedness or the Indebtedness any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries with an aggregate amount outstanding in excess of $25,000,000 (i) resulting from the failure to pay principal at maturity or (ii) as a result of which the maturity of such Indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its stated maturity;

(e) final unsatisfied judgments not covered by insurance aggregating in excess of $25,000,000, at any one time rendered against the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries and not paid, stayed, bonded or discharged within 60 days after such judgments become final;

(f) any Guarantee of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect or becomes unenforceable or invalid or is declared null and void (other than in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee and the Indenture) or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its Obligations under its guarantee; or

(g) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary.

If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee must, within 90 days after the receipt of notice of such Default, give to the Holders notice of such Default.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (g) above relating to the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Significant Subsidiaries,) then in every such case, unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in

 

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aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) (an “Acceleration Notice”), may declare all principal, determined as set forth below, and accrued interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that if any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding pursuant to the Credit Facilities, upon a declaration of such acceleration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the fifth Business Day after sending the Issuer and the representative under the Credit Facilities such written notice, unless such Event of Default is cured or waived prior to such date and (y) the date of acceleration of any Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities. In the event a declaration of acceleration resulting from an Event of Default described in clause (d) above has occurred and is continuing, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if (i) the Indebtedness or Guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged, (ii) such default is cured, (iii) such default is waived or (iv) the Holders of the Indebtedness which is the subject of such default have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness within 30 days thereof and, with respect to clauses (iii) or (iv), the Trustee has received written notice of such waiver or rescission within 30 days of the declaration of such acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness. If an Event of Default specified in clause (g) above, relating to the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Significant Subsidiaries occurs, all principal and accrued interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon will be immediately due and payable on all outstanding Notes without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes generally are authorized to rescind such acceleration if all existing Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived.

The Indenture provides that, prior to the declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may waive on behalf of all the Holders any Default, except a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Note not yet cured or a Default with respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may, on behalf of all of the Holders, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration have been cured or waived).

However, no waiver shall be effective against any Holder for any Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would be an Event of Default with respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby, unless all such affected Holders agree, in writing, to waive such Event of Default or other event. No such waiver shall cure or waive any subsequent default.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee thereunder, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest when due, a Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liability or expense;

 

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(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Subject to certain restrictions, under the Indenture the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture, that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of the Notes not joining in the giving of such direction or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, and the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of the Notes.

The Indenture provides that the Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required, within five Business Days after becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No direct or indirect stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any successor entity shall have any personal liability in respect of the Issuer’s obligations or the obligations of the Guarantors under the Indenture or the Notes solely by reason of his or its status as such stockholder, employee, officer or director, except that this provision shall in no way limit the obligation of any Guarantor pursuant to any guarantee of the Notes. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver is against public policy.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have each of the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable, discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees, as applicable (“Legal Defeasance”), except for:

(a) the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to the Indenture;

(b) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to Notes concerning authentication and delivery of Notes, issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes and transfer and exchanges of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, the maintenance of an office or agency for registration and for payment and money held in trust, payment of defaulted interest and certain similar matters;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.

In addition, the Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its obligations and those of each Guarantor released with respect to substantially all of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including the

 

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payment of principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any) described under “Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(a) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States legal tender, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in amounts that will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Trustee must have, for the benefit of Holders of the Notes, a valid, perfected exclusive security interest in such trust;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and in each case the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit and, in the case of Legal Defeasance, no Event of Default specified in clause (g) under “Events of Default and Remedies” may occur at any time from the date of the deposit to the 91st calendar day thereafter;

(e) the Defeasance may not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under the Indenture or a default under any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(f) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud any other of the Issuer’s creditors; and

(g) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (a) through (f) above, and an Opinion of Counsel, confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (a) (with respect to the validity and perfection of the security interest), (b), (c) and (e).

If the amount deposited with the Trustee to effect a Defeasance is insufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when due, or if any court enters an order directing the repayment of the deposit to us or otherwise making the deposit unavailable to make payments under the Notes when due, then (so long as the insufficiency exists or the order remains in effect) the Issuer and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Indenture and the Notes will be revived, and the Defeasance will be deemed not to have occurred.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance shall be deemed to occur on the day on which all of the applicable conditions set forth above are satisfied (which shall not be earlier than the 91st day after the date of the deposit described in clause (a) in the case of Legal Defeasance).

 

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Satisfaction and Discharge

The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes) as to all outstanding Notes when either:

(a) All outstanding Notes, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuer, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) (1) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(2) the Issuer shall have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be;

(3) such deposit does and will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under the Indenture or a default under any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are a party or are otherwise bound;

(4) the Issuer shall have paid all other amounts payable by the Issuer under the Indenture;

(5) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any other of the Issuer’s creditors; and

(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications, confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clause (3) above.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth above and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Indenture and the Notes.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Except as provided below under this section, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including, without limitation, the Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class) then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a Payment Default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes).

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Issuer or any Subsidiary with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees.

The Indenture provides that without the consent of each Holder affected (it being understood that, except as expressly stated otherwise in paragraphs (a) through (e) below, the covenant described under “Repurchase at the

 

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Option of Holders—Asset Sales” and the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” may be amended, waived or modified in accordance with the first paragraph under the heading “Amendment, Supplement and Waiver”) an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) change the Stated Maturity on any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate (or extend the time for payment) of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof at the Issuer’s option, or change the coin or currency in which, any Note or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption at the Issuer’s option, on or after the redemption date), or after an Asset Sale or Change of Control has occurred reduce the Change of Control Purchase Price or the Asset Sale Offer Price with respect to the corresponding Asset Sale or Change of Control or alter the provisions (including the defined terms used therein) regarding the Issuer’s right to redeem the Notes at the Issuer’s option in a manner adverse to the Holders;

(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver provided for in the Indenture; or

(c) modify any of the waiver provisions, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby.

(d) make any changes in the foregoing clauses (a) through (c) or this clause (d), in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee, without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of definitive Notes or to alter the provisions concerning authentication and delivery of Notes, issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes and transfers and exchange of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, the maintenance of an office or agency for registration and for payment and money held in trust, payment of defaulted interest and certain similar matters in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;

(c) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Issuer pursuant to the caption “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;”

(d) to provide for additional Guarantors as set forth in the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Subsidiary Guarantors” or for the release or assumption of a Guarantee in compliance with the Indenture;

(e) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder of the Notes;

(f) to comply with the provisions of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or the Trustee with respect to the provisions of the Indenture or the Notes relating to transfers and exchanges of Notes or beneficial interests therein;

(g) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA;

(h) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the date of the Indenture; and

(i) to provide for the issuance of PIK Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the date of the Indenture.

 

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Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents required by the Indenture, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of the Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that adversely affects its own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment to the subordination provisions of the Indenture may adversely affect the rights of any holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness then outstanding without the consent of the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give such consent).

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

Concerning the Trustee

The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee thereunder, should it become a creditor of the Issuer, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest, as defined in the TIA, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue or resign.

The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default of which the Trustee has knowledge has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise its rights and powers under the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

Governing Law

The Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture.

Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Issuer, including by designation, or is merged or consolidated into or with the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries.

Additional Notes” means additional Notes which may be issued after the Issue Date pursuant to the Indenture (other than the Exchange Notes and any PIK Notes issued (and any increase in the aggregate principal amount of Notes) as a result of the payment of PIK Interest). All references herein to “Notes” shall be deemed to include Additional Notes except as stated otherwise.

Affiliate” means any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or through one or more intermediaries, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise; shall for such purposes be deemed to possess control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Affiliate” shall not include Subsidiaries.

 

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Applicable Premium” means, with respect to the Notes at any Redemption Date the excess of (1) the present value at such time of (a) the redemption price of such Notes at February 15, 2011 plus (b) all accrued and unpaid interest required to be paid on such Notes from the Redemption Date through February 15, 2011, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 0.50% per annum, over (2) the principal amount of such Notes; provided, however, that such value shall not be less than zero.

Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any security or instrument, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of (a) the number of years from the date of determination to the date or dates of each successive scheduled principal (or redemption) payment of such security or instrument and (b) the amount of each such respective principal (or redemption) payment by (2) the sum of all such principal (or redemption) payments.

Beneficial Owner” or “beneficial owner” for purposes of the definition of Change of Control and Affiliate has the meaning attributed to it in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (as in effect on the Issue Date), whether or not applicable.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Issuer or any committee of the board of directors authorized, with respect to any particular matter, to exercise the power of the board of directors of the Issuer.

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Contribution” means any contribution to the equity of the Issuer from a direct or indirect parent of the Issuer for which no consideration (other than the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock)) is given.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, as applied to any Person, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such Capitalized Lease prior to the first date upon which such Capitalized Lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

Capitalized Leases” means, as applied to any Person, all leases of property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as a lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person.

Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Cash Equivalent” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof);

 

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(2) demand deposits, time deposits and certificates of deposit and commercial paper issued by the parent corporation of any domestic or foreign commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(3) commercial paper issued by others rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s;

(4) repurchase obligations having terms not more than seven days, with institutions meeting the criteria set forth in clause (2) above, for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above;

(5) interests in money market or mutual funds all of whose assets are invested in assets or securities of the type described in clauses (1) through (4) above;

(6) with respect to Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary, any demand deposit account;

(7) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(8) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; or

(9) investments in mutual funds, 95% of more of the assets of which are invested in obligations of the types described in clauses (1)—(8) above, and in the case of each of (1), (2), and (3) maturing within two years after the date of acquisition.

Change of Control” means:

(A) prior to the consummation of the first Public Equity Offering after the Issue Date, (1) the Permitted Holders shall cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 35% of the voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer (and its direct or indirect Parent Entities) (provided, that for purposes of determining the beneficial ownership of the Permitted Holders, Voting Equity Interests beneficially owned by the management of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities) shall be deemed not to exceed 10% of the outstanding Voting Equity of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities), (2) any “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) (other than the Permitted Holders) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more or the voting or economic interests of the Issuer and its direct and indirect Parent Entities than is beneficially owned by the Investors,

(B) any merger or consolidation of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities) with or into any Person or any sale, transfer or other conveyance, whether direct or indirect, of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets, on a consolidated basis, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, if, immediately after giving effect to such transaction(s), any “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) (other than the Permitted Holders) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more than 40% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the transferee(s) or surviving entity or entities, unless the Investors, in the aggregate, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, a greater percentage of the voting power than such person,

(C) any “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) (other than the Permitted Holders) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more than 40% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities), unless the Investors, in the aggregate, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, a greater percentage of the voting power than such person,

(D) the Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Issuer’s Board of Directors then in office (except by reason of temporary vacancies created by the death, incapacity or the unscheduled resignation of a director, prior to the replacement of such director), or

 

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(E) the Issuer adopts a plan of liquidation.

As used in this definition, “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) has the meaning given by Sections 13(d) of the Exchange Act, whether or not applicable.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking Luxembourg, or its successors.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consolidated Coverage Ratio” of any Person on any date of determination (the “Transaction Date”) means the ratio, on a pro forma basis, of (a) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person attributable to continuing operations and businesses (exclusive of amounts attributable to operations and businesses permanently discontinued or disposed of) for the Reference Period to (b) the aggregate Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person (exclusive of amounts attributable to operations and businesses permanently discontinued or disposed of, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Consolidated Fixed Charges would no longer be obligations contributing to such Person’s Consolidated Fixed Charges subsequent to the Transaction Date) during the Reference Period; provided that for purposes of such calculation:

(1) any conversion of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Subsidiary and any acquisition, in each case which occurred during the Reference Period or subsequent to the Reference Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period;

(2) the incurrence of any Indebtedness or the issuance of any Disqualified Capital Stock during the Reference Period or subsequent to the Reference Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date (and the application of the proceeds therefrom), other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility, shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period;

(3) if since the beginning of such period the Issuer or any Subsidiary has repaid, repurchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired, retired or discharged any Indebtedness (each a “Discharge”) or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio involves a Discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid), Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Discharge of such Indebtedness, including with the net proceeds of such new Indebtedness, as if such Discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;

(4) in the case of an incurrence, at any time during or after the Reference Period, of Indebtedness (including any Disqualified Capital Stock) with a floating interest or dividend rate, such floating interest or dividend rate shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rate applicable at the Transaction Date had been in effect from the beginning of the Reference Period to the Transaction Date, unless such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a Hedging Obligation that has the effect of fixing in whole or in part the interest rate or dividend rate on the date of computation, in which case such rate shall be used, without duplication, to the extent applicable to such Indebtedness; and

(5) transactions giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer, to reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and expected to be realized within the eighteen months following such event.

 

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Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any four quarter period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(1) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities;

(2) Cash Taxes;

(3) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets established through purchase accounting and amortization of deferred financing fees or costs);

(4) Non-Cash Charges;

(5) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period to Consolidated Net Income);

(6) (A) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) Apollo Management L.P. or its Affiliates prior to the Issue Date, and (B) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted in the Indenture;

(7) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-”Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities;”

(8) any loss relating to amounts paid in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income for such period;

(9) any gain relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (b)(3) and (b)(4) below;

(10) in the case of any period that includes a period ending prior to or during the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2008, Transaction Expenses;

(11) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction;

(12) any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments (other than commodity Hedging Agreements);

 

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(13) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted as a result of the Merger and Related Financing Transactions in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period;

(14) any loss from investments recorded using the equity method;

(15) losses on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(16) the amount of any net losses from discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP;

(17) non-recurring charges (including any unusual or non-recurring) operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, transition costs and costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities, in each case, as determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer and approved by the Board of Directors of the ultimate Parent Entity of the Issuer and provided to the Trustee with a certificate of an Officer containing (a) the board resolution, and (b) reasonable detail regarding such charges, within 10 Business Days of the use of the adjustment described in this clause (17) for purposes of the calculation of the Debt Incurrence Ratio for any purposes under the Indenture; and

(18) restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring costs related to acquisitions after the Issue Date), in each case in accordance with GAAP; provided that such restructuring charges, accruals and reserves shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for such period;

less

(b) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(1) extraordinary gains and unusual or non-recurring gains;

(2) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period);

(3) any non-cash gain attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such gain has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-”Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities;”

(4) any gain relating to amounts received in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in such period;

(5) any loss relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (a)(7) and (a)(8) above;

(6) any income from investments recorded using the equity method;

(7) gains on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

 

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(8) the amount of any minority interest income consisting of Subsidiary loss attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income); and

(9) Cash Taxes;

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Agreements for currency exchange risk). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indenture, and subject to pro forma adjustment with respect to acquisitions and dispositions occurring following the Issue Date and adjustments provided under clause (a)(11) above, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $32,200,000, $87,500,000 and $95,000,000, respectively, for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007.

Consolidated Fixed Charges” of any Person means, for any period, the aggregate amount (without duplication and determined in each case in accordance with GAAP) of:

(1) interest expensed or capitalized, paid on, accrued (including, in accordance with the following sentence, interest attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries during such period, including (a) amortization of original issue discount results from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133—”Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and amortization of costs for the issuance of Indebtedness) or accruals on any Indebtedness, (b) the interest portion of all deferred payment obligations, and (c) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to bankers’ acceptances and letters of credit financings and Hedging Obligations (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts due upon settlement of any such Hedging Obligation), in each case to the extent attributable to such period, and excluding (i) the accretion or any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Merger or the Related Financing Transactions or any acquisition, (ii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (iii) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and (iv) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees;

(2) the product of (a) the amount of dividends accrued or payable (or guaranteed) by such Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of Preferred Stock (other than by Subsidiaries of such Person to such Person or such Person’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and than those paid solely in Equity Interests other than Disqualified Capital Stock) times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; and

(3) the product of (a) the amount of dividends accrued or payable in respect of any Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person and its Subsidiaries (other than those paid solely in Equity Interests other than Disqualified Capital Stock) times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

For purposes of this definition, (x) interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP and (y) without duplication, interest expense attributable to any Indebtedness represented by the guaranty by such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person of an obligation of another Person shall be deemed to be the interest expense attributable to the Indebtedness guaranteed.

 

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Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (before preferred stock dividends and otherwise determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) for such period, minus an amount equal to any payments made to a Parent Entity pursuant to clause (h) of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments” during such period, to the extent the expenses of such Parent Entity paid with the proceeds of such dividend would not otherwise reduce Consolidated Net Income, and adjusted to exclude (only to the extent included in computing such net income (or loss and without duplication) the amount (in the case of clauses (j) and (k)) or the After Tax Amount (in the case of clauses (a) through (i)) of:

(a) any gain, loss, charge or expense which is extraordinary (as determined in accordance with GAAP);

(b) the net income, if positive, of any Person, other than a Consolidated Subsidiary, in which such Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has an interest, except to the extent of the amount of any dividends or distributions actually paid in cash to such Person or a Consolidated Subsidiary of such Person during such period, but in any case not in excess of such Person’s pro rata share of such Person’s net income for such period;

(c) the net income, if positive, of any of such Person’s Consolidated Subsidiaries to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or bylaws or any other agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary;

(d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

(e) any non-cash compensation expense realized from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(f) amounts resulting from currency fluctuations;

(g) any goodwill impairment charges pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 142;

(h) any gains from key man life insurance to the extent used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (a)(ii)(B) of the second paragraph under the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments;”

(i) Transaction Expenses incurred prior to March 31, 2008;

(j) the amortization or write-off of any amounts as a result of applying purchase accounting, including applying purchase accounting to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue, required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and the Subsidiaries), as a result of the Merger and Related Financing Transactions, any acquisition consummated prior to the Issue Date and any permitted acquisitions occurring after the Issue Date or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof; and

(k) to the extent deducted in arriving at net income, the provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes paid or accrued during such period.

Consolidated Net Income shall be (x) reduced by the amount paid in cash or, without duplication, payable in cash (excluding deferred taxes and reserves for taxes) or (y) increased by the amount of refunds received in cash or, without duplication, receivable in cash (excluding deferred taxes and reserves for taxes), in either case, during such period for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes (“Cash Taxes”). In addition, Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by an amount equal to $3,750,000 for each completed fiscal quarter occurring during such period; provided, however, that this reduction shall not be made in connection with determining “Consolidated EBITDA” for any period.

For purposes of calculating “Consolidated Net Income,” the “After Tax Amount” means, with respect to any item which Consolidated Net Income is adjusted to exclude, the aggregate amount of such item so excluded,

 

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multiplied by 1 minus the actual marginal combined tax rate; provided, with respect to any item so excluded which does not change the taxable income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, such marginal combined tax rate shall be zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and without duplication, to the extent that the tax impact of such item so excluded occurs over future periods, the cash tax adjustment associated with such item will be made in the periods in which the tax impact actually occurs. For the avoidance of doubt, for any period, the sum of (x) the After Tax Amount of all items excluded from Consolidated Net Income under clauses (a) through (i) above for such period plus (y) Consolidated Net Income for such period prior to the addition or reduction of such After Tax Amount, shall not exceed Consolidated Net Income for such period calculated as if such items had not occurred.

Consolidated Subsidiary” means, for any Person, each Subsidiary of such Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which are Consolidated for financial statement reporting purposes with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidation” means, with respect to the Issuer, the consolidation of the accounts of the Subsidiaries with those of the Issuer, all in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Consolidation” will not include the consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary with the accounts of the Issuer. The term “consolidated” has a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

Continuing Director” means during any period of 12 consecutive months beginning after the Issue Date, individuals who at the beginning of any such 12-month period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Issuer was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, including new directors designated in or provided for in an agreement regarding the merger, consolidation or sale, transfer or other conveyance, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, if such agreement was approved by a vote of such majority of directors).

Credit Facilities” means the facilities or Indebtedness available under (1) the credit agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, by and among the Issuer, Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, and the other financial institutions party thereto, with respect to an aggregate $800,000,000 term loan facility, (2) the credit agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, by and among, the Issuer, Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., and General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the other financial institutions party thereto, with respect to an aggregate $300,000,000 asset-based revolving credit facility and (3) any other agreements, instruments, indentures or other debt or financing arrangement, in each case, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as such credit agreement, indenture and/or related documents may be amended, restated, supplemented, renewed, replaced, refinanced (in whole or in part) or otherwise modified from time to time by one or more agreements, facilities, instruments, indentures, or any other debt or financing arrangement whether or not with the same agent, trustee, representative lenders or holders whether or not previously repaid in full or in part for any period of time, and, subject to the proviso to the next succeeding sentence, irrespective of any changes in the terms and conditions thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Credit Facilities” shall include agreements in respect of Hedging Obligations with Persons which, at the time such agreements were entered into, were lenders (or Affiliates thereof) party to the Credit Facilities and shall also include any amendment, amendment and restatement, renewal, extension, restructuring, supplement or modification to any Credit Facilities and all refundings, refinancings and replacements of any Credit Facilities, including any agreements, facilities, instruments, indentures, or any other debt or financing arrangement:

(a) extending the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby;

(b) adding or deleting borrowers or guarantors thereunder, so long as borrowers and issuers include one or more of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and their respective successors and assigns; or

 

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(c) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof in a manner not prohibited by the terms of the Indenture.

Default” means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.

Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (1) so long as any Indebtedness is outstanding or commitments to lend exist under the Credit Facilities, the Credit Facilities, upon receipt of the consent of the requisite lenders under the Credit Facilities or (2) at any time at which no Indebtedness is outstanding (and no commitments to lend exist) under the Credit Facilities, any series of Senior Indebtedness with at least $50,000,000 principal amount outstanding as may be designated in writing by the Issuer, with a copy of such designation delivered to the Trustee.

Disqualified Capital Stock” means with respect to any Person, (1) Equity Interests of such Person that, by its terms or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable, is, or upon the happening of an event or the passage of time or both would be, required to be redeemed or repurchased including at the option of the holder thereof by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in whole or in part, on or prior to 91 days following the Stated Maturity of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding, (2) any preferred stock of the Issuer that is issued for cash and is so designated as Disqualified Capital Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the issuance date thereof, and (3) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of such Person other than any common equity with no preferences, privileges, and no redemption or repayment provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if the terms of such Equity Interests provide that the Issuer may not repurchase or redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions prior to the Issuer’s purchase of the Notes as are required to be purchased pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” and the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control.”

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests).

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or its successor, as operator of the Euroclear system.

Event of Loss” means, with respect to any property or asset, any (1) loss, destruction or damage of such property or asset or (2) any condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, of such property or asset, or confiscation or requisition of the use of such property or asset.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or other proceeds received by the Issuer from (1) contributions to its common equity capital, and (2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of the first paragraph of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments”.

 

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Exempted Affiliate Transaction” means (1) customary employee compensation arrangements approved by a majority of independent (as to such transactions) members of the Board of Directors and reasonable and customary directors fees, indemnification and similar arrangements provided for the benefit of current or former officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, and payments pursuant thereto, (2) transactions solely between or among the Issuer and any of its Subsidiaries or solely among Subsidiaries of the Issuer, (3) payment of any Restricted Payment or any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, not prohibited by the Indenture, (4) payments or loans to employees or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, and employment agreements, stock option plans and other similar arrangements with such employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith, (5) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture, (6) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) that is an Affiliate of the Issuer solely because the Issuer owns, directly or through a Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person, (7) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer to Affiliates or to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Parent Entities or any of its Subsidiaries or any contribution to the capital of the Issuer, any of its Parent Entities or any of its Subsidiaries by Affiliates of the Issuer, (8) the provision of administrative services and therefore, of supplies and equipment, to any Unrestricted Subsidiary on substantially the same terms provided to or by Subsidiaries, (9) payment of any Tax Payments that are not prohibited by the Indenture, (10) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be considered an Exempt Affiliate Transaction to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise materially disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole, (11) the Merger and Related Financing Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Merger and Related Financing Transactions, and (12) payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Hellman & Friedman LLC and its Affiliates incurred by them in connection with advisory services provided to the Issuer or any of its Parent Entities; provided that the amount of such payments pursuant to this clause (12) shall not exceed up to $1,500,000 in any calendar year.

Existing Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities) in existence on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Merger and Related Financing Transactions), reduced to the extent such amounts are repaid, refinanced or retired.

Existing Notes” means the 7- 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. and the Senior Floating Rate Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. outstanding immediately prior to the Merger.

Fair Market Value” means the price that would be paid in an arm’s-length transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy, as determined in good faith by the Issuer.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer which is not organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States as in effect on the Issue Date.

Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

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Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used with respect to the Notes, a “Guarantee” means a guarantee by the Guarantors of all or any part of the Notes, in accordance with the Indenture.

Guarantor” means each of the Issuer’s present and future Subsidiaries that at the time are guarantors of the Notes in accordance with the Indenture.

Hedging Agreement” shall mean (1) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (2) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements, that are not entered into for speculative purposes.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication:

(1) all liabilities and obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person, to the extent such liabilities and obligations would appear as a liability upon the consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (a) in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (b) evidenced by bonds, Notes, debentures or similar instruments, (c) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, in each case, except (i) those incurred in the ordinary course of its business that would constitute a trade payable to trade creditors and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(2) all liabilities and obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) evidenced by bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks, (b) relating to any Capitalized Lease Obligation, or (c) evidenced by a letter of credit or a reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to any letter of credit;

(3) all net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations;

(4) all liabilities and obligations of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (1), (2) or (3) that such Person has guaranteed or that is otherwise its legal liability or which are secured by any assets or property of such Person;

(5) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancing and refundings (whether direct or indirect) of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (1), (2), (3) or (4), or this clause (5), whether or not between or among the same parties; and

 

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(6) all Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person (measured at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued and unpaid dividends).

For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such Fair Market Value to be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the issuer (or managing general partner of the issuer) of such Disqualified Capital Stock.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (A) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (B) the principal amount thereof in the case of any other Indebtedness.

Indenture” means the Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Initial Purchasers” means the initial purchasers of the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among the Issuer and such initial purchasers.

Interest Payment Date” means the stated due date of an installment of interest on the Notes.

Investment” by any Person in any other Person means (without duplication):

(1) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) by such Person (whether for cash, property, services, securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests, Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership or other ownership interests or other securities, including any options or warrants, of such other Person;

(2) the making by such Person of any deposit with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, such other Person (including the purchase of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such other Person), other than accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commissions travel and similar advances to officers and employees, endorsements for collection or deposits arising in the ordinary course of business;

(3) other than guarantees of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to the extent permitted by the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock”, the entering into by such Person of any guarantee of, or other credit support or contingent obligation with respect to, Indebtedness or other liability of such other Person;

(4) the making of any capital contribution by such Person to such other Person; and

(5) the designation by the Board of Directors of any Person to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer shall be deemed to make an Investment in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Issuer’s or its Subsidiaries’ equity or debt investment in such Person (or, if neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries has theretofore made an Investment in such subsidiary, in an amount equal to the Investments being made), at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and any property transferred to an Unrestricted Subsidiary from the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be deemed an Investment valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have made an Investment in a Person that is or was required to be a Guarantor if, upon the issuance, sale or other disposition of any portion of the Issuer’s or the Subsidiary’s ownership in the Capital Stock of such Person, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor. The Fair Market Value of each Investment shall be measured at the time made or returned, as applicable.

 

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Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investors” means Hellman & Friedman LLC, and its Affiliates that are collective investment vehicles for which Hellman & Friedman LLC or its direct or indirect subsidiaries act directly or indirectly as general partner, investment manager, managing member or in a similar capacity (any of the foregoing, a “H&F Investment Vehicle”); provided that with respect to any Investment Vehicle formed after the Issue Date, (a) such H&F Investment Vehicle shall not have been formed primarily to hold securities of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect Parent Entities), or (b) the limited partners or members of such H&F Investment Vehicle shall consist solely of (i) Persons that are limited partners or members of other H&F Investment Vehicles as of the Issue Date or (ii) Affiliates of Persons described in clause (i). Notwithstanding the foregoing, portfolio companies of any of the foregoing shall not constitute “Investors.”

Issue Date” means the date of first issuance of the Notes under the Indenture (February 13, 2008).

Junior Security” means any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) and any Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (and any securities issued in exchange for or in replacement of Senior Indebtedness) at least to the same extent as the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture and has no scheduled installment of principal due, by redemption, sinking fund payment or otherwise, on or prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that in the case of subordination in respect of Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, “Junior Security” shall mean (except with the consent of the requisite lenders under the Credit Facilities) any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) and any Indebtedness of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, that:

(1) has a final maturity date occurring after the final maturity date of all Senior Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities (and any securities issued in exchange or replacement of such Senior Indebtedness) on the date of issuance of such Equity Interests or Indebtedness;

(2) is unsecured;

(3) has an Average Life longer than the security for which such Equity Interests or Indebtedness are being exchanged; and

(4) by its terms or by law is subordinated to Senior Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities (and any securities issued in exchange for Senior Indebtedness) on the date of issuance of such Equity Interests or Indebtedness at least to the same extent as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture (including, without limitation, with respect to payment blockage and turnover).

Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, hypothecation or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind, real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired.

Liquidated Damages” means all Liquidated Damages then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer in the case of a sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or a Capital Contribution and by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in respect of an Asset Sale plus, in the case of an issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) upon any exercise, exchange or conversion of securities (including options, warrants, rights and convertible or exchangeable debt) of the Issuer that were issued for cash on or after the Issue Date, the amount of cash originally received by the Issuer upon the issuance of such securities (including options,

 

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warrants, rights and convertible or exchangeable debt) less, in each case, the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale or Issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), including, without limitation, legal, accounting, investment banking and other professional fees, and brokerage and sales commissions and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof incurred in connection with such Asset Sale or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), and, in the case of an Asset Sale only less (1) the amount (estimated reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer) of income, franchise, sales and other applicable taxes required to be paid by the Issuer or any of its respective Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale in the taxable year that such sale is consummated or in the immediately succeeding taxable year, the computation of which shall take into account the reduction in tax liability resulting from any available operating losses and net operating loss carryovers, tax credits and tax credit carry-forwards, and similar tax attributes, (2) cash payments attributable to Persons owning an interest (other than a Lien) in the assets subject to the Asset Sale, (3) any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liability associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and (4) any holdbacks with respect to indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustments pending receipt thereof.

Non-Cash Charges” shall mean (1) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long lived assets, and investments in debt and equity securities pursuant to GAAP, (2) all losses from investments recorded using the equity method, (3) all non-cash compensation expenses, (4) the non-cash impact of purchase accounting, and (5) other non-cash charges (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period).

Notes” means the Exchange Notes, any Additional Notes and any PIK Notes issued in respect of any Notes. For purposes of the Indenture, all references to “principal amount” of the Notes shall include any PIK Notes issued in respect thereof (and any increase in the principal amount thereof) as a result of the payment of PIK Interest.

Obligation” means any principal, premium or interest payment, or monetary penalty, or damages, due by the Issuer or any Guarantor under the terms of the Notes or the Indenture, including any Liquidated Damages due pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Principal Accounting Officer, or any Vice President of such Person.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor by two Officers of the Issuer or such Guarantor, one of whom must be Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Principal Accounting Officer, or any Vice President of the Issuer or such Guarantor, that meets the requirements set forth in the Indenture.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel that meets the requirements set forth in the Indenture, which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions, limitations and qualifications. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Parent Entity” means a Person that holds, directly or indirectly, Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer with voting power, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer.

 

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Permitted Holders” means (a) each of the Investors, (b) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) consisting solely of the Investors and members of management of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect Parent Entities), and (c) so long as no person (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than a group described in clause (b), has beneficial ownership of a greater voting or economic interests represented by the Equity Interests of the Issuer and its direct or indirect Parent Entities, members of management of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect Parent Entities).

Permitted Indebtedness” means:

(1) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Guarantors, evidenced by the Notes and the Guarantees issued pursuant to the Indenture up to the amounts being issued on the original Issue Date (and any PIK Notes or PIK Interest and any Guarantee thereof) less any amounts repaid or retired;

(2) Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, as applicable (including Disqualified Capital Stock), with respect to Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2) and (10) of this definition or incurred pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio test set forth in the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(3) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries solely in respect of bankers acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, performance bonds, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees and Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims in each, to the extent that such incurrence does not result in the incurrence of any obligation to repay any obligation relating to borrowed money incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(4) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer that is owed to (borrowed from) any Subsidiary, and Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary owed to (borrowed from) any other Subsidiary or the Issuer; provided that in the case of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary payable to any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such obligations shall be unsecured and contractually subordinated to payments then due in respect of the Issuer’s obligations pursuant to the Notes, and any event that causes any Subsidiary to which such Indebtedness is owed no longer to be a Subsidiary (including by designation to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed to be a new incurrence by such issuer of such Indebtedness and any guarantor thereof subject to the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(5) guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Indenture;

(6) Hedging Obligations incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate, currency or commodity risk with respect to any fixed or floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the Indenture to be outstanding or any receivable, liability or contractual provision the payment in respect of which is determined by reference to a foreign currency or commodity; provided that such obligations shall be Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (6) only to the extent that the notional amount of any such Hedging Obligation does not exceed the principal amount of any other Indebtedness to which such Hedging Obligation relates;

(7) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries 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 covered within ten Business Days;

(8) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

 

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(9) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit; provided that such letter of credit was permitted to be issued under the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(10) Indebtedness of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or merged into a Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; provided that such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or merger; provided, further, that after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or merger either (a) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock” or (b) so long as the Debt Incurrence Ratio prior to such acquisition or merger is greater than 1.25 to 1.0, the Debt Incurrence Ratio is equal to or greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

(11) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, the net proceeds of which are used to satisfy, defease or discharge the Notes as provided under “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or “Satisfaction and Discharge;”

(12) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries consisting of take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(13) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect Parent Entity of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (a) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments;” provided, that such Indebtedness (a) is unsecured, (b) is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Guarantees and (c) has a maturity after the Stated Maturity, and (d) provides for no cash interest payments or other payments if (i) any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and/or (ii) the most recent payment of interest on the Notes was not made entirely in cash; and

(14) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries in connection with customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Investment” means:

(1) any Investment in any of the Notes;

(2) any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Subsidiary: (a) in the Issuer (excluding payments to any securityholder of the Issuer by a Subsidiary of the Issuer), (b) in any Guarantor, or (c) in any Person if as a result of such Investment such Person becomes a Guarantor or such Person is merged with or into the Issuer or a Guarantor;

(4) other Investments in any Person or Persons, provided that after giving pro forma effect to each such Investment, the aggregate amount of all such Investments made on and after the Issue Date pursuant to this clause (4) that are outstanding (after giving effect to any such Investments that are returned to the Issuer or the Subsidiary that made such prior Investment, without restriction, in cash on or prior to the date of any such calculation, but only up to the amount of the Investment made under this clause (4) in such Person), at any time does not in the aggregate exceed $17,500,000 (measured by the value attributed to the Investment at the time made, without giving effect to subsequent change in value);

(5) any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer or a Parent Entity;

 

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(6) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”

(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

(8) Investments in customers and suppliers that either (a) generate accounts or notes receivable, or (b) are accepted in settlement of bona fide disputes;

(9) Investments in the form of loans or advances to employees for travel, relocation and like expenses, in each case, consistent with the Issuer’s past practices;

(10) Investments received in settlement of obligations or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, recapitalization or liquidation of any Person as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any Investment in default; or the good faith settlement of debts of, or litigation or disputes with, any Person that is not an Affiliate;

(11) Investments of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date;

(12) Investments in Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries, provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments outstanding at any time shall not exceed $25,000,000;

(13) [Reserved]; and

(14) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment made in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Lien” means:

(1) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(2) Liens imposed by governmental authorities for taxes, assessments or other charges not yet subject to penalty or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Issuer in accordance with GAAP;

(3) statutory Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, material men, landlords, repairmen or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business, provided that (a) the underlying obligations are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or (b) such Liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Issuer in accordance with GAAP;

(4) Liens securing the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, letters of credit and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(5) easements, rights-of-way, zoning, similar restrictions and other similar encumbrances or title defects which, singly or in the aggregate, do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto (as such property is used by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(6) Liens arising by operation of law in connection with judgments, only to the extent, for an amount and for a period not resulting in an Event of Default with respect thereto;

(7) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security legislation or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal-bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(8) Liens securing the Notes;

(9) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Issuer or a Subsidiary or Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in connection with an acquisition, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation, were not incurred in anticipation thereof, and do not extend to any other assets owned by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(10) Liens arising from Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock,” provided such Liens relate solely to the property which is subject to such Purchase Money Indebtedness;

(11) leases or subleases or licenses or sublicenses (including of intellectual property) granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(12) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(13) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance any Indebtedness that was previously so secured (other than Indebtedness secured pursuant to clause (28)) in a manner no more adverse to the Holders than the terms of the Liens securing such refinanced Indebtedness, and provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing (but only to the extent such committed amount, if not incurred at the time of such refinancing, would have been permitted to be incurred and secured under the Indenture on the date of such refinancing) and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses including premiums, related to such financing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(14) Liens securing Senior Indebtedness (including under the Credit Facilities) incurred in accordance with the terms of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(15) Liens securing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary incurred in accordance with the provisions of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(16) Liens securing Hedging Obligations;

(17) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or a Guarantor permitted to be incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock;”

(18) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(19) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(20) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

(21) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

(22) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

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(23) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (c) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(25) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments”, provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

(26) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (a) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(27) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(28) Liens (a) in respect of sale leasebacks permitted by the Credit Facility described in clause (1) of the definition of Credit Facility, and (b) securing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance any Indebtedness incurred to refinance the sale leasebacks described in clause (a) in a manner no more adverse to the Holders than the terms of the Liens securing such sale leaseback, and provided that (i) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (ii) such Indebtedness shall provide no recourse to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries other than with respect to foreclosure upon the collateral securing such Lien;

(29) Liens (a) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitations on Restricted Payments” to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (b) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under the covenant described under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales,” in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, disposition, transfer or lease, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien; and Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted by the Indenture;

(30) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture;

(31) [Reserved];

(32) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; and

(33) Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is secured equally and ratably (or on a basis subordinated to) the Notes) in an amount not to exceed 15% of the total assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (calculated on a consolidated basis); provided that such Liens were created during a Suspension Period.

Person” or “person” means (unless stated otherwise) any corporation, individual, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, partnership, unincorporated association, governmental regulatory entity, country, state or political subdivision thereof, trust, municipality or other entity.

 

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PIK Interest” means interest paid with respect to the Notes in the form of increasing the outstanding principal amount of the Notes or issuing PIK Notes.

PIK Notes” means additional Notes issued under the Indenture on the same terms and conditions as the Notes issued on the Issue Date in connection with the payment of PIK Interest.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest of any class or classes of a Person (however designated) which is preferred as to payments of dividends, or as to distributions upon any liquidation or dissolution, over Equity Interests of any other class of such Person.

Public Equity Offering” means an underwritten public offering generating net cash proceeds in excess of $100,000,000 pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with the Securities Act of (1) common stock of the Issuer or (2) common stock of any Parent Entity, to the extent that the cash proceeds therefrom are used as a Capital Contribution to the Issuer.

Purchase Money Indebtedness” of any Person means any Indebtedness of such Person to any seller or other Person incurred solely to finance the acquisition (including in the case of a Capitalized Lease Obligation, the lease), construction, installation or improvement of any after acquired real or personal tangible property which is incurred within 270 days following with such acquisition, construction, installation or improvement and is secured only by the assets so financed. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that Purchase Money Indebtedness may be incurred under the Credit Facilities.

Qualified Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of (1) Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) by the Issuer other than to an Affiliate or (2) Equity Interests by the Parent Entity where the Net Cash Proceeds of such sale are contributed to the Issuer as a Capital Contribution substantially concurrently therewith, and in each case, other than public offerings registered on a Form S-8.

Qualified Exchange” means:

(1) any legal defeasance, redemption, retirement, repurchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock, or Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Parent Entity with the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer made within 60 days of the sale of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) (other than to a Subsidiary) or, to the extent used to retire Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer issued on or after the Issue Date, Refinancing Indebtedness of the Issuer;

(2) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to purchase, any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of the Issuer; or

(3) any issuance of Refinancing Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to purchase, Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer.

Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Record Date” means a Record Date specified in the Notes, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

Recourse Indebtedness” means Indebtedness as to which either the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (1) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (2) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), or (3) constitutes the lender.

 

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Reference Period” with regard to any Person means the four full fiscal quarters (or such lesser period during which such Person has been in existence) ended immediately preceding any date upon which any determination is to be made pursuant to the terms of the Notes or the Indenture.

Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) (1) issued in exchange for, or the proceeds from the issuance and sale of which are used within 60 days to repay, redeem, defease, refund, refinance, discharge or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, or (2) constituting an amendment, modification or supplement to, or a deferral or renewal of ((1) and (2) above are, collectively, a “Refinancing”), any Indebtedness (including the Notes and Disqualified Capital Stock) in a principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Capital Stock, liquidation preference, not to exceed (after deduction of reasonable and customary fees and expenses (including defeasance costs) incurred in connection with the Refinancing plus the amount of any premium paid (including reasonable tender premiums) in connection with such Refinancing) the lesser of (a) the principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Capital Stock, liquidation preference, of the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) so Refinanced and (b) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced was issued with an original issue discount, the accreted value thereof (as determined in accordance with GAAP) at the time of such Refinancing; provided that (i) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall only be used to refinance outstanding Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of such Person issuing such Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall (A) not have an Average Life shorter than the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) to be so refinanced at the time of such Refinancing and (B) in all respects, be no less contractually subordinated or junior, if applicable, to the rights of Holders of the Notes than was the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) to be refinanced, (iii) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable, no earlier than the final stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable, of the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) to be so refinanced or, if sooner, 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes, and (iv) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be secured (if secured) in a manner no more adverse to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of the Liens (if any) securing such refinanced Indebtedness, and provided that (A) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (I) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture, and (II) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), shall not constitute “Refinancing Indebtedness” in connection with a Refinancing of Disqualified Capital Stock.

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of Issue Date, by and among the Issuer and the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Related Business” means the business conducted (or proposed to be conducted) by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any reasonable extension thereof and any and all businesses that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors are materially related, ancillary or complementary businesses.

Related Business Asset” means assets (except in connection with the acquisition of a Subsidiary in a Related Business that becomes a Guarantor, other than Notes, bonds, obligations and securities) and capital expenditures, in each case that, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, will immediately constitute, be a part of, or be used in, a Related Business of the Issuer or a Subsidiary.

Related Financing Transactions” means the financing transactions in connection with the consummation of the Merger, including the related equity investment by the Investors, members of management and others, the execution of, and borrowings on the Issue Date under, the Credit Facilities and the pledge and security arrangements in connection with the foregoing, the entry into the Indenture, the related Purchase Agreement with the Initial Purchasers and the Registration Rights Agreement, the refinancing, repurchase, redemption and/or

 

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repayment of the Existing Notes and certain other existing indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, the consummation of any other transactions connected with the Merger or the foregoing and the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the Merger or any of the foregoing.

Restricted Investment” means, in one or a series of related transactions, any Investment, other than other Permitted Investments.

Restricted Payment” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution in respect of Equity Interests of such Person or any parent of such Person by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(2) any payment (except to the extent made with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock)) by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer on account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of such Person or any parent of such Person;

(3) other than with the proceeds from the substantially concurrent sale of, or in exchange for, Refinancing Indebtedness, any purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of, any payment in respect of any amendment of the terms of or any defeasance of, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than the Notes), directly or indirectly, by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer prior to the scheduled maturity, prior to any scheduled repayment of principal, or prior to any scheduled sinking fund payment, as the case may be, of such Indebtedness, other than:

(a) Indebtedness permitted under clause (4) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness;” or

(b) 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; and

(4) any Restricted Investment by such Person,

provided, however, that the term “Restricted Payment” does not include (i) any dividend, distribution or other payment on or with respect to Equity Interests of an issuer to the extent payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of such issuer, (ii) any dividend, distribution or other payment to the Issuer, or to any Subsidiary of the Issuer, by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and any Investment in any Subsidiary by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary and any Investment in the Issuer by any Subsidiary of the Issuer so long as the Issuer receives the proceeds of such Investment in the Issuer, (iii) the payment of the cash merger consideration in connection with the Merger or (iv) the repurchase, repayment, redemption or setting aside funds for the repurchase, repayment or redemption of the Existing Notes, including the payment of any consent fee in connection therewith or with any amendment of the terms thereof.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor provision thereto.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Senior Indebtedness” of the Issuer or any Guarantor means Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor arising under the Credit Facilities (including any fees, costs and other monetary obligation in respect of the Credit Facilities, and interest, whether or not allowable, accruing on Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Credit Facilities after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law) or that, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness, is expressly designated as “senior indebtedness” and is senior in right of payment to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee and all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, expenses, reimbursements, damages and other amounts payable pursuant to the documentation governing or relating to such Indebtedness;

 

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provided that in no event shall Senior Indebtedness include (1) Indebtedness to any Subsidiary of the Issuer or any officer, director or employee of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, (2) Indebtedness incurred in violation of the terms of the Indenture; provided that such Indebtedness will not cease to be Senior Indebtedness as a result of this clause (2) if the lenders thereunder obtained a certificate from an executive officer of the Issuer on the date such Indebtedness was incurred certifying that the incurrence of such Indebtedness was not prohibited by the Indenture, (3) trade Indebtedness to trade creditors, (4) Disqualified Capital Stock, (5) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Issuer or such Guarantor and (6) any other Indebtedness other than (A) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c) of the third paragraph of the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock,” (B) guarantees of Indebtedness described in clause (A) and (C) Hedging Obligations incurred with respect to Indebtedness described in clause (A) or (B).

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary or group of Subsidiaries that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Regulation S-X of the Securities Act, as in effect on the Issue Date.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, and its successors.

Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Note, means February 15, 2016.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is subordinated in right of payment by its terms or the terms of any document or instrument relating thereto (“contractually”) to the Notes or such Guarantee, as applicable, in any respect.

Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means (1) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Equity Interests, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, and (2) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has a majority of the Voting Equity Interests, or (3) a partnership in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the time, a general partner and in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has a majority ownership interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not be a Subsidiary of the Issuer or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer. Unless the context requires otherwise, Subsidiary means each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Issuer, any Parent Entity or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and the Related Financing Transactions.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of U.S. Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) closest to the period from such Redemption Date to February 15, 2011, provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to February 15, 2011, is not equal to the constant maturity of a U.S. Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of one year) from the weekly average yields of U.S. Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that, if the period from the Redemption Date to February 15, 2011 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Issuer designated by the Board of Directors as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” provided that, at the time of designation by the Board of Directors, such subsidiary does not directly, indirectly or beneficially own any Capital Stock of, and Indebtedness of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided further, that such Subsidiary at the time of such designation (1) has no Recourse Indebtedness; (2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer (unless in compliance with the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates”); (3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and (4) does not guarantee or otherwise directly or indirectly provide credit support for any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Subsidiary, provided that (a) no Default or Event of Default is existing or will occur as a consequence thereof and (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, on a pro forma basis, either (i) the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in the covenant described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock” or (ii) so long as the Debt Incurrence Ratio prior to such designation is greater than 1.25 to 1.0, the Debt Incurrence Ratio would be greater than such ratio immediately prior to such designation. Each such designation shall be evidenced by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

U.S. Government Obligations” means direct non-callable obligations of, or noncallable obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which obligation or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

Voting Equity Interests” means Equity Interests which at the time are entitled to vote in the election of, as applicable, directors, members or partners generally.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary all the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) are owned by the Issuer or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Issuer or a combination thereof.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer

Goodman Global, Inc. and the guarantors of the notes have entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the outstanding notes in which they agreed, under certain circumstances, to use their reasonable best efforts to file a registration statement relating to offers to exchange the outstanding notes for exchange notes and thereafter cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act no later than 270 days following the closing date of the issuances of the outstanding notes. The exchange notes will have terms identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest for failure to observe certain obligations in the registration rights agreement. The outstanding notes were issued on February 13, 2008.

Under the circumstances set forth below, Goodman Global, Inc. and the guarantors will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the SEC to declare effective a shelf registration statement with respect to the resale of the outstanding notes within the time periods specified in the registration rights agreement and keep the statement effective for up to two years after the effective date of the shelf registration statement. These circumstances include:

 

   

if any changes in law, SEC rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the SEC do not permit us to effect the exchange offer as contemplated by the registration rights agreement;

 

   

if the exchange offer is not completed within 330 days after the date of issuance of the outstanding notes; or

 

   

if any holder that participates in the exchange offer, but, because of any changes in law, SEC rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the SEC, does not receive freely transferable exchange notes in exchange for tendered outstanding notes, and so notifies Goodman Global, Inc. within 30 days after consummation of the exchange offer.

Under the registration rights agreement, if Goodman Global, Inc. fails to obtain effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement on or prior to 270 days after the issue date of the outstanding notes (the “exchange offer target registration date”), or complete the exchange offer within 30 business days of its effectiveness (other than in the event we file a shelf registration statement), or if the shelf registration statement, if required thereby, is not declared effective, on or prior to 480 days after the issue date of the outstanding notes (the “shelf target registration date,” and together with the exchange offer target registration date, the “target registration date”), or if the shelf registration statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the one year anniversary of its initial effectiveness, the interest rate on the outstanding notes will be increased by (x) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the target registration date and (y) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case, until the exchange offer is completed or the shelf registration statement, if required, is declared effective by the SEC or the outstanding notes cease to constitute transfer restricted notes, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum of additional interest. Copies of the registration rights agreement have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

If you wish to exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, you will be required to make the following written representations:

 

   

you are not our “affiliate” or an “affiliate” of any guarantor within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act;

 

   

you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the exchange notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act;

 

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you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of the exchange notes; and

 

   

you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business.

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes, where the broker-dealer acquired the outstanding notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. Please see “Plan of Distribution.”

Resale of Exchange Notes

Based on interpretations by the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that you may resell or otherwise transfer exchange notes issued in the exchange offer without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, if:

 

   

you are not our “affiliate” or an “affiliate” of any guarantor within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

   

you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes;

 

   

you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of the exchange notes; and

 

   

you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business.

If you are our “affiliate” or an “affiliate” of any guarantor, or are engaging in, or intend to engage in, or have any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes, or are not acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business:

 

   

you cannot rely on the position of the SEC set forth in Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling, dated July 2, 1993, or similar no-action letters; and

 

   

in the absence of an exception from the position stated immediately above, you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes.

This prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, resale or other transfer of exchange notes only as specifically set forth in this prospectus. With regard to broker-dealers, only broker-dealers that acquired the outstanding notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities may participate in the exchange offer. Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes, where such outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market- making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. Please read “Plan of Distribution” for more details regarding the transfer of exchange notes.

Terms of the Exchange Offer

On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letters of transmittal, Goodman Global, Inc. will accept for exchange in the exchange offer any outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration date. Outstanding notes may only be tendered in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Goodman Global, Inc. will issue $2,000 principal amount of exchange notes in exchange for each $2,000 principal amount of outstanding notes surrendered in the exchange offer, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The form and terms of the exchange notes will be identical in all material respects to the form and terms of the outstanding notes except the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act, will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not provide for any additional interest upon our failure to fulfill our obligations

 

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under the registration rights agreement to complete the exchange offer, or file, and cause to be effective, a shelf registration statement, if required thereby, within the specified time period. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the outstanding notes. The exchange notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the indenture that authorized the issuance of the outstanding notes. For a description of the indenture, see “Description of the Notes.”

The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes being tendered for exchange.

As of the date of this prospectus, $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinate Notes due 2016 are outstanding. This prospectus and the letters of transmittal are being sent to all registered holders of outstanding notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of outstanding notes entitled to participate in the exchange offer. Goodman Global, Inc. intends to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Outstanding notes that are not tendered for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest and will be entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the indenture relating to such holders’ series of outstanding notes and the registration rights agreement except we will not have any further obligation to you to provide for the registration of the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement.

Goodman Global, Inc. will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered outstanding notes when it has given written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the exchange notes from us and delivering exchange notes to holders. Subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, Goodman Global, Inc. expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer and to refuse to accept the occurrence of any of the conditions specified below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

If you tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of outstanding notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below in connection with the exchange offer. It is important that you read “—Fees and Expenses” below for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in the exchange offer.

Expiration Date; Extensions, Amendments

As used in this prospectus, the term “expiration date” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on             , 2008. However, if we, in our sole discretion, extend the period of time for which the exchange offer is open, the term “expiration date” will mean the latest time and date to which we shall have extended the expiration of such exchange offer.

To extend the period of time during which an exchange offer is open, we will notify the exchange agent of any extension or written notice, followed by notification by press release or other public announcement to the registered holders of the outstanding notes no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

Goodman Global, Inc. reserves the right, in its sole discretion:

 

   

to delay accepting for exchange any outstanding notes (only in the case that we amend or extend the exchange offer);

 

   

to extend the exchange offer or to terminate the exchange offer if any of the conditions set forth below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have not been satisfied, by giving written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent; and

 

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subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner. In the event of a material change in the exchange offer, including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the offer period, if necessary, so that at least five business days remain in such offer period following notice of the material change.

Any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by written notice to the registered holders of the outstanding notes. If Goodman amends an exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, it will promptly disclose the amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders of applicable outstanding notes of that amendment.

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

Despite any other term of the exchange offer, Goodman Global, Inc. will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue exchange notes in exchange for, any outstanding notes and it may terminate or amend the exchange offer as provided in this prospectus prior to the expiration date if in its reasonable judgment:

 

   

the exchange offer or the making of any exchange by a holder violates any applicable law or interpretation of the SEC; or

 

   

any action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in writing in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the exchange offer that, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer.

In addition, Goodman Global, Inc. will not be obligated to accept for exchange the outstanding notes of any holder that has not made to us:

 

   

the representations described under “—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” “—Procedures for Tendering” and “Plan of Distribution;” or

 

   

any other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations, or interpretations to make available to us an appropriate form for registration of the exchange notes under the Securities Act.

Goodman Global, Inc. expressly reserves the right at any time or at various times to extend the period of time during which the exchange offer is open. Consequently, Goodman Global, Inc. may delay acceptance of any outstanding notes by giving oral or written notice of such extension to their holders. Goodman Global, Inc. will return any outstanding notes that it does not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

Goodman Global, Inc. expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer and to reject for exchange any outstanding notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of the exchange offer specified above. Goodman Global, Inc. will give oral or written notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the outstanding notes as promptly as practicable. In the case of any extension, such notice will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

These conditions are for our sole benefit and Goodman Global, Inc. may assert them regardless of the circumstances that may give rise to them or waive them in whole or in part at any or at various times prior to the expiration date in our sole discretion. If Goodman Global, Inc. fails at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights, this failure will not constitute a waiver of such right. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that it may assert at any time or at various times prior to the expiration date.

In addition, Goodman Global, Inc. will not accept for exchange any outstanding notes tendered, and will not issue exchange notes in exchange for any such outstanding notes, if at such time any stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the TIA).

 

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Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes

To tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you must comply with either of the following:

 

   

complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal, have the signature(s) on the letter of transmittal guaranteed if required by the letter of transmittal and mail or deliver such letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof to the exchange agent at the address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent—Notes” prior to the expiration date; or

 

   

comply with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program procedures described below.

In addition, you will comply with either of the following conditions:

 

   

the exchange agent must receive certificates for outstanding notes along with the letter of transmittal prior to the expiration date;

 

   

the exchange agent must receive a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC according to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below or a properly transmitted agent’s message prior to the expiration date; or

 

   

you must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

Your tender, if not withdrawn prior to the expiration date, constitutes an agreement between us and you upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

The method of delivery of outstanding notes, letters of transmittal, and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at your election and risk. We recommend that instead of delivery by mail, you use an overnight or hand delivery service, properly insured. In all cases, you should allow sufficient time to assure timely delivery to the exchange agent before the expiration date. You should not send letters of transmittal or certificates representing outstanding notes to us. You may request that your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or nominee effect the above transactions for you.

If you are a beneficial owner whose outstanding notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee and you wish to tender your outstanding notes, you should promptly contact the registered holder and instruct the registered holder to tender on your behalf. If you wish to tender the outstanding notes yourself, you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either:

 

   

make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in your name; or

 

   

obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder of outstanding notes.

The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be able to be completed prior to the expiration date.

Signatures on the letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible guarantor institution” within the meaning of Rule 17A(d)-15 under the Exchange Act unless the outstanding notes surrendered for exchange are tendered:

 

   

by a registered holder of the outstanding notes who has not completed the box entitled “Special Registration Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal; or

 

   

for the account of an eligible guarantor institution.

 

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If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any outstanding notes listed on the outstanding notes, such outstanding notes must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond power. The bond power must be signed by the registered holder as the registered holder’s name appears on the outstanding notes and an eligible guarantor institution must guarantee the signature on the bond power.

If the letter of transmittal or any certificates representing outstanding notes, or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations, or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, those persons should also indicate when signing and, unless waived by us, they should also submit evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to so act.

The exchange agent and DTC have confirmed that any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s system may use DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program to tender. Participants in the program may, instead of physically completing and signing the letter of transmittal and delivering it to the exchange agent, electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange by causing DTC to transfer the outstanding notes to the exchange agent in accordance with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program procedures for transfer. DTC will then send an agent’s message to the exchange agent. The term “agent’s message” means a message transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming part of the book-entry confirmation, which states that:

 

   

DTC has received an express acknowledgment from a participant in its Automated Tender Offer Program that is tendering outstanding notes that are the subject of the book-entry confirmation;

 

   

the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, or in the case of an agent’s message relating to guaranteed delivery, that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the notice of guaranteed delivery; and

 

   

we may enforce that agreement against such participant.

DTC is referred to herein as a “book-entry transfer facility.”

Acceptance of Exchange Notes

In all cases, Goodman Global, Inc. will promptly issue exchange notes for outstanding notes that it has accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:

 

   

outstanding notes or a timely book-entry confirmation of such outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility; and

 

   

a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents or a properly transmitted agent’s message.

By tendering outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer, you will represent to us that, among other things:

 

   

you are not our “affiliate” or an “affiliate” of any guarantor within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

   

you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes; and

 

   

you are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business.

In addition, each broker-dealer that is to receive exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes must represent that such outstanding notes were acquired by that broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus that meets the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. The letter of

 

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transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. See “Plan of Distribution.”

Goodman Global, Inc. will interpret the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the letters of transmittal and the instructions to the letters of transmittal, and will resolve all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, and acceptance of outstanding notes tendered for exchange. Our determinations in this regard will be final and binding on all parties. Goodman Global, Inc. reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders of any particular outstanding notes not properly tendered or to not accept any particular outstanding notes if the acceptance might, in its or its counsel’s judgment, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities as to any particular outstanding notes prior to the expiration date.

Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of outstanding notes for exchange must be cured within such reasonable period of time as we determine. Neither Goodman Global, Inc., the exchange agent, nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of outstanding notes for exchange, nor will any of them incur any liability for any failure to give notification. Any outstanding notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the exchange agent to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly after the expiration date.

Book-Entry Delivery Procedures

Promptly after the date of this prospectus, the exchange agent will establish an account with respect to the outstanding notes at DTC and, as the book-entry transfer facility, for purposes of the exchange offer. Any financial institution that is a participant in the book-entry transfer facility’s system may make book-entry delivery of the outstanding notes by causing the book-entry transfer facility to transfer those outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at the facility in accordance with the facility’s procedures for such transfer. To be timely, book-entry delivery of outstanding notes requires receipt of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer, a “book-entry confirmation,” prior to the expiration date. In addition, although delivery of outstanding notes may be effected through book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility, the letter of transmittal or a manually signed facsimile thereof, together with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, or an “agent’s message,” as defined below, in connection with a book-entry transfer, must, in any case, be delivered or transmitted to and received by the exchange agent at its address set forth on the cover page of the letter of transmittal prior to the expiration date to receive exchange notes for tendered outstanding notes, or the guaranteed delivery procedure described below must be complied with. Tender will not be deemed made until such documents are received by the exchange agent. Delivery of documents to the book-entry transfer facility does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.

Holders of outstanding notes who are unable to deliver confirmation of the book-entry tender of their outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility or all other documents required by the letter of transmittal to the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date must tender their outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

If you wish to tender your outstanding notes but your outstanding notes are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your outstanding notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents to the exchange agent or comply with the procedures under DTC’s Automatic Tender Offer Program in the case of outstanding notes, prior to the expiration date, you may still tender if:

 

   

the tender is made through an eligible guarantor institution;

 

   

prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent receives from such eligible guarantor institution either a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery, by facsimile transmission, mail,

 

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or hand delivery or a properly transmitted agent’s message and notice of guaranteed delivery, that (1) sets forth your name and address, the certificate number(s) of such outstanding notes and the principal amount of outstanding notes tendered; (2) states that the tender is being made thereby; and (3) guarantees that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, the letter of transmittal, or facsimile thereof, together with the outstanding notes or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal, will be deposited by the eligible guarantor institution with the exchange agent; and

 

   

the exchange agent receives the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, as well as certificate(s) representing all tendered outstanding notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation of transfer of the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC all other documents required by the letter of transmittal within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date.

Upon request, the exchange agent will send to you a notice of guaranteed delivery if you wish to tender your outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures.

Withdrawal Rights

Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may withdraw your tender of outstanding notes at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

For a withdrawal to be effective:

 

   

the exchange agent must receive a written notice, which may be by telegram, telex, facsimile or letter, of withdrawal at its address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent;” or

 

   

you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program system.

Any notice of withdrawal must:

 

   

specify the name of the person who tendered the outstanding notes to be withdrawn;

 

   

identify the outstanding notes to be withdrawn, including the certificate numbers and principal amount of the outstanding notes; and

 

   

where certificates for outstanding notes have been transmitted, specify the name in which such outstanding notes were registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder.

If certificates for outstanding notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the release of such certificates, you must also submit:

 

   

the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn; and

 

   

a signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless you are an eligible guarantor institution.

If outstanding notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at the book-entry transfer facility to be credited with the withdrawn outstanding notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of the facility. We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, and eligibility, including time of receipt of notices of withdrawal and our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any outstanding notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer. Any outstanding notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to their holder, without cost to the holder, or, in the case of book-entry transfer, the outstanding notes will be credited to an account at the book-entry transfer facility, promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or

 

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termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn outstanding notes may be retendered by following the procedures described under “— Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes” above at any time on or prior to the expiration date.

Exchange Agent

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association has been appointed as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association also acts as trustee under the indenture governing the notes. You should direct all executed letters of transmittal and all questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letters of transmittal, and requests for notices of guaranteed delivery to the exchange agent addressed as follows:

 

By Registered or Certified Mail:   By Regular Mail or Overnight Courier:   By Hand Delivery:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Corporate Trust Operations

MAC # N9303-121

P.O. Box 1517

Minneapolis, MN 55480

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Corporate Trust Operations

MAC # N9303-121

Sixth Street & Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55479

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Corporate Trust Services

Northstar East Building,

12th Floor

608 Second Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55402

 

By Facsimile Transmission:

(eligible institutions only):

(612) 667-6282

Telephone Inquiries:

(800) 344-5128

 

Note:  Delivery of this instrument to an address other than as set forth above, or transmission of instructions other than as set forth above, will not constitute a valid delivery.

If you deliver the letter of transmittal to an address other than the one set forth above or transmit instructions via facsimile other than the one set forth above, that delivery or those instructions will not be effective.

Fees and Expenses

The registration rights agreement provides that we will bear all expenses in connection with the performance of our obligations relating to the registration of the exchange notes and the conduct of the exchange offer. These expenses include registration and filing fees, accounting and legal fees and printing costs, among others. We will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding this prospectus and related documents to their clients that are holders of outstanding notes and for handling or tendering for such clients.

We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not pay any fee or commission to any broker, dealer, nominee or other person, other than the exchange agent, for soliciting tenders of outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer.

Accounting Treatment

We will record the exchange notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the outstanding notes, which is the aggregate principal amount as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchanges. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of the exchange offer. We will record the expenses of the exchange offer as incurred.

 

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Transfer Taxes

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchanges of outstanding notes under the exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if:

 

   

certificates representing outstanding notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of outstanding notes tendered;

 

   

tendered outstanding notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the letter of transmittal; or

 

   

a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of outstanding notes under the exchange offer.

If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed to that tendering holder.

Holders who tender their outstanding notes for exchange will not be required to pay any transfer taxes. However, holders who instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request that outstanding notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be required to pay any applicable transfer tax.

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes under the exchange offer, your outstanding notes will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer of such outstanding notes:

 

   

as set forth in the legend printed on the outstanding notes as a consequence of the issuance of the outstanding notes pursuant to the exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; and

 

   

as otherwise set forth in the offering memorandum distributed in connection with the private offerings of the outstanding notes.

In general, you may not offer or sell your outstanding notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act or if the offer or sale is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding notes under the Securities Act.

Other

Participating in the exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.

We may in the future seek to acquire untendered outstanding notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any outstanding notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered outstanding notes.

 

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

Exchange Offer

The exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event to holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, no gain or loss will be recognized by a holder upon receipt of an exchange note, the holding period of the exchange note will include the holding period of the outstanding note exchanged therefor and the basis of the exchange note will be the same as the basis of the outstanding note immediately before the exchange.

In any event, persons considering the exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Ownership of the Notes

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income and, in the case of non-U.S. holders (as defined below), estate tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes as of the date hereof.

Except where noted, this summary deals only with notes that are held as capital assets. As used herein, a “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of the notes that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes any of the following:

 

   

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

The term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of the notes (other than a partnership or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. holder. This summary does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are a person subject to special tax treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including, without limitation:

 

   

a dealer in securities or currencies;

 

   

a financial institution;

 

   

a regulated investment company;

 

   

a real estate investment trust;

 

   

a tax-exempt organization;

 

   

an insurance company;

 

   

a person holding the notes as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or a straddle;

 

   

a trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities;

 

   

a person liable for alternative minimum tax;

 

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a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

a U.S. holder whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

a controlled foreign corporation;

 

   

a passive foreign investment company; or

 

   

a U.S. expatriate.

This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), United States Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences different from those summarized below.

If a partnership (including any entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership or a partner in a partnership holding notes, you should consult your own tax advisors.

This summary does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you in light of your particular circumstances and does not address the effects of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular purchaser of notes. If you are considering the purchase of notes, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of the ownership of the notes, as well as the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Certain Tax Consequences to U.S. holders

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to U.S. holders of the notes.

Notes

Original Issue Discount

Because the notes were initially sold at a discount and provide us with the option to pay PIK interest in lieu of paying cash interest for any interest payment period subject to certain limitations, the notes are treated as issued with “original issue discount” (“OID”), as described below. The issuance of PIK Notes is generally not treated as a payment of interest. Instead, a note and any PIK Notes issued in respect of PIK Interest thereon are treated as a single debt instrument under the OID rules. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, increasing the principal amount of the notes will generally be treated the same as the issuance of PIK Notes.

The notes are treated as issued with OID in an amount equal to the difference between their “stated redemption price at maturity” (the sum of all payments to be made on the notes other than “qualified stated interest”) and their “issue price.”

The “issue price” of the notes is the first price at which a substantial amount of such notes were sold (other than to an underwriter, placement agent or wholesaler). The term “qualified stated interest” means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or in property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually at a single fixed rate or, subject to certain conditions, based on one or more interest indices. Because we have the option for any interest payment period, subject to certain limitations, to make interest payments in PIK Interest instead of paying cash, the stated interest payments on the notes are not qualified stated interest.

 

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You must generally include OID in your gross income as it accrues over the term of the notes without regard to your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and in advance of the receipt of cash payments attributable to that income. The amount of OID that you must include in income if you are the initial holder of a note will generally equal the sum of the “daily portions” of OID with respect to the note for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year in which you held such note (“accrued OID”). The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any “accrual period” a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. The accrual period for a note may be of any length and may vary in length over the term of the note, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs on the first day or the final day of an accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to any accrual period other than the final accrual period is an amount equal to the product of the note’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of such accrual period and its yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period). OID allocable to a final accrual period is the difference between the amount payable at maturity and the adjusted issue price at the beginning of the final accrual period. The “yield to maturity” of a note is the discount rate that causes the present value of all payments on the note as of its original issue date to equal the issue price of such note. For purposes of determining the yield to maturity, the assumption is that we will pay interest in cash and not exercise the option to pay PIK Interest.

The “adjusted issue price” of a note at the beginning of any accrual period is equal to its issue price increased by the accrued OID for each prior accrual period determined without regard to the amortization of any acquisition or bond premium, as described below, and reduced by any cash payments made on such note on or before the first day of the accrual period.

If we in fact pay interest in cash on the notes, you will not be required to adjust your OID inclusions. Each payment made in cash under a note will be treated first as a payment of any accrued OID that has not been allocated to prior payments and second as a payment of principal. You generally will not be required to include separately in income cash payments received on the notes to the extent such payments constitute payments of previously accrued OID or payments of principal.

If, for any interest payment period, we exercise our option to pay interest in the form of PIK Interest, your OID calculation for future periods will be adjusted by treating the note as if it had been retired and then reissued for an amount equal to its adjusted issue price on the date preceding the first date of such interest payment period, and re-calculating the yield to maturity of the reissued note by treating the amount of PIK Interest (and of any prior PIK Interest) as a payment that will be made on the maturity date of such note.

The rules regarding OID are complex and the rules described above may not apply in all cases. Accordingly, you should consult your own tax advisors regarding their application.

Market Discount

If you purchase a note for an amount that is less than its adjusted issue price, the amount of the difference will be treated as market discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, unless that difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, you will be required to treat any principal payment on, or any gain on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a note as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount that you have not previously included in income and are treated as having accrued on the note at the time of its payment or disposition.

In addition, you may be required to defer, until the maturity of the note or its earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, the deduction of all or a portion of the interest expense on any indebtedness attributable to the note. You may elect, on a note-by-note basis, to deduct the deferred interest expense in a tax year prior to the year of disposition. You should consult your own tax advisors before making this election.

 

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Any market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the note, unless you elect to accrue on a constant interest method. You may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues, on either a ratable or constant interest method, in which case the rule described above regarding deferral of interest deductions will not apply.

Acquisition Premium, Amortizable Bond Premium

If you purchase a note for an amount that is greater than its adjusted issue price but equal to or less than the sum of all amounts payable on the note after the purchase date, you will be considered to have purchased that note at an “acquisition premium.” Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of OID that you must include in gross income with respect to the note for any taxable year will be reduced by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to that year.

If you purchase a note for an amount in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the note after the purchase date, you will be considered to have purchased the note at a premium and you will not be required to include any OID in income. You generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the note on a constant yield method as an offset to interest when includible in income under your regular accounting method. If you do not elect to amortize bond premium, that premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss you would otherwise recognize on disposition of the note.

Sale, Exchange, Retirement, or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Subject to the discussion below regarding the Mandatory Principal Redemption, upon the sale, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of a note (or a PIK Note), you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition and the adjusted tax basis of the note (or the PIK Note). Your adjusted tax basis in a note will, in general, be your cost for the note, increased by OID or market discount previously included in income, and reduced by any amortized premium and cash payments on the note.

Although not free from doubt, your adjusted tax basis in a note should be allocated between the original note and any PIK Notes received in respect of PIK Interest thereon in proportion to their relative principal amounts. Your holding period in any PIK Note received in respect of PIK Interest would likely be identical to your holding period for the original note with respect to which the PIK Note was received.

Any gain or loss you recognize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition, the note has been held for more than one year. Capital gains of noncorporate U.S. holders (including individuals) derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Payments received by a U.S. holder upon the Mandatory Principal Redemption of a portion of a note will be treated as tax free payments of a portion of the then accrued OID with respect to such note in its entirety (including the portion of the note not redeemed).

Certain Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. holders

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences that will apply to non-U.S. holders of the notes.

 

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U.S. Federal Withholding Tax

The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of interest (which for purposes of this discussion includes OID) on the notes under the “portfolio interest rule,” provided that:

 

   

interest paid on the notes is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States;

 

   

you do not actually (or constructively) own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock within the meaning of the Code and applicable United States Treasury regulations;

 

   

you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us actually or constructively through stock ownership;

 

   

you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on the notes is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and

 

   

either (a) you provide your name and address on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form), and certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person as defined under the Code or (b) you hold your notes through certain foreign intermediaries and satisfy the certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations. Special certification rules apply to non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide us with a properly executed:

 

   

IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) certifying an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty; or

 

   

IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) certifying interest paid on the notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (as discussed below under “—U.S. Federal Income Tax”).

The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax generally will not apply to any payment of principal or gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a note; provided, however, that payments received by a non-U.S. holder upon the Mandatory Principal Redemption of a portion of a note will be treated as payments of a portion of the then accrued OID with respect to such note in its entirety (including the portion of the note not redeemed) and therefore possibly subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax.

U.S. Federal Income Tax

If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest (including OID) on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment), then you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest (including OID) on a net income basis (although you will be exempt from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, provided the certification requirements discussed above in “—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” are satisfied) in generally the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of such interest (including OID), subject to adjustments.

Any gain realized on the disposition of a note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment); or

 

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you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met.

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

Your estate will not be subject to U.S. federal estate tax on notes beneficially owned by you at the time of your death, provided that any payment to you on the notes would be eligible for exemption from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax under the “portfolio interest rule” described above under “—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” without regard to the statement requirement described in the fifth bullet point of that section.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

U.S. holders

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to certain payments of principal and interest (including OID) paid on the notes and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of a note paid to you (unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation).

Backup withholding may apply to such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification that you are not subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Non-U.S. holders

Generally, we must report to the IRS and to you the amount of interest (including OID) paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments of interest (including OID) on the notes that we make to you provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, and we have received from you the required certification that you are a non-U.S. holder described above in the fifth bullet point under “—Certain Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. holders—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.”

Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition (including a redemption) of notes within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, unless you certify to the payor under penalties of perjury that you are a non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code), or you otherwise establish an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of the notes and exchange notes by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws, rules or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of such plans, accounts and arrangements (each, a “Plan”).

General Fiduciary Matters

ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of such an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such an ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.

In considering an investment in the notes of a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.

Prohibited Transaction Issues

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a nonexempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that engages in such a nonexempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. The acquisition and/or holding of notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which we or the initial purchasers are considered a party in interest or disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the United States Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the notes. These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1, respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38, respecting bank collective investment funds, PTCE 95-60, respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE 96-23, respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers, although all of the conditions of any such exemptions may not be satisfied. Because of the foregoing, the notes should not be purchased or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase and holding (and the exchange of notes for exchange notes) will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

Representation

Accordingly, by acceptance of a note or an exchange note, each purchaser and subsequent transferee will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either (i) no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or

 

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transferee to acquire and hold the notes constitutes assets of any Plan or (ii) the purchase and holding of the notes (and the exchange of notes for exchange notes) by such purchaser or transferee will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws.

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all-inclusive. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the notes (and holding the notes or exchange notes) on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such transactions and whether an exemption would be applicable to the purchase and holding of the notes.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to an exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. In addition, all dealers effecting transactions in the exchange notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to an exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to an exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale of exchange notes and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer other than commissions or concessions of any broker-dealers and will indemnify you (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Palo Alto, California.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Goodman Global, Inc., our predecessor, at December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) has a business relationship with a company other than Goodman that is also controlled by affiliates of Hellman & Friedman, the majority stockholder of Goodman Global, Inc. The other company provides expert services to E&Y in connection with E&Y’s defense of certain professional liability litigation matters. E&Y is not the auditor of the other company, and does not believe the services provided, or the amounts paid therefore, are material to either the other company or E&Y. This relationship does not involve Goodman Global, Inc. nor have any impact on its consolidated financial statements. The audit committee of Goodman Global, Inc.’s board of directors and E&Y have separately considered the impact that this relationship may have had on E&Y’s independence with respect to Goodman Global, Inc. Both the audit committee of Goodman Global, Inc.’s board of directors and E&Y have concluded that this relationship with the other company does not impact E&Y’s independence. In making this determination, both the audit committee of Goodman Global, Inc.’s board of directors and E&Y considered, among other things, the immaterial, indirect nature of the relationship as it relates to Goodman Global, Inc.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We and our guarantor subsidiaries have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act with respect to the exchange notes. This prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. For further information with respect to us, our guarantor subsidiaries and the exchange notes, reference is made to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. We and our guarantor subsidiaries are not currently subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Prior to consummation of the Transactions, Goodman Global, Inc. had historically been subject to, and as a result of the offering of the exchange notes, we and our guarantor subsidiaries will become subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, will file reports and other information with the SEC. The registration statements, such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC located at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Copies of such materials, including copies of all or any portion of the registration statement, can be obtained from the Public Reference Room of the SEC at prescribed rates. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 to obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. Such materials may also be accessed electronically by means of the SEC’s home page on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov). Until we recommence filing such reports and other information with the SEC, we will furnish to holders of outstanding notes and prospective purchasers thereof the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales of such notes.

So long as we and our guarantor subsidiaries are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, we and our guarantor subsidiaries are required to furnish the information required to be filed with

 

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the SEC to the trustee and the holders of the outstanding notes. We and our guarantor subsidiaries have agreed that, even if we are not required under the Exchange Act to furnish such information to the SEC, we will nonetheless continue to furnish information that would be required to be furnished by us and our guarantor subsidiaries by Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by their certified independent accountants to the trustee and the holders of the outstanding notes or exchange notes as if we were subject to such periodic reporting requirements. However, our reporting obligations under the indenture are not identical to the reporting obligations that we would have if we were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Among other differences, the indenture permits us to meet these periodic filing and information requirements within time frames that may be longer than those to which we would be subject if we were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. See “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Reports and Other Information.”

 

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Goodman Global, Inc. and Subsidiaries Financial Statements

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006

   F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

   F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-7

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Goodman Global, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Goodman Global, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Goodman Global, Inc. at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” Additionally, as discussed in Notes 2 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments,” and, effective December 31, 2006, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)”, respectively.

/s/    Ernst & Young LLP

Houston, Texas

March 12, 2008

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     December 31,
     2007    2006
     (In thousands)

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 18,955    $ 11,569

Restricted cash

     2,600      2,600

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
($7.0 million in 2007; $7.3 million in 2006)

     217,035      200,086

Inventories, net

     277,723      346,059

Deferred tax assets

     41,062      29,321

Other current assets

     18,246      25,976
             

Total current assets

     575,621      615,611

Property, plant, and equipment, net

     159,395      172,246

Goodwill

     391,287      391,287

Identifiable intangibles

     398,707      407,572

Deferred tax assets

     28,059      15,011

Deferred financing costs

     14,548      22,244
             

Total assets

   $ 1,567,617    $ 1,623,971
             

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     

Current liabilities:

     

Trade accounts payable

   $ 104,438    $ 121,689

Accrued warranty

     39,669      41,773

Other accrued expenses

     92,040      80,347

Current portion of long-term debt

     3,500      3,500
             

Total current liabilities

     239,647      247,309

Long-term debt, less current portion

     651,925      834,550

Revolving credit facility

     —        —  

Other long-term liabilities

     53,939      21,027

Common stock, par value $.01, 275,000,000 shares authorized, 68,938,590 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007 and 68,903,322 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2006

     689      689

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     337      3,087

Additional paid-in capital

     466,056      462,590

Retained earnings

     155,024      54,719
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     622,106      521,085
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,567,617    $ 1,623,971
             

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2007     2006    2005  
     (in thousands)  

Sales, net

   $ 1,935,690     $ 1,794,753    $ 1,565,406  

Costs and expenses:

       

Cost of goods sold

     1,462,776       1,374,774      1,243,408  

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

     210,613       205,894      170,077  

Depreciation expense

     26,254       23,776      17,838  

Amortization expense

     8,865       8,865      19,879  
                       

Operating profit

     227,182       181,444      114,204  

Interest expense

     68,378       77,825      74,213  

Other (income) expense, net

     (2,752 )     5,264      (706 )
                       

Earnings before taxes

     161,556       98,355      40,697  

Provision for income taxes

     60,177       34,188      15,817  
                       

Net income

   $ 101,379     $ 64,167    $ 24,880  
                       

Less: Preferred stock dividends

     —         6,622      22,512  
                       

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 101,379     $ 57,545    $ 2,368  
                       

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     Common Stock    Additional
Paid-In

Capital
   Retained
Earnings

(Deficit)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)

Income
    Total  
     Shares    Amount          
     (in thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2004

   47,851    $ 479      107,434    $ (5,194 )   $ —       $ 102,719  

Net income

        —        —        24,880       —         24,880  

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of ($421) in taxes

        —        —        —         (673 )     (673 )

Foreign currency translation

        —        —        —         325       325  

Change in fair value of derivatives, net of $1,525 in taxes

        —        —        —         2,436       2,436  
                     

Comprehensive income

                  26,968  

Preferred stock dividend

        —        —        (22,512 )     —         (22,512 )

Common stock issued

   121      1      639      —         —         640  
                                           

Balance at December 31, 2005

   47,972    $ 480    $ 108,073    $ (2,826 )   $ 2,088     $ 107,815  
                                           

Net income

   —        —        —        64,167       —         64,167  

Change in fair value of derivatives, net of $414 in taxes

   —        —        —        —         661       661  

Foreign currency translation

   —        —        —        —         797       797  

Defined Benefit Plans:

               

Prior service costs, net of ($343) in taxes

   —        —        —        —         (549 )     (549 )

Net loss arising during the period, net of $56 in taxes

   —        —        —        —         90       90  
                     

Comprehensive income

                  65,166  

Preferred stock dividend

   —        —        —        (6,622 )     —         (6,622 )

Common stock issued

   20,931      209      351,961      —         —         352,170  

Stock-based compensation expense

   —        —        2,556      —         —         2,556  
                                           

Balance at December 31, 2006

   68,903    $ 689    $ 462,590    $ 54,719     $ 3,087     $ 521,085  
                                           

Net income

   —        —        —        101,379       —         101,379  

Change in fair value of derivatives, net of ($2,462) in taxes

   —        —        —        —         (5,339 )     (5,339 )

Foreign currency translation

   —        —        —        —         2,228       2,228  

Defined Benefit Plans:

               

Prior service costs, net of $197 in taxes

   —        —        —        —         314       314  

Net loss arising during the period, net of $29 in taxes

   —        —        —        —         47       47  
                     

Comprehensive income

                  98,629  

Common stock issued

   36      —        307      —         —         307  

Stock-based compensation expense

   —        —        3,159      —         —         3,159  

Cumulative effect of FIN 48 adoption

   —        —           (1,074 )     —         (1,074 )
                                           

Balance at December 31, 2007

   68,939    $ 689    $ 466,056    $ 155,024     $ 337     $ 622,106  
                                           

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Operating activities

      

Net income

   $ 101,379     $ 64,167     $ 24,880  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Adjustments to goodwill

     —         —         (2,260 )

Depreciation

     26,254       23,776       17,838  

Amortization

     8,865       8,865       19,879  

Allowance for bad debt

     (230 )     (534 )     (336 )

Deferred tax provision

     6,150       15,992       (5,872 )

Gain on disposal of assets

     (1,999 )     (15 )     (294 )

Amortization of inventory step-up in basis

     —         —         39,586  

Compensation expense related to stock options

     3,363       2,696       —    

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     7,757       8,113       5,241  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     (16,719 )     20,571       (63,506 )

Inventories

     68,336       (42,764 )     (41,919 )

Other assets

     3,803       (13,125 )     (3,050 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (2,742 )     (34,018 )     115,332  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     204,217       53,724       105,519  

Investing activities

      

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment

     (26,416 )     (39,383 )     (28,806 )

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant, and equipment

     12,235       40       3,810  

Other assets and liabilities

     —         —         39  
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (14,181 )     (39,343 )     (24,957 )

Financing activities

      

Repayments of long-term debt

     (182,625 )     (123,325 )     (38,625 )

Exercise of stock options

     204       14       —    

Proceeds from initial public offering

     —         354,491       —    

Redemption of preferred stock and accrued dividends

     —         (255,234 )     —    

Net borrowing (payments) under revolving line facility

     —         —         (24,135 )

Initial public offering transaction costs

     —         (2,537 )     —    

Stock purchase

     —         —         1,210  

Working capital adjustment

     —         —         1,330  

Other transaction costs

     (229 )     —         (419 )
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     (182,650 )     (26,591 )     (60,639 )
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash

     7,386       (12,210 )     19,923  

Cash at beginning of period

     11,569       23,779       3,856  

Cash at end of period

   $ 18,955     $ 11,569     $ 23,779  
                        

Supplementary disclosures of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid during the period for:

      

Interest

   $ 64,337     $ 70,407     $ 62,625  

Income taxes

   $ 48,950     $ 40,439     $ 7,960  

Non-cash item: Accrual for purchases of property, plant and equipment

   $ 1,600     $ 6,546     $ 10,431  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.    Nature of operations

Goodman Global, Inc. (the Company), through its subsidiaries, is the second-largest U.S. manufacturer of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) products for residential and light commercial uses based on unit sales. The Company’s activities include engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of an extensive line of heating, air-conditioning, and related products in the United States and in certain international markets. Branded products manufactured and marketed by the Company include primarily Goodman®, Amana®, and Quietflex®. The Company sells its products to various types of customers, including distributors, installing dealers, national accounts and original equipment manufacturers with no single customer accounting for more than 10% of consolidated 2007 net revenues. Less than 5% of the 2007 consolidated revenues were derived from external customers outside the United States. Although there is demand for the Company’s products throughout the year, in each of the past three years approximately 56% to 58% of total sales occurred in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year. The Company’s peak production occurs in the first and second quarters in anticipation of peak sales quarters.

The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. As the Company’s consolidated financial information is reviewed by the chief decision makers, and the business is managed under one operating and marketing strategy, the Company operates under one reportable segment. Approximately 1% of the Company’s assets are located outside the United States.

Basis of presentation

On December 23, 2004, the Company was acquired under an Asset Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) by affiliates of Apollo Management L.P. (Apollo), Company senior management and certain trusts associated with members of the Goodman family (the Goodman Trusts) (the 2004 Acquisition). Under the Agreement, the Company sold all of its equity interest in its subsidiaries as well as substantially all of its assets and liabilities for $1,477.5 million plus a working capital adjustment of $29.8 million. The 2004 Acquisition was financed with the net proceeds of a private offering of senior unsecured notes, borrowings under a new senior secured credit facility and $477.5 million of equity contributions by affiliates of Apollo, the Goodman Trusts, and certain members of senior management. In connection with the 2004 Acquisition, the Goodman Trusts and members of senior management invested approximately $101.0 million and $18.2 million, respectively.

Effective April 4, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 7.580345-for-1 stock split of the Company’s common stock. All periods presented are reflective of the effected stock split.

On April 11, 2006, the Company completed the initial public offering of the Company’s common stock. The Company offered 20.9 million shares and selling shareholders sold an additional 6.1 million shares, which included 3.5 million shares sold by selling shareholders pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Before expenses, the Company received proceeds of approximately $354.5 million. These proceeds were used to redeem all of the Company’s outstanding Series A Preferred Stock including associated accrued dividends, to satisfy a $16.0 million fee resulting from the termination of the Company’s management agreement with Apollo and to redeem $70.7 million of the Company’s subsidiary’s floating rate notes.

On February 13, 2008, the Company completed a merger with an affiliate of a private equity firm, Hellman & Friedman LLC. (the 2008 Merger). See Note 12, Subsequent Event.

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2.    Significant accounting policies

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents represent short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the restricted cash pertains to the Company’s extended warranty program.

Inventories

Inventory costs include material, labor, depreciation, logistics and plant overhead. The Company’s inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market using the first in, first out (FIFO) method. When deemed appropriate, the Company writes inventory down to its estimated realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand, physical conditions of products and market conditions.

A roll forward of the inventory reserves as of December 31, follows (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006     2005  

At the beginning of the period

   $ 4,568     $ 1,785     $ 2,245  

Current-year accruals

     3,261       7,680       6,190  

Current-year write-offs

     (3,094 )     (4,897 )     (6,650 )
                        

At the end of the period

   $ 4,735     $ 4,568     $ 1,785  
                        

Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized and expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Buildings are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is 39 years. Equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the assets’ remaining useful lives.

During 2007, the Company disposed of assets for net proceeds of $12.2 million and net gains of $4.2 million, of which $2.0 million has been recognized. At the time of sale, the Company entered into leases for a portion of three of the disposed properties and therefore has deferred $2.2 million of the gains as of December 31, 2007.

Interest attributable to construction in progress assets is capitalized. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company capitalized $0.4 million, $1.3 million and $0.9 million in interest, respectively.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The statement sets forth the accounting for impairment of long-lived assets other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles. The Company periodically evaluates whether current facts or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of its depreciable assets to be held and used may not be recoverable. If such circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows produced by the long-lived asset is compared to the carrying value to determine whether impairment exists. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured based on a quoted market price or the fair value based on various valuation techniques.

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Deferred financing costs

Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the period the related debt is anticipated to be outstanding. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, in connection with the early payments on our Term Notes, we took additional charges to interest expense totaling $3.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively related to the proportional write-off of deferred financing costs.

Identifiable intangible assets

The values assigned to amortizable intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for potential impairment. The estimated useful lives are based on an evaluation of the circumstances surrounding each asset, including an evaluation of events that may have occurred that would cause the useful life to be decreased. In the event the useful life would be considered to be shortened, or if the asset’s future value were deemed to be impaired, an appropriate amount would be charged to amortization expense. Future operating results and residual values could therefore reasonably differ from the Company’s current estimates and could require a provision for impairment in a future period. Indefinite lived intangible assets are reviewed in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles, by comparison of the fair market value with its carrying amount.

The Company assigned a value of approximately $11.0 million to a particular renewable sales contract. During the fourth quarter of 2005, a decision was made not to renew this agreement before its expiration. As a result, the net balance of this intangible, approximately $10.3 million, was taken as a charge to amortization expense in the accompanying statement of income in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Amounts allocated to identifiable intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives with no residual value as follows:

 

Trade names

   Indefinite

Customer relationships

   40 years

Technology

   10 years

Contracts

   15 years

Absent the Merger, the amortization related to the amortizable intangible assets in the aggregate would have been approximately $8.9 million per year over the next five years. See Note 12, Subsequent Event.

The useful life of our customer relationships was determined based on the total life of a distributor. Factors that contribute to this total life are the nature of the relationship with these distributors, the quality of the service and merchandise that we provide, the territorial preferences given to these distributors and the low turnover rates.

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Identifiable intangible assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006, consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     Gross    Accumulated
Amortization &
Impairment
   2007
Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

        

Customer relationships

   $ 291,560    $ 22,046    $ 269,514

Technology

     15,760      4,767      10,993

Contracts

     11,033      11,033      —  
                    

Total intangible assets subject to amortization

     318,353      37,846      280,507

Total indefinite-lived trade names

     118,200      —        118,200
                    

Total identifiable intangible assets

   $ 436,553    $ 37,846    $ 398,707
                    
     Gross    Accumulated
Amortization &
Impairment
   2006
Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

        

Customer relationships

   $ 291,560    $ 14,757    $ 276,803

Technology

     15,760      3,191      12,569

Contracts

     11,033      11,033      —  
                    

Total intangible assets subject to amortization

     318,353      28,981      289,372

Total indefinite-lived trade names

     118,200      —        118,200
                    

Total identifiable intangible assets

   $ 436,553    $ 28,981    $ 407,572
                    

Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the cost of an acquired company over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount could be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at the reporting unit level, which is one level below the business segment level. Under the criteria set forth by SFAS No. 142, the Company has two reporting units, and goodwill was allocated to these reporting units based on the net assets acquired. An impairment charge generally would be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair market value of the reporting unit. The Company performed its annual test as of October 1, 2007 and determined that no impairment exists.

Fair value of financial instruments

Financial instruments include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, revolving loans payable, long-term debt, and interest rate and commodity swap agreements. Management believes the fair value of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The fair value of revolving loans payable and long-term debt is estimated based on anticipated interest rates that management believes would currently be available to the Company for similar issues of debt, taking into account the current credit risk of the Company and other market factors, and arms length trades for debt securities, which are traded. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated to approximate the carrying amount at December 31, 2007. Interest rate and commodity swaps are recorded at fair value.

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Revenue recognition

Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, sale price is fixed and determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenues are recorded net of rebates to certain distributors, dealers and builders. These rebates relate to several programs and are designed to stimulate sales of the Company’s products. Provisions are made for warranties at the time revenues are recognized. Costs associated with shipping and handling of the Company’s products is included in costs of goods sold.

The Company consigns certain products to many of its independent distributors. Product inventories shipped on consignment terms are maintained under a consignment arrangement on the premises of independent distributors. Revenues and cost of sales are recognized at the time consigned inventory is sold by the independent distributor to a third party.

Trade and other receivables

The Company’s receivables are recorded when billed and represent claims against third parties that will be settled in cash. The customer’s financial position is periodically reviewed and no collateral is required. The carrying value of the Company’s receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents their estimated net realizable value. The Company estimates its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical collection trends, type of customer, the age of outstanding receivables, and existing economic conditions. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that specific receivable balances may be impaired, further consideration is given to the collectibility of those balances, and the allowance is adjusted accordingly. The Company does not have significant credit risk concentrations and historically has not experienced significant losses related to its receivables.

A rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, follows (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006     2005  

At the beginning of the period

   $ 7,258     $ 7,795     $ 8,130  

Current-year accruals

     5,699       4,322       9,367  

Current-year write-offs

     (5,925 )     (4,859 )     (9,702 )
                        

At the end of the period

   $ 7,032     $ 7,258     $ 7,795  
                        

Warranty costs

Warranty costs are accrued at the time of sale based on estimated future warranty claims. The Company’s estimated future warranty claims are determined based on historical failure rates and other factors. The Company also sells extended warranty contracts for certain of its products with terms of up to ten years. Revenues from extended warranty contracts are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contracts. Expenses related to obtaining and servicing these contracts are expensed as incurred.

A rollforward of the liabilities for warranties as of December 31, follows (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006     2005  

At the beginning of the period

   $ 41,773     $ 37,685     $ 39,086  

Current-year accruals

     40,801       35,192       29,606  

Current-year write-offs

     (42,905 )     (31,104 )     (31,007 )
                        

At the end of the period

   $ 39,669     $ 41,773     $ 37,685  
                        

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Accrued self insurance reserves

The Company is self-insured up to certain stop-loss amounts for workers’ compensation, product liability, general liability, auto liability, group health and physical damage. The expense and liabilities are determined based on historical company claims information, as well as industry factors and trends in the level of such claims and payments. Our self-insurance reserves, calculated on an undiscounted basis, as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, represent the best estimate of the future payments to be made on incurred claims reported and unreported. Based on historical payment patterns, the Company expects payments of undiscounted ultimate losses related to workers’ compensation as of December 31, to be made as follows (in thousands):

 

2008

   $ 4,402

2009

     1,586

2010

     1,035

2011

     727

2012

     427

Thereafter

     220
      

Total

   $ 8,397
      

Stock compensation plans

On December 23, 2004, the Company adopted the 2004 Stock Option Plan. Under this plan, as amended, 4,798,752 shares of the authorized but unissued shares of common stock of Goodman Global, Inc. were reserved for issuance. The plan permitted the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock to eligible employees, consultants, and directors. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had granted approximately 4.7 million options, a portion of which vest based on time in installments through 2009, and a portion of which vest in 2012 subject to accelerated vesting based on the achievement of specified performance targets through 2008. No additional options to purchase shares of common stock were granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan. During the first quarter of 2006, the Company amended certain options granted on December 23, 2004, March 1, 2005 and April 18, 2005 to provide that the installment, which would otherwise become vested with respect to the fiscal year 2009 upon attaining certain financial performance targets, became vested upon consummation of the initial public offering which occurred in April of 2006.

On February 1, 2006, the Company adopted the 2006 Incentive Award Plan (2006 Plan). Under this plan, 1,895,086 shares of the authorized but unissued shares of common stock of the Company were reserved for issuance. In addition, shares of common stock that remained available for future option grants under the 2004 Stock Option Plan and shares underlying any existing grants under the 2004 Stock Option Plan that were forfeited were available for issuance under the 2006 Plan. The plan permitted the grant of stock-based compensation awards to eligible employees, consultants and directors. The 2006 Plan provided for a variety of such awards, including non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, deferred stock awards, dividend equivalents, performance share awards, performance stock unit awards, performance-based awards or stock payment awards. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 17,000 shares of restricted stock had been issued under the 2006 Plan. These restricted shares could not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions lapse, one year after the date of grant. The weighted average grant date fair value of the restricted shares granted as of December 31, 2007 was $18.44. Recorded compensation costs for these shares for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 was not material. For year ended December 31, 2007, 0.7 million options also had been granted under this plan.

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A summary of stock option activity follows (in thousands except for per share data):

 

     Shares     Weighted Average
Exercise Price per

Share

Outstanding at December 31, 2004

   3,472     $ 5.28

Granted

   1,179     $ 10.89
        

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

   4,651     $ 6.70

Granted

   20     $ 20.10

Exercised

   (3 )   $ 5.28

Forfeited

   (63 )   $ 9.70
        

Outstanding at December 31, 2006

   4,605     $ 6.72

Granted

   653     $ 19.16

Exercised

   (30 )   $ 7.79

Forfeited

   (21 )   $ 12.30
        

Outstanding at December 31, 2007

   5,207     $ 8.25
        

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2007 (in thousands, except per share, and year data):

 

    Number
Outstanding
  Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable

Range

of Exercise
Prices Per

Share

    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Per
Share
  Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
  Number
Exercisable
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Per
Share
  Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

$5.28 - $21.80

  5,207   7.6   $ 8.25   $ 84,829   3,521   7.4   $ 5.90   $ 61,548

A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested stock options as of December 31, 2007 and changes since inception of the plan is presented below (in thousands except for per share data):

 

     Shares     Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share

Nonvested at December 31, 2004

   3,472     $ 1.71

Granted

   1,179     $ 2.24

Vested

   (979 )   $ 1.71
        

Nonvested at December 31, 2005

   3,672     $ 1.88

Granted

   20     $ 8.21

Vested

   (1,401 )   $ 1.71

Forfeited

   (56 )   $ 2.18
        

Nonvested at December 31, 2006

   2,235     $ 1.97

Granted

   653     $ 7.75

Vested

   (1,183 )   $ 1.93

Forfeited

   (19 )   $ 3.73
        

Nonvested at December 31, 2007

   1,686     $ 3.68
        

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock-based compensation under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations (APB No. 25), and had adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (SFAS No. 123), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended. Under APB No. 25, no stock-based compensation cost was reflected in net income for grants of stock options to employees because the Company granted stock options with an exercise price equal to the estimated market value of the stock on the date of grant. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized in 2006 included: (a) compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of the date of adoption based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to the date of adoption will be based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). In accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), results of prior periods have not been restated.

As a result of adopting SFAS No. 123(R), the Company recognized compensation expense of $3.2 million ($2.0 million after tax) and $2.6 million ($1.7 million after tax), during the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of income. Included in compensation expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 discussed above, is $0.7 million related to the 381,331 stock options that vested at the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering in April of 2006.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton model using assumptions discussed below. The expected volatility of 20% at the grant date was based mainly on the volatility of the Company’s competitors. The expected term of the options granted of 7 to 8 years is based on the time period the options are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free interest rate of between 4.5% and 5.0% is based on the U.S. Treasury rate of a note with the expected maturity of the expected term of the options. The Company has not considered a dividend payment in its calculation and believes that forfeitures will not be significant.

As of December 31, 2007, the total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized in the statement of income of the Company is $6.3 million. This amount will be recognized on a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

As of January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), thereby eliminating pro-forma disclosure for periods subsequent to adoption. The effect on net income and earnings per share, if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to the options granted under the Company’s stock option plan for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 is summarized below (in thousands, except earnings per share). There would have been no effect on the Company’s statements of cash flow for this period. For purposes of this disclosure, the value of the options is estimated using a Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model and amortized to expense over the options’ vesting period.

 

     2005

Effect on Net Income Before Taxes

   $ 1,779

Effect on Net Income

   $ 1,087

Effect on diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders

   $ 0.03

 

F-14


Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Pensions and other postretirement benefits

The Company accounts for its defined benefit pension plan and its defined benefit postretirement medical plan in accordance with SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and other Postretirement Plans, SFAS No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions and SFAS No. 106, Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions. These standards require that amounts recognized in the financial statements be determined on an actuarial basis. Significant assumptions involved in determining the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit expense include the expected return on plan assets, expected healthcare cost and the discount rate for calculating future liability. The assumed long-term rate of return on assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets which results in an estimated return on plan assets that is included in current year pension income or expense.

Research and development

Research and development costs are charged to selling, general and administrative expense as incurred. Research and development expense was $9.1 million, $8.8 million and $8.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Income taxes

The Company uses the liability method of accounting for taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences reverse.

The Company regularly evaluates valuation allowances established for deferred tax assets for which future realization is uncertain. The Company performs this evaluation at least quarterly and at the end of each fiscal year. The estimation of required valuation allowances includes estimates of future taxable income. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets at December 31, 2007 the Company considered whether it was more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets would not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers taxable income in carryback years, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. If actual future taxable income is different from the estimates, the Company’s results could be affected.

Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN No. 48 clarifies SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, and requires us to evaluate our tax positions for all jurisdictions and for all years where the statute of limitations has not expired. FIN No. 48 requires companies to meet a “more-likely-than-not” threshold (i.e. greater than a 50 percent likelihood of a tax position being sustained under examination) prior to recording a benefit for their tax positions. Additionally, for tax positions meeting this “more-likely-than-not” threshold, the amount of benefit is limited to the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent probability of being realized upon effective settlement. We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense on our income statement. For a further discussion of the impact of the adoption of FIN No. 48, see Note 4.

Derivatives and hedging activities

SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, requires that all derivatives be recognized as assets and liabilities and measured at fair value. The accounting for changes in the

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the derivative qualifies for hedge accounting and the resulting designation. The fair value of commodity hedges relating to raw materials used in production that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded to cost of goods sold in the period in which the end products are sold to our customers.

The Company’s counterparties to these instruments are large financial institutions that have little credit risk.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $2.4 million, $2.7 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to the present year presentation.

New accounting pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157 (SFAS 157), Fair Value Measurements, which addresses how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes under generally accepted accounting principles. As a result of SFAS 157 there is now a common definition of fair value to be used throughout GAAP. The FASB believes that the new standard will make the measurement of fair value more consistent and comparable and improve disclosures about those measures. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of the standard and does not believe the impact will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159 (SFAS 159), The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which permits entities to elect to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. This election is irrevocable. SFAS 159 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of the standard and does not currently expect to elect the fair value option for any of its assets and therefore does not expect this standard to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3.    Significant balance sheet accounts

Inventories as of December 31, consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006

Raw materials and parts

   $ 29,958    $ 43,286

Finished goods

     247,765      302,773
             
   $ 277,723    $ 346,059
             

Property, plant, and equipment as of December 31, consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     Useful Lives
in Years
   2007     2006  

Land

   —      $ 9,291     $ 12,162  

Buildings and improvements

   10–39      50,827       55,891  

Equipment

   3–10      156,861       131,206  

Construction-in-progress

   —        6,904       14,005  
                   
        223,883       213,264  

Less: Accumulated depreciation

        (64,488 )     (41,018 )
                   
      $ 159,395     $ 172,246  
                   

Other accrued expenses as of December 31, consist of the following significant items (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006

Accrued rebates

   $ 33,710    $ 27,060

Accrued self insurance reserves

     13,636      15,753

Interest

     1,792      3,928

Other

     42,902      33,606
             
   $ 92,040    $ 80,347
             

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of the following (in thousands):

 

    Defined
Benefit
Plans
    Cumulative
Transition
Adjustment
  Change in
Fair Value
of
Derivatives
    Acquisition   Foreign
Currency
Translation
  Total  

December 23, 2004

  $ —       —     $ —       —     $ —     $ —    

Net Change Through December 31, 2005

    (673 )   —       2,436     —       325     —    
                                     

December 31, 2005

    (673 )   —       2,436     —       325     2,088  
                                     

Net Change Through December 31, 2006

    (459 )   —       661     —       797     999  
                                     

December 31, 2006

    (1,132 )   —       3,097     —       1,122     3,087  
                                     

Net Change Through December 31, 2007

    361     —       (5,339 )       2,228     (2,750 )
                                     

December 31, 2007

  $ (771 )   —     $ (2,242 )   —     $ 3,350   $ 337  
                                     

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

4.    Income taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
   Year Ended
December 31,
2006
   Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 

Current expense (benefit):

        

U.S.

        

Federal

   $ 44,905    $ 14,267    $ 19,156  

State

     7,199      2,350      2,533  
                      

Total U.S.

     52,104      16,617      21,689  

Foreign

     1,923      1,703      —    
                      

Total current

     54,027      18,320      21,689  

Deferred expense (benefit):

        

U.S.

        

Federal

     5,591      14,426      (5,338 )

State

     559      1,442      (534 )
                      

Total U.S.

     6,150      15,868      (5,872 )

Foreign

     —        —        —    
                      

Total deferred

     6,150      15,858      (5,872 )
                      

Total provision for income taxes

   $ 60,177    $ 34,188    $ 15,817  
                      

A reconciliation between the provision for income taxes and income taxes computed by applying the statutory rate is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
 

Tax provision at statutory rate at 35%

   $ 56,545     $ 34,424  

Add (deduct):

    

State income taxes, net of federal taxes

     5,238       2,970  

Domestic production activities deduction

     (2,546 )     (567 )

Interest related to uncertain tax positions

     1,258       —    

Other permanent differences

     (488 )     (1,079 )

Prior year permanent differences

     —         (1,560 )

Changes in valuation allowance

     170       —    
                
   $ 60,177     $ 34,188  
                

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, were as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2007      2006  
     (in thousands)  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Accrued liabilities

   $ 46,905      $ 30,273  

Identifiable intangible assets

     15,943        26,748  

Goodwill

     25,620        9,877  

Stock options

     2,279        1,039  

Derivative instruments

     1,448        —    

Net operating loss carryforward

     3,769        4,549  

Less: Valuation allowance

     (3,528 )      (3,358 )
                 

Total Deferred Tax Asset

     92,436        69,128  

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Accrued liabilities

     (7,699 )      (7,699 )

Property, plant, and equipment

     (15,616 )      (15,160 )

Derivative instruments

     —          (1,937 )
                 

Total Deferred Tax Liability

     (23,315 )      (24,796 )
                 

Net Deferred Tax Asset

   $ 69,121      $ 44,332  
                 

We adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (SFAS 109) on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized an adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits of $1.1 million which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. In addition, at January 1, 2007 we reclassified $18.2 million from deferred taxes to other long-term liabilities.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest, is as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 19,271

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     9,584

Additions related to tax positions of prior years

     —  

Accrued interest

     1,258

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Settlements

     —  

Lapse of statute of limitations

     —  
      

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 30,113
      

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. There is no material impact on our tax expense for the period. As of December 31, 2007, we have approximately $2.0 million of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2007, approximately $2.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits (including interest) would affect our income tax expense and our effective income tax rate if recognized in future periods. While the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next twelve months, we do not expect this change to have a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position.

The tax years 2004, 2005 and 2006 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject.

As of December 31, 2007, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward of $9.8 million which expires beginning in 2014 through 2019, and a capital loss carryforward of $0.4 million, which expires in 2010. As of December 31, 2007, the Company has a valuation allowance of $3.5 million for the capital loss carryforward and the portion of the net operating loss carryforward that is subject to the Separate Return Limitation Year provision as a result of the 2004 Acquisition.

Based upon taxable income in carryback years, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income, the Company does not believe that a valuation allowance is warranted on the remaining deferred tax assets, as it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will be realized.

For the twelve months ended, December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 the Company paid taxes of $49.0 million, $40.4 million and $8.0 million, respectively.

Deferred income taxes have not been provided for on unremitted foreign earnings reinvested abroad. Currently, we do not expect these unremitted earnings to reverse and become taxable to us in the future. Due to the timing and circumstances of repatriation of such earnings, if any, it is not practicable to determine the unrecognized deferred tax liability relating to such amounts. Our foreign subsidiary has cumulative earnings of approximately $11.6 million for which no U.S. income taxes have been accrued based on our expectation that those funds are permanently reinvested in our operations in that country.

5.    Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt as of December 31, consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006  

Senior Floating Rate Notes

   $ 179,300     $ 179,300  

Senior Subordinated Notes

     400,000       400,000  

Term credit facility

     76,125       258,750  

Revolving credit facility

     —         —    

Current maturities

     (3,500 )     (3,500 )
                

Total long-term debt (including revolving credit facility), less current maturities

   $ 651,925     $ 834,550  
                

On December 23, 2004, in connection with the acquisition, Goodman Global Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its senior floating rate notes, maturing in 2012, and $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 7 7/8% senior subordinated notes, maturing in 2012, in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation S of the Securities Act (Note Offering). The senior floating rate notes under the Note Offering bear interest at LIBOR plus 3%. This rate was 7.99% as of December 31, 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

In connection with the Note Offering, the Company also entered into senior secured credit facilities consisting of a term loan in the principal amount of $350.0 million and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $175.0 million, with staggered maturities through December 23, 2011 which was amended in March, 2006 (2004 Facility). The 2004 Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and provides for term loan and revolving borrowings at LIBOR, plus a margin based upon a financial ratio as specified in the agreement. The borrowing rate for the 2004 Facility was 6.59% as of December 31, 2007. The Company had unused revolving credit capacity under the revolving credit facility of $141.7 million at December 31, 2007. Outstanding commercial and standby letters of credit issued under the credit facility totaled $33.3 million as of December 31, 2007.

All of the existing and future restricted U.S. subsidiaries of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. (other than AsureCare Corp., a Florida corporation) guaranteed its floating rate notes and fixed rate notes. The Company is structured as a holding company and substantially all of its assets and operations are held by its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2007, there were no significant restrictions on the ability of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan. The Company’s and the non-guarantor subsidiaries’ independent assets, revenues, income before taxes, and operating cash flows in total were less than 3% of the consolidated total. The separate guarantors of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. fully and unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed the senior floating rate notes and the senior subordinated notes, and the aggregate assets, liabilities, earnings, and equity of the subsidiary guarantors was substantially equivalent to the assets, liabilities, earnings, and equity of the Company on a consolidated basis. As a result, the presentation of separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning the subsidiary guarantors is not deemed material.

Future scheduled maturities of the Long-Term Debt at December 31, 2007, are as follows (in thousands):

 

2008

   $ 3,500

2009

     3,500

2010

     3,500

2011

     65,625

2012

     579,300

Thereafter

     —  
      

Total

   $ 655,425
      

Interest paid was $64.3 million, $70.4 million and $62.6 million during December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively. See Note 11 regarding derivative instruments.

6.    Redeemable preferred stock

As of December 31, 2005, the Company’s authorized capital stock included 250,000 shares of preferred stock. The preferred shares are 9.5% Series A Cumulative Senior Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. These shares did not have voting rights except as required by law. Dividends were paid as declared on a cumulative basis from the date of issuance and were paid quarterly in arrears on December 1, March 1, June 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing on March 1, 2005. These shares were redeemable by the Company at its option, at a price equal to the liquidation preference and all unpaid dividends. The Company was also able at its option to exchange any or all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares for 9.5% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes (the Subordinated Notes). The shareholders would have been entitled to receive $1.00 of initial accreted value of Subordinated Notes for each $1.00 of liquidation preference plus all unpaid dividends. The proceeds related to the April 11, 2006 initial

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

public offering of the Company’s common stock were used to redeem all of the Company’s preferred shares including the associated dividends.

7.    Related-party transactions

During 2005, the Company paid $2.0 million to Apollo for certain management consulting and advisory services pursuant to a Management Consulting Agreement. As a result of the initial public offering in April of 2006, the Company paid a $16.0 million fee to terminate the agreement with Apollo.

During 2007 and 2006, the Company paid $0.2 million to a related party for an operating lease.

In the ordinary course of its business, Goodman purchased grilles and other materials from AirGuide Corp. (“AirGuide”) of approximately $1.3 million and $3.0 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Goodman, one of our former directors, and his immediate family were beneficiaries of trusts that owned a combined interest of 18.75% in AirGuide. As discussed in Note 12, Subsequent Events, subsequent to year end, Mr. Goodman is no longer a director of the Company and Mr. Goodman and the Goodman family trusts no longer own any beneficial interest in the Company.

In connection with the initial public offering in April 2006, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding Series A Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation preference and accrued and unpaid dividends of approximately $255.2 million, of which members of the Company’s management received approximately $10.3 million, affiliates of Apollo received approximately $173.7 million and the Goodman family trusts and other equity syndicate investors received approximately $71.2 million. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, Apollo owned approximately 41% of our common stock outstanding. As discussed in Note 12, Subsequent Event, subsequent to year end, neither Apollo nor the Goodman family trusts own an interest in our common stock.

8.    Leases

The Company leases vehicles, computer and office equipment, and office and warehouse facilities from various third parties that are accounted for as operating leases and have expiration dates through 2016.

The Company also leases a warehouse facility under an operating lease with shareholders of the Company. The lease expires in 2014.

Future minimum lease payments under operating leases as of December 31, 2007, are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Third
Party
   Related
Party

2008

   $ 24,996    $ 198

2009

     22,217      198

2010

     17,199      198

2011

     12,347      198

2012

     8,720      198

Thereafter

     15,478      380
             

Total

   $ 100,957    $ 1,370
             

 

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Table of Contents

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Rent expense on the operating leases was $28.7 million, $23.7 million and $18.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

9.    Employee benefit plans

401(k) plans

The Company sponsors two 401(k) savings plans for employees who have completed a requisite term of service, with one covering all nonunion employees of the Company and one covering union employees of the Company. Nonunion employees of the Company may defer up to 17% of their salaries and wages with the Company matching 100% of amounts deferred, up to a maximum matching contribution of the lesser of 6% of the employee’s salary or $3,000. Union employees may defer up to 17% of their salaries and wages with the Company matching 50% of amounts deferred, up to a maximum matching contribution of 3% of the employee’s salary (up to a maximum matching contribution of 6% of the employee’s salary for employees hired on or after December 15, 2002). Employer-matching contributions for all plans were approximately $3.6 million, $3.5 million and $2.9 million, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Pension and other employee benefit plans

The Company sponsors a defined benefit plan, which covers certain union employees who have both attained age 21 and completed one year of service. The Company has 1,014 employees who are members of the collective bargaining unit, representing approximately 21% of the Company’s employees. Effective December 14, 2002, the defined benefit plan was amended to freeze participation for all employees except those hired on or before December 14, 2002. Benefits are provided at stated amounts based on years of service, as defined by the plan. Benefits vest after completion of five years of service. The Company’s funding policy is to make contributions in amounts actuarially determined by an independent consulting actuary to fund the benefits to be provided. Plan assets consist of primarily equity and fixed-income securities.

On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158. SFAS No. 158 required the Company to recognize the funded status (i.e., the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations) of its pension plan in the December 31, 2006 statement of financial position, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income at adoption represents the net unrecognized actuarial losses, unrecognized prior service costs and unrecognized transition obligation remaining from the initial adoption of SFAS No. 87, all of which were previously netted against the plan’s funded status in the Company’s statement of financial position pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 87. These amounts will be subsequently recognized as net periodic pension cost pursuant to the Company’s historical accounting policy for amortizing such amounts. Further, actuarial gains and losses that arise in subsequent periods and are not recognized as net periodic pension cost in the same periods will be recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. Those amounts will be subsequently recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost on the same basis as the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at adoption of SFAS No. 158.

Included in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2007 are the following amounts that have not yet been recognized in net periodic pension cost: unrecognized prior service costs of $0.8 million ($0.5 million net of tax) and unrecognized actuarial losses of $0.4 million ($0.3 million net of tax). The prior service cost included in accumulated other comprehensive income and expected to be recognized in net periodic pension cost during the fiscal year-ended December 31, 2008 is $0.1 million ($0.06 million net of tax).

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The funded status of the plan is as follows:

 

     Pension Benefits  
     2007     2006     2005  
     (In thousands)  

Benefit payments

      

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 30,281     $ 28,050     $ 26,804  

Service cost

     712       788       474  

Interest cost

     1,730       1,641       1,546  

Actuarial losses (gains)

     (795 )     (84 )     170  

Amendments

     —         967       —    

Benefit payments

     (1,238 )     (1,081 )     (944 )
                        

Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 30,690     $ 30,281     $ 28,050  
                        

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 25,388     $ 21,552     $ 20,272  

Actual return on plan assets

     1,512       2,245       742  

Employer contributions

     2,317       2,672       1,482  

Benefit payments

     (1,238 )     (1,081 )     (944 )
                        

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 27,979     $ 25,388     $ 21,552  
                        

Funded status of the plan

   $ (2,711 )   $ (4,893 )   $ (6,498 )

Unrecognized amounts:

      

Net losses

     —         —         1,096  

Adjustment required to recognize minimum liability

     —         —         (1,096 )
                        

Total

     —         —         —    
                        

Net prepaid (accrued) benefit cost

   $ (2,711 )   $ (4,893 )   $ (6,498 )
                        

Components of net periodic benefit expense:

      

Service cost

   $ 712     $ 788     $ 474  

Interest cost

     1,730       1,641       1,546  

Expected return on plan assets

     (2,142 )     (1,839 )     (1,667 )

Net amortization of prior service cost

     76       76       —    
                        

Net periodic benefit expense

   $ 376     $ 666     $ 353  
                        

Weighted-average assumptions as of December 31:

      

Discount rate

     6.00 %     5.75 %     5.75 %

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

     8.25 %     8.25 %     8.25 %

The Company anticipates making a contribution to the plan during 2008 of $1.9 million. The Company expects its pension plan to pay benefits over the next five years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter as follows (in thousands):

 

2008

   $ 1,204

2009

     1,268

2010

     1,344

2011

     1,410

2012

     1,500

2013-2017

     9,252

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The weighted-average asset allocation for the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, as well as the target allocation for the year ended December 31, 2008, follow:

 

     2006     2007     Target
2008
Allocation
 

Equities

   60 %   0 %   65 %

Fixed income

   39 %   0 %   30 %

Cash equivalents

   1 %   100 %   5 %
                  

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %
                  

As of December 31, 2007, the Company was in the process of changing administrators of our pension plan; therefore, all assets are shown as cash equivalents due to the transfer of those assets. The investment strategy for pension plan assets is to utilize a diversified blend of equity and fixed income portfolios to earn a long-term investment return that meets or exceeds the long-term expected rate of return for actuarial purposes of 8.25%. Active investment management strategies are used to measure each investment portfolio’s returns and risk levels against applicable market indices.

To develop the expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption, the Company considers the historical returns and the future expectations for returns for each asset category, as well as the target asset allocation of the pension portfolio and the effect of periodic rebalancing.

The Company also provided unfunded postretirement benefits for union employees, covering medical benefits. The collective bargaining agreement was renegotiated in December of 2004 and these postretirement medical benefits were terminated in the new collective bargaining agreement that expires December 2009. Employees were eligible for these benefits when they reached age 55 and had completed five years of service with the Company. As of the date of termination, the plan had one participant who was grandfathered into the plan therefore any disclosures and liability are not material.

10.    Accounting for derivative instruments

During the first quarter of 2005, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $250.0 million, which expire in 2007 and 2008, to manage variable rate exposure on the floating rate debt. During the first quarter of 2007, the interest rate swap with a notional amount of $150.0 million matured based on its terms. The remaining swap has a fair market value as a receivable of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2007. These interest rate derivative instruments have been designated as cash flow hedges. For these qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS No. 133), allows changes in the fair market value of these hedged instruments to be reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company has assessed the effectiveness of the transactions that received hedge accounting treatment. Any ineffectiveness, which generally arises from minor differences between the terms of the swap and terms of the underlying hedged debt, would be recorded in other income, net in the statement of income. Any such differences, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were immaterial.

During the second quarter of 2006, the Company entered into collars for a portion of its 2006 copper supply to substantially reduce the variability of its purchase price for this commodity. These collars expired by December 31, 2006 and were designated as cash flow hedges. For these qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows changes in the fair market value of these hedge instruments to be reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company has assessed the effectiveness of the transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

and any ineffectiveness would be recorded in other (income) expense, net in the statement of income. The ineffectiveness for the year ended December 31, 2006 was a $0.5 million loss ($0.3 million, net of tax).

Also during the second quarter of 2006, the Company entered into collars for a portion of its 2006 aluminum supply to substantially reduce the variability of its purchase price for this commodity. These collars expired on December 31, 2006. These collars did not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133 and, therefore, changes in its fair market value totaling $6.3 million loss ($3.8 million, net of tax) were recorded in other (income) expense, net in the statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2006.

During the third quarter of 2006 and throughout 2007, the Company entered into swaps for a portion of its 2007 and 2008 aluminum supply to fix the purchase price, and thereby substantially reduce the variability of its purchase price for this commodity. These swaps, which expire by December 31, 2008, have a notional amount of $57.6 million and a fair market value as a liability of $1.9 million as of December 31, 2007. These instruments have been designated as cash flow hedges. For these qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows changes in the fair market value of these hedge instruments to be reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company has assessed the effectiveness of the transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment and any ineffectiveness would be recorded in other (income) expense, net in the statement of income. Any such differences, for the year ended December 31, 2007 were immaterial.

During the fourth quarter of 2006 and 2007, the Company entered into swaps for a portion of its 2007 and 2008 copper supply to fix the purchase price, and thereby substantially reduce the variability of its purchase price for this commodity. These swaps, which expire by December 31, 2008, have a notional amount of $85.7 million and a fair market value as a liability of $1.2 million as of December 31, 2007. These instruments have been designated as cash flow hedges. For these qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows changes in the fair market value of these hedge instruments to be reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company has assessed the effectiveness of the transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment and any ineffectiveness would be recorded in other income, net in the statement of income. Any such differences for the year ended December 31, 2007 were immaterial.

At December 31, 2007, the fair market value of our derivatives was a liability of $2.8 million, which is included in other accrued expenses. Included in stockholders’ equity is a loss of $2.2 million, net of tax of $0.8 million, of which $1.3 million is expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next twelve months in cost of sales as the underlying hedged inventory is sold and in interest expense as the interest rate swap settles.

11. Contingent liabilities

On October 26, 2007, a putative class action was filed on behalf of all similarly situated stockholders of the Company in the Harris County District Court, Houston, Texas, styled Call4U, Ltd. v. Carroll, Case Number 2007-66888. A similar case, styled Pipefitters Local No. 636 Defined Benefit Plan vs. Goodman, was later filed and then consolidated with the Call 4U, Ltd. case. The lawsuits named as defendants the Company all of its directors and Hellman & Friedman, and asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty against the directors and aiding and abetting such breaches against Hellman & Friedman. The plaintiffs sought an injunction restraining the closing of the merger, reimbursement of associated attorneys’ and experts’ fees and other relief that the court deems proper. As described in a Form 8-K filed by the Company, on January 4, 2008 Goodman entered into a memorandum of understanding setting out an agreement in principal to settle all claims in the litigation, which settlement is subject to certain conditions precedent, including court approval.

As part of the equity contribution associated with the sale of the Amana Appliance business in July 2001, the Company agreed to indemnify Maytag for certain product liability and environmental claims. In light of these

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

potential liabilities, the Company has purchased insurance that the Company expects will shield it from incurring material costs to such potential claims.

Pursuant to a March 15, 2001 Consent Order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), our subsidiary, Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc. (GDI Southeast) (formerly Pioneer Metals Inc.) is continuing to investigate and pursue, under FDEP oversight, the delineation of groundwater contamination at and around the GDI Southeast facility in Fort Pierce, Florida. Remediation has not begun. The contamination was discovered through environmental assessments conducted in connection with a Company subsidiary’s acquisition of the Fort Pierce facility in 2000 and was reported to FDEP, giving rise to the Consent Order.

The ultimate cost for the investigation, remediation and monitoring of the site cannot be predicted with certainty due to the variables relating to the contamination and the appropriate remediation methodology, the evolving nature of remediation technologies and governmental regulations and the inability to determine the extent to which contribution will be available from other parties. All of these factors are taken into account to the extent possible in estimating potential liability. A reserve appropriate for the probable remediation costs, which are reasonably susceptible to estimation, has been established.

Based on analyses of currently available information, it is probable that costs associated with the site will be $0.7 million. We reserved approximately $0.7 million as of December 31, 2007 in accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, although it is possible that costs could exceed this amount by up to approximately $2.8 million. Management believes any liability arising from potential environmental obligations is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our liquidity or financial position as such obligations could be satisfied over a period of years. Nevertheless, future developments could require material changes in the recorded reserve amount.

We believe this contamination predated GDI Southeast’s involvement with the Fort Pierce facility and GDI Southeast’s operation at this location has not caused or contributed to the contamination. Accordingly, the Company is pursuing litigation against former owners of the Fort Pierce facility in an attempt to recover its costs. At this time, we cannot estimate probable recoveries from this litigation.

As a result of a fire in one of the Company’s manufacturing facilities in 2006, the Company settled and recorded a business interruption insurance claim of approximately $2.8 million as a reduction of its cost of goods sold in the statement of income for the fourth quarter of 2006. Such claim was collected in full in January 2007.

The Company is party to a number of other pending legal and administrative proceedings and is subject to various regulatory and compliance obligations. The Company believes that these proceedings and obligations will not have a materially adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. To the extent required, the Company has established reserves that it believes to be adequate based on current evaluations and its experience in these types of matters. Nevertheless, an unexpected outcome in any such proceeding could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations in the period in which it occurs. Moreover, future adverse developments could require material changes in the recorded reserve amounts.

12.    Subsequent Event (unaudited)

In order to capitalize on the long term growth prospects of the business, on October 21, 2007, Chill Holdings, Inc. (Parent), Chill Acquisition, Inc., a subsidiary of Parent (which we refer to as Merger Sub), and Goodman Global, Inc. entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the Merger Agreement) pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. on February 13, 2008. Merger Sub was incorporated on October 15, 2007 for the purpose of acquiring Goodman Global, Inc. and did not have any operations prior to

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

February 13, 2008 other than in connection with the Goodman acquisition. Chill Holdings, Inc., our Parent, is controlled by investment funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman LLC, and other stockholders include investment funds affiliated with GSO, Farallon Capital Partners and AlpInvest Partners, along with certain other investors that GSO syndicated their investments to, as well as certain members of management. These entities invested a total of $1,278.2 million in the Parent in connection with the Merger.

On February 13, 2008, each share of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger was converted into the right to receive $25.60 in cash. In addition, all outstanding options to acquire Goodman common stock issued pursuant to Goodman’s equity plans, whether or not vested, became fully vested as of the time immediately prior to the Merger and were cancelled and converted into cash payments, without interest, equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of Goodman Global, Inc. common stock subject to each option as of the effective time of the Merger multiplied by (2) the excess, if any, of $25.60 over the exercise price per share of common stock subject to such option (other than in the case of certain options held by members of our senior management who exchanged a portion of their vested options for new vested options in Parent). As a result of the transaction, 1.7 million options vested and thus the Company recognized stock option expense of $6.3 million.

On January 10, 2008, we commenced cash tender offers to purchase Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.’s outstanding 7-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 ($400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) and Floating Rate Notes due 2010 ($179.3 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) (together, the Existing Notes). On January 25, 2008, we executed the proposed amendments to the indentures for the Existing Notes, which amendments became operative immediately prior to the Merger. On February 13, 2008, we accepted the tenders and made payment to holders of the Existing Notes the tender offer consideration and consent payment, called for redemption, deposited the redemption payment with the trustee in respect of untendered Existing Notes and discharged the indentures governing the Existing Notes.

In addition, on February 13, 2008, we repaid the $76.1 million outstanding under our then-existing term credit facility and $11.5 million outstanding under our then-existing Revolving Credit Facility.

On February 13, 2008, Merger Sub issued and sold $500.0 million of notes and borrowed (1) $800.0 million under a new senior secured term credit agreement with Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, and (2) $105.0 million under a new asset-based revolving credit agreement with Barclays Capital and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Capital, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto.

Under the registration rights agreement, if Goodman Global, Inc. fails to obtain effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement on or prior to 270 days after the issue date of the outstanding notes, or complete the exchange offer within 30 business days of its effectiveness (other than in the event we file a shelf registration statement), or if the shelf registration statement, if required thereby, is not declared effective, on or prior to 480 days after the issue date of the outstanding notes or if the shelf registration statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the one year anniversary of its initial effectiveness, the interest rate on the outstanding notes will be increased by (x) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the target registration date and (y) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case, until the exchange offer is completed or the shelf registration statement, if required, is declared

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

effective by the SEC or the outstanding notes cease to constitute transfer restricted notes, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum of additional interest. The maximum annual interest expense related to the failure to obtain effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement would be $5.0 million.

The Merger, the repurchase of the Existing Notes, the repayment of the existing term credit facility and Revolving Credit Facility and the fees and expenses relating to the Transactions were financed by borrowings under our new senior secured term credit agreement, our new asset-based revolving credit agreement, the issuance of the notes, the equity investments and participations described above and Goodman’s cash on hand at the closing of the Merger.

The Merger is being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly the results of operations will be included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of the Merger and are not reflected in the 2007 consolidated financial statements. The Company has allocated the purchase price to the acquired assets and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair market value, considering a number of factors, including the use of an independent valuation firm. The excess of the cost of the Merger over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The increase in basis of the assets will result in non-cash charges in future periods, principally related to the step-up in the value of inventory, property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The incremental goodwill as a result of the Merger will not be deductible for federal income tax purposes. The initial purchase price allocation made by the Company is preliminary as certain appraisals need to be finalized and subject to change for a period on one year following the Merger. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets and liabilities as of February 13, 2008, the date of the Merger (in thousands):

 

Current Assets

   $ 631,829

Property, Plant & Equipment

     200,328

Deferred Financing Costs

     44,522

Intangible Assets

     785,000

Goodwill

     1,370,545
      

Total Assets Acquired

   $ 3,032,224

Current Liabilities

     215,399

Other liabilities

     54,289

Deferred Taxes

     111,289

Debt

     1,373,000
      

Total Liabilities Assumed

   $ 1,753,977
      

Net Assets Acquired

   $ 1,278,247
      

The preliminary components of Intangible Assets listed in the above table as of the Merger were based on an independent third party appraisal and will be amortized on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives with no residual value as follows:

 

     Fair value
(in millions)
   Useful life
(years)

Customer Relationships

   $ 530,000    40

Trade Names—Amana

     40,000    15

Trade Names—Other

     175,000    Indefinite

Technology

     40,000    10
         
   $ 785,000   
         

 

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GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Unaudited pro forma operating results of the Company assuming the Merger was completed on January 1, 2007, is summarized as follows (in thousands). These pro forma financial statements do not include approximately $78.5 million of expenses that were incurred as a result of the Merger that will be included in the predecessor company financial statements.

 

     2007

Sales

   $ 1,935,690

Net Income

   $ 1,924

13. Quarterly financial information (unaudited)

Unaudited quarterly information for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively (in thousands) is stated below.

Quarters ended 2007

 

     First
Quarter
   Second
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter

Sales, net

   $ 380,274    $ 563,722    $ 565,515    $ 426,179

Operating profit

     22,775      78,580      83,993      41,834

Net income

     4,631      38,971      43,107      14,670

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 4,631    $ 38,971    $ 43,107    $ 14,670

Quarters ended 2006

 

     First
Quarter
   Second
Quarter(1)
   Third
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter

Sales, net

   $ 380,688    $ 504,454    $ 517,227    $ 392,384

Operating profit

     32,940      43,737      66,858      37,909

Net income

     8,414      9,628      32,213      13,912

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 2,522    $ 8,898    $ 32,213    $ 13,912

 

(1) For the quarter ended June 30, 2006, the operating profit reflects the $16.1 million related to the Company’s initial public offering in April of 2006.

 

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LOGO

Goodman Global, Inc.

Offer to Exchange

$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, for any and all of its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.

Until the date that is 90 days from the date of this prospectus, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions or otherwise.

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Delaware Registrants

(a) Goodman Global, Inc., Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. and Quietflex Holding Company are each incorporated under the laws of Delaware.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or enterprise against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of being or having been in any such capacity, if he acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders of monetary damages for violations of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

In accordance with these provisions, the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of Goodman Global, Inc. provide for indemnification of any person who is, was or shall be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, to the full extent permitted by the DGCL, as amended from time to time. The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. provide for indemnification of any person who is, was or shall be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, to the full extent permitted by the DGCL. The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Quietflex Holding Company are silent as to indemnification.

(b) Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C., Goodman Manufacturing I LLC, Goodman Manufacturing II LLC, Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C. and Goodman Canada, L.L.C, are each limited liability companies organized under the laws of Delaware.

Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”) empowers a Delaware limited liability company to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager of the limited liability company from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

In accordance with this provision, the limited liability company agreements of Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C., Goodman Manufacturing I LLC, Goodman Manufacturing II LLC and Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C. are silent as to indemnification. The limited liability company agreement of Goodman Canada, L.L.C. states that any member or officer shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law for any act or omission committed in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of his authority, but excluding indemnification for willful misconduct.

(c) Goodman Company, L.P. is a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware.

Section 17–108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Act”) permits a limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

 

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The partnership agreement of Goodman Company, L.P. allows the partnership to indemnify the general partner to the fullest extent permitted by the Act, including for negligence or gross negligence, but prohibits indemnification for bad faith or breach of the partnership agreement.

Florida Registrant

(a) Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of Florida.

Section 607.0831 of the Florida Business Corporation Act (the “FBCA”) provides, among other things, that a director is not personally liable for monetary damages to a company or any other person for any statement, vote, decision or failure to act by the director, regarding corporate management or policy, unless the director breached or failed to perform his or her duties as a director and such breach or failure constitutes (1) a violation of criminal law, unless the director had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; (2) a transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; (3) a circumstance under which the liability provisions of Section 607.0834 of the FBCA (relating to the liability of the directors for improper distributions) are applicable; (4) willful misconduct or a conscious disregard for the best interest of the company in the case of a proceeding by or in the right of the company to procure a judgment in its favor or by or in the right of a stockholders or (5) recklessness or an act or omission in bad faith or with malicious purpose or with wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety or property, in a proceeding by or in the right of someone other than such company or a stockholder.

Section 607.0850 of the FBCA authorizes, among other things, a company to indemnify any person who was or is a party to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the company) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company (or is or was serving at the request of the company in such a position for any entity) against liability incurred in connection with such proceedings, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the company and, with respect to criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

The FBCA requires that a director, officer or employee be indemnified for actual and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) to the extent that he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any proceeding. Florida law also allows expenses of defending a proceeding to be advanced by a company before the final disposition of the proceedings, provided that the officer, director or employee undertakes to repay such advance if it is ultimately determined that indemnification is not permitted.

The bylaws of Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc. allow for indemnification of its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the FBCA.

Texas Registrants

(a) Goodman Appliance Holding Company, Goodman Distribution, Inc., Goodman Holding Company and Goodman Sales Company are each incorporated under the laws of Texas.

Article 2.02–1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act (the “TBCA”) permits a Texas corporation to indemnify any present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding in which any such person was, is or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of holding such office or position, only if the person conducted himself in good faith and reasonably believed: (a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a director of the corporation, that his conduct was in the corporation’s best interests; and (b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, such reimbursement of reasonable expenses is limited to those actually incurred where a person is found liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received or the person is found liable in a derivative suit brought on behalf of

 

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the corporation and the person was not liable for willful or intentional misconduct. Under the TBCA, a director or officer must be indemnified in cases in which he is wholly successful on the merits or in the defense of the proceedings. The TBCA authorizes corporations to maintain insurance to cover indemnification expenses on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, agent or employee of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation, regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against liability under Article 2.02–1 of the TBCA.

The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Goodman Appliance Holding Company provide that the corporation shall indemnify its present and former officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the TBCA. The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Goodman Distribution, Inc., Goodman Holding Company and Goodman Sales Company are silent as to indemnification of directors; however, the bylaws provide that a director will not be liable to the corporation or its shareholders for acts or omissions in his capacity as a director, except for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, transactions from which an improper benefit was received or acts or omissions for which liability of the director is expressly provided by law.

(b) Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P., Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P. and Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. are each limited partnerships registered under the laws of Texas.

Under the Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act (the “TRLPA”), a general partner must be indemnified by the limited partnership in cases in which the general partner is wholly successful on the merits or in the defense of the proceedings. Section 11.02 of the TRLPA provides that a limited partnership may indemnify a person who was, is or is threatened to be named a defendant in a proceeding only if that person (1) acted in good faith; (2) reasonably believed: (A) in the case of conduct in the person’s official capacity as a general partner of the limited partnership, that the person’s conduct was in the limited partnership’s best interests and (B) in all other cases, that the person’s conduct was at least not opposed to the limited partnership’s best interests and (3) in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful. If a person is found liable to the limited partnership or the limited partners or is found liable on the basis that the person improperly received personal benefit, the indemnification: (1) is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding and (2) shall not be made in relation to a proceeding in which the person has been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of the person’s duty to the limited partnership or the limited partners. The TRLPA allows a Texas limited partnership to indemnify anyone who was, is or is threatened to be made a defendant or respondent in a proceeding and allows a limited partnership to purchase and maintain liability insurance, whether or not the partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability.

The partnership agreement of Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P. allows the partnership to indemnify the general partner to the fullest extent permitted by the TRLPA, including for negligence or gross negligence but prohibits indemnification for bad faith or breach of the partnership agreement. The partnership agreements of both Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P. and Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. allow the partnership to indemnify the general partner to the fullest extent permitted by the TRLPA, excluding indemnification for proven fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or proven breach of the partnership agreement.

 

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Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

2.1   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated November 18, 2004, by and among Goodman Global Holdings, Inc., Frio Holdings, Inc. and Frio, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.’s Form S-4, filed with the SEC on September 21, 2005, File No. 333-128462)
2.2   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007, by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Goodman Global, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on Goodman Global, Inc.’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 25, 2007
2.3   Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 3, 2008, by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Goodman Global, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on Goodman Global, Inc.’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 4, 2008
3.1**   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Chill Holdings, Inc.
3.2**   Certificate of Incorporation of Chill Holdings, Inc.
3.3**   By-laws of Chill Holdings, Inc.
3.4**   Certificate of Incorporation of Chill Acquisition, Inc.
3.5**   By-laws of Chill Acquisition, Inc.
3.6**   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Goodman Global, Inc.
3.7**   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Goodman Global, Inc.
3.8**   Certificate of Incorporation of Frio, Inc.
3.9**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Frio, Inc.
3.10**   Bylaws of Frio, Inc.
3.11**   Certificate of Incorporation of Quietflex Holding Company
3.12**   Bylaws of Quietflex Holding Company
3.13**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Manufacturing I LLC
3.14**   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Manufacturing I LLC
3.15**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Manufacturing II LLC
3.16**   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Manufacturing II LLC
3.17**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.
3.18**   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.
3.19**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Canada, L.L.C.
3.20**   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Canada, L.L.C.
3.21**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.
3.22**   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.
3.23**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of RAI Merger Limited Partnership
3.24**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of RAI Merger Limited Partnership

 

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Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

3.25**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of The Amana Company, L.P.
3.26**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of Amana Company, L.P.
3.27**   Certificate of Merger of Raytheon Appliances, Inc. with and into Amana Company, L.P.
3.28**   Agreement of Limited Partnership of RAI Merger Limited Partnership
3.29**   Certificate of Incorporation of Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.30**   Certificate of Amendment of Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.31**   Articles of Merger of Goodman of Texas Acquisition Corp. into Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.32**   Plans and Articles of Merger of Pioneer Metals of Ft. Lauderdale, Inc., Pioneer Metals of West Palm Beach, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Melbourne, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Orlando, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Tallahassee, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Pensacola, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Tampa, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Ocala, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Clearwater, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Sarasota, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Ft. Myers, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Naples, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Marine Products, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Daytona, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Gainesville, Inc. into Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.33**   Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.
3.34**   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.
3.35**   Articles of Incorporation of Amana Holding Company
3.36**   Articles of Merger of Goodman IV Acquisition Company into Amana Holding Company
3.37**   Bylaws of Goodman Appliance Holding Company
3.38**   Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Distribution Corp.
3.39**   Articles of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Distribution Corp.
3.40**   Articles of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of American Distributors, Inc.
3.41**   Articles of Merger of Goodman II Acquisition Company into American Distributors, Inc.
3.42**   Articles of Merger of P.M.I. International Disc, Inc. with and into American Distributors, Inc.
3.43**   Articles of Merger of Goodman Acquisition Corp. with and into Goodman Distribution, Inc.
3.44**   Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of American Distributors, Inc.
3.45**   Bylaws of American Distributors, Inc.
3.46**   Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Holding Company
3.47**   Articles of Merger of Goodman I Acquisition Company into Goodman Holding Company
3.48**   Bylaws of Goodman Holding Company
3.49**   Articles of Incorporation of GMC Sales Corp.
3.50**   Articles of Merger of Goodman III Acquisition Company into GMC Sales Corp.
3.51**   Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of GMC Sales Corp.
3.52**   Bylaws of GMC Sales Corp.
3.53**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
3.54**   Certificate of Merger of Goodman Acquisition Company, L.P.

 

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Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

  3.55**   Articles and Certificate of Merger of Dayton Holding Company, Goodman Company, L.P., Quietflex Holding Company, Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P. into Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.56**   Certificate of Merger of Amana Appliance Company, L.P. into Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.57**   Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.58**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.59**   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.60**   First Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.61**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.
  3.62**   Certificate of Merger of New Information Technologies, Inc. into Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.
  3.63**   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.
  3.64**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Goodman Global, Inc.
  4.1†   Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008, by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., to be merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
  4.2†   Guarantor Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008, among the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries of Goodman Global, Inc., as identified therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
  4.3†   Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4.1)
  4.4†   Form of 13.50%/14.00% Note (included in Exhibit 4.1)
  4.5†   Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, by and among Chill Acquisition, Inc., GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC, GSO COF Facility LLC, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, Farallon Funding, L.L.C., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V., KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C.
  4.6†   Joinder and Assumption Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, among Goodman Global, Inc., the Initial Guarantors listed therein, GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC, GSO COF Facility LLC, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, Farallon Funding, L.L.C., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V., KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C.
  5.1**   Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
10.1†   $800,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc and Calyon New York Branch, as Joint Lead Arrangers, and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as the Administrative and Collateral Agent
10.2†   Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of

 

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Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

  Barclays Bank Plc, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as the Administrative, Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer
10.3†   Intercreditor Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, between General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Term Loan Secured Parties and the Revolving Secured Parties referred to therein and acknowledged by Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and certain subsidiaries of Goodman Global, Inc.
10.4†   Term Loan Security Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.5†   Revolving Security Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.6†   Term Loan Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.7†   Revolving Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.8†   Term Loan Pledge Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.9†   Revolving Pledge Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.10**   Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
10.11**   Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and form of award agreement thereunder
10.12†*   Employment Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, between Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Charles A. Carroll
10.13†*   Employment Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, between Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Lawrence M. Blackburn
10.14†   Stockholders Agreement, dated February 13, 2008 by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Executive VI, L.P., H&F Chill Partners, L.P., GSO Special Situations Fund LP, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, GSO COF Facility LLC, Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners II, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., Tinicum Partners, L.P., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V. and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C.

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.15†*    Management Stockholders Agreement, dated February 13, 2008 by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, L.P., and H&F Chill Partners, L.P. and each of the Management Stockholder identified therein
10.16    Lease Agreement, dated December 1, 1994, between the Daniel Childrens 1991 Trust, the Lucy Hughes Abell 1991 Trust, the Sam Houston Abell 1991 Trust, the JBG Childrens 1991 Trust, the Hutton Gregory Goodman 1990 Trust, the Hannah Jane Goodman 1990 Trust, the Mary Jane Goodman 1990 Trust and the Harold Viterbo Goodman, II 1990 Trust and Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 on Goodman Global, Inc.’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2006, File No. 333-131597)
10.17†*   

Charles A. Carroll Form of Option Agreement

10.18†*    Form of Equity Contribution Agreement
10.19†*    Form of Option Roll Over Agreement
10.20†*    Form of Severance Agreement
10.21†*    Form of Indemnification Agreement
10.22†*    Form of Time-Vested Option Agreement
10.23†*    Form of Performance-Vested Option Agreement
12.1†    Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
21.1†    Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1†    Consent of Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
23.2†    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
25.1†    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee
99.1†    Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2†    Form of Notice to Clients
99.3†    Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees
99.4†    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery

 

Filed herewith.

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

** To be filed by amendment.

 

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Item 22. Undertakings.

(a) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amend) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more that a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(4) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrants are subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use; and

(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each of the undersigned registrants undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, each of the undersigned registrants will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrants relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or its or their securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and

 

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(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b) 11 or 13 of Form S-4, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

(c) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.
By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ PHILIP U. HAMMARSKJOLD

PHILIP U. HAMMARSKJOLD

   Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ ROBERT B. HENSKE

ROBERT B. HENSKE

   Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ ERIK RAGATZ

ERIK RAGATZ

   Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ SALONI K. SARAIYA

SALONI K. SARAIYA

   Director   April 15, 2008

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.

BY ITS SOLE MEMBER,

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.

BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER,

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY
By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC

GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.

BY ITS SOLE MEMBER,

GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.

GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.

BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER,

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.

BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER,

QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 15, 2008.

 

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.

BY ITS SOLE MEMBER,

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC

BY ITS SOLE MEMBER,

GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

By:   /S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Name:

  CHARLES A. CARROLL
 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles A. Carroll, Lawrence M. Blackburn and Ben D. Campbell and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ CHARLES A. CARROLL

CHARLES A. CARROLL

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director   April 15, 2008

/S/ MARK M. DOLAN

MARK M. DOLAN

   Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer   April 15, 2008

/S/ BEN D. CAMPBELL

BEN D. CAMPBELL

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director   April 15, 2008

 

II-19


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

2.1   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated November 18, 2004, by and among Goodman Global Holdings, Inc., Frio Holdings, Inc. and Frio, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.’s Form S-4, filed with the SEC on September 21, 2005, File No. 333-128462)
2.2   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007, by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Goodman Global, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on Goodman Global, Inc.’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 25, 2007
2.3   Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 3, 2008, by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Goodman Global, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on Goodman Global, Inc.’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 4, 2008
3.1**   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Chill Holdings, Inc.
3.2**   Certificate of Incorporation of Chill Holdings, Inc.
3.3**   By-laws of Chill Holdings, Inc.
3.4**   Certificate of Incorporation of Chill Acquisition, Inc.
3.5**   By-laws of Chill Acquisition, Inc.
3.6**   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Goodman Global, Inc.
3.7**   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Goodman Global, Inc.
3.8**   Certificate of Incorporation of Frio, Inc.
3.9**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Frio, Inc.
3.10**   Bylaws of Frio, Inc.
3.11**   Certificate of Incorporation of Quietflex Holding Company
3.12**   Bylaws of Quietflex Holding Company
3.13**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Manufacturing I LLC
3.14**   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Manufacturing I LLC
3.15**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Manufacturing II LLC
3.16**   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Manufacturing II LLC
3.17**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.
3.18**   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.
3.19**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman Canada, L.L.C.
3.20**   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman Canada, L.L.C.
3.21**   Certificate of Formation of Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.
3.22**   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.
3.23**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of RAI Merger Limited Partnership
3.24**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of RAI Merger Limited Partnership


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

3.25**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of The Amana Company, L.P.
3.26**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Limited Partnership of Amana Company, L.P.
3.27**   Certificate of Merger of Raytheon Appliances, Inc. with and into Amana Company, L.P.
3.28**   Agreement of Limited Partnership of RAI Merger Limited Partnership
3.29**   Certificate of Incorporation of Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.30**   Certificate of Amendment of Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.31**   Articles of Merger of Goodman of Texas Acquisition Corp. into Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.32**   Plans and Articles of Merger of Pioneer Metals of Ft. Lauderdale, Inc., Pioneer Metals of West Palm Beach, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Melbourne, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Orlando, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Tallahassee, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Pensacola, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Tampa, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Ocala, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Clearwater, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Sarasota, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Ft. Myers, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Naples, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Marine Products, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Daytona, Inc., Pioneer Metals of Gainesville, Inc. into Pioneer Metals, Inc.
3.33**   Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.
3.34**   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.
3.35**   Articles of Incorporation of Amana Holding Company
3.36**   Articles of Merger of Goodman IV Acquisition Company into Amana Holding Company
3.37**   Bylaws of Goodman Appliance Holding Company
3.38**   Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Distribution Corp.
3.39**   Articles of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Distribution Corp.
3.40**   Articles of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of American Distributors, Inc.
3.41**   Articles of Merger of Goodman II Acquisition Company into American Distributors, Inc.
3.42**   Articles of Merger of P.M.I. International Disc, Inc. with and into American Distributors, Inc.
3.43**   Articles of Merger of Goodman Acquisition Corp. with and into Goodman Distribution, Inc.
3.44**   Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of American Distributors, Inc.
3.45**   Bylaws of American Distributors, Inc.
3.46**   Articles of Incorporation of Goodman Holding Company
3.47**   Articles of Merger of Goodman I Acquisition Company into Goodman Holding Company
3.48**   Bylaws of Goodman Holding Company
3.49**   Articles of Incorporation of GMC Sales Corp.
3.50**   Articles of Merger of Goodman III Acquisition Company into GMC Sales Corp.
3.51**   Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of GMC Sales Corp.
3.52**   Bylaws of GMC Sales Corp.
3.53**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
3.54**   Certificate of Merger of Goodman Acquisition Company, L.P.
3.55**   Articles and Certificate of Merger of Dayton Holding Company, Goodman Company, L.P., Quietflex Holding Company, Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P. into Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
3.56**   Certificate of Merger of Amana Appliance Company, L.P. into Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

  3.57**   Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.58**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.59**   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.60**   First Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.
  3.61**   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.
  3.62**   Certificate of Merger of New Information Technologies, Inc. into Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.
  3.63**   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.
  3.64**   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Goodman Global, Inc.
  4.1†   Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008, by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., to be merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
  4.2†   Guarantor Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008, among the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries of Goodman Global, Inc., as identified therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
  4.3†   Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4.1)
  4.4†   Form of 13.50%/14.00% Note (included in Exhibit 4.1)
  4.5†   Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, by and among Chill Acquisition, Inc., GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC, GSO COF Facility LLC, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, Farallon Funding, L.L.C., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V., KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C.
  4.6†   Joinder and Assumption Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, among Goodman Global, Inc., the Initial Guarantors listed therein, GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC, GSO COF Facility LLC, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, Farallon Funding, L.L.C., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V., KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C.
  5.1**   Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
10.1†   $800,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc and Calyon New York Branch, as Joint Lead Arrangers, and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as the Administrative and Collateral Agent
10.2†   Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc., and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank Plc, Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, General Electric Capital Corporation, as the Administrative, Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer
10.3†   Intercreditor Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, between General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Term Loan Secured Parties and the Revolving Secured Parties referred to therein and acknowledged by Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and certain subsidiaries of Goodman Global, Inc.


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

10.4†   Term Loan Security Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.5†   Revolving Security Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.6†   Term Loan Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.7†   Revolving Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.8†   Term Loan Pledge Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.9†   Revolving Pledge Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed therein of Chill Acquisition, Inc., which merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties as defined therein
10.10**   Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
10.11**   Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and form of award agreement thereunder
10.12†*   Employment Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, between Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Charles A. Carroll
10.13†*   Employment Agreement, dated February 13, 2008, between Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Lawrence M. Blackburn
10.14†   Stockholders Agreement, dated February 13, 2008 by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Executive VI, L.P., H&F Chill Partners, L.P., GSO Special Situations Fund LP, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, GSO COF Facility LLC, Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners II, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., Tinicum Partners, L.P., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V. and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C.
10.15†*   Management Stockholders Agreement, dated February 13, 2008 by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, L.P., and H&F Chill Partners, L.P. and each of the Management Stockholder identified therein
10.16   Lease Agreement, dated December 1, 1994, between the Daniel Childrens 1991 Trust, the Lucy Hughes Abell 1991 Trust, the Sam Houston Abell 1991 Trust, the JBG Childrens 1991 Trust, the Hutton Gregory Goodman 1990 Trust, the Hannah Jane Goodman 1990 Trust, the Mary Jane Goodman 1990 Trust and the Harold Viterbo Goodman, II 1990 Trust and Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 on Goodman Global, Inc.’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2006, File No. 333-131597)


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.17†*    Charles A. Carroll Form of Option Agreement
10.18†*    Form of Equity Contribution Agreement
10.19†*    Form of Option Roll Over Agreement
10.20†*    Form of Severance Agreement
10.21†*    Form of Indemnification Agreement
10.22†*    Form of Time-Vested Option Agreement
10.23†*    Form of Performance-Vested Option Agreement
12.1†    Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
21.1†    Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1†    Consent of Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
23.2†    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
25.1†    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee
99.1†    Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2†    Form of Notice to Clients
99.3†    Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees
99.4†    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery

 

Filed herewith.

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

** To be filed by amendment.
EX-4.1 2 dex41.htm INDENTURE, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008, BY AND BETWEEN CHILL ACQUISITION, INC. Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008, by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc.

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION COPY

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.

(as Issuer)

to be merged with and into

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 13, 2008

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(as Trustee)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE    1

Section 1.1.

   Definitions    1

Section 1.2.

   Other Definitions    31

Section 1.3.

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    33

Section 1.4.

   Rules of Construction    33
ARTICLE II THE NOTES    33

Section 2.1.

   Form and Dating    33

Section 2.2.

   Execution and Authentication    34

Section 2.3.

   Registrar, Paying Agent and Depositary    34

Section 2.4.

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust    35

Section 2.5.

   Holder Lists    35

Section 2.6.

   Transfer and Exchange    35

Section 2.7.

   Replacement Notes    47

Section 2.8.

   Outstanding Notes    47

Section 2.9.

   Treasury Notes    47

Section 2.10.

   Temporary Notes    47

Section 2.11.

   Cancellation    47

Section 2.12.

   Defaulted Interest    48

Section 2.13.

   CUSIP Numbers    48

Section 2.14.

   Issuance of Additional Notes    49
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION    49

Section 3.1.

   Notices to Trustee    49

Section 3.2.

   Selection of Notes to be Redeemed    49

Section 3.3.

   Notice of Redemption    49

Section 3.4.

   Effect of Notice of Redemption    50

Section 3.5.

   Deposit of Redemption Price    50

Section 3.6.

   Notes Redeemed in Part    50

Section 3.7.

   Optional Redemption    51

Section 3.8.

   HYDO Redemption    51
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS    52

Section 4.1.

   Payment of Notes    52

Section 4.2.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency    52

Section 4.3.

   Reports to Holders    53

Section 4.4.

   Compliance Certificate    54

Section 4.5.

   Taxes    55

Section 4.6.

   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws    55

Section 4.7.

   Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock    55

Section 4.8.

   Limitation on Liens    57

Section 4.9.

   Limitation on Restricted Payments    57

Section 4.10.

   Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    60

Section 4.11.

   Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates    62

 

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Section 4.12.

   Limitation on Sale of Assets and Subsidiary Stock    62

Section 4.13.

   Repurchase of Notes at the Option of the Holder Upon a Change of Control    66

Section 4.14.

   Subsidiary Guarantors    67

Section 4.15.

   [Reserved]    67

Section 4.16.

   Maintenance of Properties and Insurance    67

Section 4.17.

   Corporate Existence    68

Section 4.18.

   Limitation on Layering Indebtedness    68

Section 4.19.

   Suspension of Covenants    69
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS    69

Section 5.1.

   Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets    69

Section 5.2.

   Successor Corporation Substituted    70
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES    70

Section 6.1.

   Events of Default    70

Section 6.2.

   Acceleration    71

Section 6.3.

   Other Remedies    72

Section 6.4.

   Waiver of Past Defaults    72

Section 6.5.

   Control by Majority    73

Section 6.6.

   Limitation on Suits    73

Section 6.7.

   Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment    73

Section 6.8.

   Collection Suit by Trustee    73

Section 6.9.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    74

Section 6.10.

   Priorities    74

Section 6.11.

   Undertaking for Costs    74
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE    75

Section 7.1.

   Duties of Trustee    75

Section 7.2.

   Rights of Trustee    76

Section 7.3.

   Individual Rights of Trustee    76

Section 7.4.

   Trustee’s Disclaimer    77

Section 7.5.

   Notice of Defaults    77

Section 7.6.

   Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes    77

Section 7.7.

   Compensation and Indemnity    77

Section 7.8.

   Replacement of Trustee    78

Section 7.9.

   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.    79

Section 7.10.

   Eligibility; Disqualification    79

Section 7.11.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer    79
ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE    79

Section 8.1.

   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    79

Section 8.2.

   Legal Defeasance and Discharge    79

Section 8.3.

   Covenant Defeasance    80

Section 8.4.

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance    80

Section 8.5.

   Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    81

Section 8.6.

   Repayment to Issuer    82

Section 8.7.

   Reinstatement    82

Section 8.8.

   Satisfaction and Discharge    82

 

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ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER    83

Section 9.1.

   Without Consent of Holders of Notes    83

Section 9.2.

   With Consent of Holders of Notes    84

Section 9.3.

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act    85

Section 9.4.

   Revocation and Effect of Consents    85

Section 9.5.

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes    86

Section 9.6.

   Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.    86
ARTICLE X GUARANTEES    86

Section 10.1.

   Guarantees    86

Section 10.2.

   Execution and Delivery of Guarantees    88

Section 10.3.

   Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms    88

Section 10.4.

   Release of Guarantors    89

Section 10.5.

   Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability; Certain Bankruptcy Events    89

Section 10.6.

   Application of Certain Terms and Provisions to the Guarantors    90

Section 10.7.

   Subordination of Guarantees    90
ARTICLE XI SUBORDINATION    90

Section 11.1.

   Notes Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness    90

Section 11.2.

   No Payment on Notes in Certain Circumstances    91

Section 11.3.

   Notes Subordinated to Prior Payment of All Senior Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization    92

Section 11.4.

   Holders to be Subrogated to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness    92

Section 11.5.

   Relative Rights    93

Section 11.6.

   Trustee Entitled to Assume Payments Not Prohibited in Absence of Notice    93

Section 11.7.

   Application by Trustee of Assets Deposited with It    93

Section 11.8.

   Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Issuer, the Guarantors or Holders of Senior Indebtedness    94

Section 11.9.

   Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Notes    94

Section 11.10.

   Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness    94

Section 11.11.

   Article XI Not to Prevent Events of Default    94

Section 11.12.

   No Fiduciary Duty of Trustee to Holders of Senior Indebtedness    95
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS    95

Section 12.1.

   Trust Indenture Act Controls    95

Section 12.2.

   Notices    95

Section 12.3.

   Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes    96

Section 12.4.

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent    96

Section 12.5.

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion    96

Section 12.6.

   Rules by Trustee and Agents    97

Section 12.7.

   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders    97

Section 12.8.

   Governing Law    97

Section 12.9.

   Waiver of Jury Trial    97

Section 12.10.

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements    97

Section 12.11.

   Successors    97

Section 12.12.

   Severability    97

Section 12.13.

   Counterpart Originals    97

Section 12.14.

   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.    97

 

iii


Exhibit A     -     Form of Note
Exhibit B   -     Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C   -     Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D   -     Form of Certificate from Acquiring Institutional Accredited Investor
Exhibit E   -     Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

iv


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

TIA Section

        Indenture Section
310   (a)(1)       7.10
  (a)(2)       7.10
  (a)(3)       N.A.
  (a)(4)       N.A.
  (a)(5)       7.10
  (b)       7.10
  (c)       N.A.
311   (a)       7.11
  (b)       7.11
  (c)       N.A.
312   (a)       2.5
  (b)       12.3
  (c)       12.3
313   (a)       7.6
  (b)(1)       N.A.
  (b)(2)       7.6; 7.7
  (c)       7.5; 7.6; 12.2
  (d)       7.6
314   (a)       12.2; 12.5
  (b)       N.A.
  (c)(1)       12.4
  (c)(2)       12.4
  (c)(3)       N.A.
  (d)       N.A.
  (e)       12.5
  (f)       N.A.
315   (a)       7.1(b)
  (b)       7.5; 12.2
  (c)       7.1(a)
  (d)       7.1(c)
  (e)       6.11
316   (a)(last sentence)    2.9
  (a)(1)(A)       6.5
  (a)(1)(B)       6.4
  (a)(2)       N.A.
  (b)       6.7
  (c)       2.12
317   (a)(1)       6.8
  (a)(2)       6.9
  (b)       2.4
318   (a)       12.1
  (c)       12.1

 

N.A. means not applicable

* This Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of February 13, 2008, by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), to be merged with and into Goodman Global, Inc. (“Goodman”), a Delaware corporation, upon consummation of the Merger (as defined herein), with Goodman as the surviving corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (including any successors thereto, the “Trustee”).

Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Issuer, Goodman, and Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), the Issuer will be merged with and into Goodman, with Goodman as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). Upon consummation of the Merger, Goodman will assume the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and will cause its Subsidiaries (as defined below) to become Guarantors to the extent required by this Indenture.

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 13.5%/14.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Notes”):

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1. DEFINITIONS.

144A Global Note” means one or more Global Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the Original Issue Discount Legend, that will be issued in an aggregate amount of denominations equal in total to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes not initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S or issued in the form of Definitive Notes.

Accrued Bankruptcy Interest” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, all interest accruing thereon after the filing of a petition by or against the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries under any Bankruptcy Law, in accordance with and at the rate (including any rate applicable upon any default or event of default, to the extent lawful) specified in the documents evidencing or governing such Indebtedness, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim after such filing in any proceeding under such Bankruptcy Law.

Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Issuer, including by designation, or is merged or consolidated into or with the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries.

Additional Notes” means additional Notes which may be issued after the Issue Date pursuant to this Indenture (other than the Exchange Notes and any PIK Notes issued (and any increase in the aggregate principal amount of Notes) as a result of the payment of PIK Interest). All references herein to “Notes” shall be deemed to include Additional Notes except as stated otherwise.

Affiliate” means any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or through one or more intermediaries, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise; shall for such purposes be deemed to possess control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Affiliate” shall not include Subsidiaries.


Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to the Notes at any Redemption Date the excess of (1) the present value at such time of (a) the redemption price of such Notes at February 15, 2011 (such redemption price being described under Section 3.7) plus (b) all accrued and unpaid interest required to be paid on such Notes from the Redemption Date through February 15, 2011, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 0.50% per annum, over (2) the principal amount of such Notes; provided, however, that such value shall not be less than zero.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange at the relevant time.

Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any security or instrument, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of (a) the number of years from the date of determination to the date or dates of each successive scheduled principal (or redemption) payment of such security or instrument and (b) the amount of each such respective principal (or redemption) payment by (2) the sum of all such principal (or redemption) payments.

Bankruptcy Code” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, codified at 11 U.S.C. §101-1330, as amended.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

Beneficial Owner” or “beneficial owner” for purposes of the definition of Change of Control and Affiliate has the meaning attributed to it in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (as in effect on the Issue Date), whether or not applicable.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Issuer or any committee of the board of directors authorized, with respect to any particular matter, to exercise the power of the board of directors of the Issuer.

Broker-Dealer” means any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities.

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Contribution” means any contribution to the equity of the Issuer from a direct or indirect parent of the Issuer for which no consideration (other than the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock)) is given.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, as applied to any Person, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such Capitalized Lease prior to the first date upon which such Capitalized Lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

2


Capitalized Leases” means, as applied to any Person, all leases of property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as a lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person.

Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Cash Equivalent” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof);

(2) demand deposits, time deposits and certificates of deposit and commercial paper issued by the parent corporation of any domestic or foreign commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(3) commercial paper issued by others rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s;

(4) repurchase obligations having terms not more than seven days, with institutions meeting the criteria set forth in clause (2) above, for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above;

(5) interests in money market or mutual funds all of whose assets are invested in assets or securities of the type described in clauses (1) through (4) above;

(6) with respect to Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary, any demand deposit account;

(7) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(8) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; or

 

3


(9) investments in mutual funds, 95% of more of the assets of which are invested in obligations of the types described in clauses (1) - (8) above, and in the case of each of (1), (2), and (3) maturing within two years after the date of acquisition.

Cash Interest” means interest paid in the form of cash.

Change of Control” means:

(A) prior to the consummation of the first Public Equity Offering after the Issue Date, (1) the Permitted Holders shall cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 35% of the voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer (and its direct or indirect Parent Entities) (provided, that for purposes of determining the beneficial ownership of the Permitted Holders, Voting Equity Interests beneficially owned by the management of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities) shall be deemed not to exceed 10% of the outstanding Voting Equity of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities), (2) any “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) (other than the Permitted Holders) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more or the voting or economic interests of the Issuer and its direct and indirect Parent Entities than is beneficially owned by the Investors,

(B) any merger or consolidation of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities) with or into any Person or any sale, transfer or other conveyance, whether direct or indirect, of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets, on a consolidated basis, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, if, immediately after giving effect to such transaction(s), any “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) (other than the Permitted Holders) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more than 40% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the transferee(s) or surviving entity or entities, unless the Investors, in the aggregate, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, a greater percentage of the voting power than such person,

(C) any “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) (other than the Permitted Holders) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more than 40% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer (or its direct or indirect Parent Entities), unless the Investors, in the aggregate, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, a greater percentage of the voting power than such person,

(D) the Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Issuer’s Board of Directors then in office (except by reason of temporary vacancies created by the death, incapacity or the unscheduled resignation of a director, prior to the replacement of such director), or

(E) the Issuer adopts a plan of liquidation.

As used in this definition, “person” (including any group that is deemed to be a “person”) has the meaning given by Sections 13(d) of the Exchange Act, whether or not applicable.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking Luxembourg, or its successors.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consolidated Coverage Ratio” of any Person on any date of determination (the “Transaction Date”) means the ratio, on a pro forma basis, of (a) the aggregate amount of Consolidated

 

4


EBITDA of such Person attributable to continuing operations and businesses (exclusive of amounts attributable to operations and businesses permanently discontinued or disposed of) for the Reference Period to (b) the aggregate Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person (exclusive of amounts attributable to operations and businesses permanently discontinued or disposed of, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Consolidated Fixed Charges would no longer be obligations contributing to such Person’s Consolidated Fixed Charges subsequent to the Transaction Date) during the Reference Period; provided that for purposes of such calculation:

(1) any conversion of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Subsidiary and any acquisition, in each case which occurred during the Reference Period or subsequent to the Reference Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period;

(2) the incurrence of any Indebtedness or the issuance of any Disqualified Capital Stock during the Reference Period or subsequent to the Reference Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date (and the application of the proceeds therefrom), other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility, shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period;

(3) if since the beginning of such period the Issuer or any Subsidiary has repaid, repurchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired, retired or discharged any Indebtedness (each a “Discharge”) or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio involves a Discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid), Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Discharge of such Indebtedness, including with the net proceeds of such new Indebtedness, as if such Discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;

(4) in the case of an incurrence, at any time during or after the Reference Period, of Indebtedness (including any Disqualified Capital Stock) with a floating interest or dividend rate, such floating interest or dividend rate shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rate applicable at the Transaction Date had been in effect from the beginning of the Reference Period to the Transaction Date, unless such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a Hedging Obligation that has the effect of fixing in whole or in part the interest rate or dividend rate on the date of computation, in which case such rate shall be used, without duplication, to the extent applicable to such Indebtedness; and

(5) transactions giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer, to reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and expected to be realized within the eighteen months following such event.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any four quarter period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

 

5


(1) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities;

(2) Cash Taxes;

(3) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets established through purchase accounting and amortization of deferred financing fees or costs);

(4) Non-Cash Charges;

(5) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period to Consolidated Net Income);

(6) (A) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) Apollo Management L.P. or its Affiliates prior to the Issue Date, and (B) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted in this Indenture;

(7) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”;

(8) any loss relating to amounts paid in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income for such period;

(9) any gain relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (b)(3) and (b)(4) below;

(10) in the case of any period that includes a period ending prior to or during the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2008, Transaction Expenses;

(11) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction;

 

6


(12) any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments (other than commodity Hedging Agreements);

(13) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted as a result of the Merger and Related Financing Transactions in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period;

(14) any loss from investments recorded using the equity method;

(15) losses on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(16) the amount of any net losses from discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP;

(17) non-recurring charges (including any unusual or non-recurring) operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, transition costs and costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities, in each case, as determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer and approved by the Board of Directors of the ultimate Parent Entity of the Issuer and provided to the Trustee with a certificate of an Officer containing (a) the board resolution, and (b) reasonable detail regarding such charges, within 10 Business Days of the use of the adjustment described in this clause (17) for purposes of the calculation of the Debt Incurrence Ratio for any purposes under this Indenture; and

(18) restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring costs related to acquisitions after the Issue Date), in each case in accordance with GAAP; provided that such restructuring charges, accruals and reserves shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for such period;

less

(b) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(1) extraordinary gains and unusual or non-recurring gains;

(2) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period);

(3) any non-cash gain attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such gain has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”;

 

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(4) any gain relating to amounts received in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in the such period;

(5) any loss relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (a)(7) and (a)(8) above;

(6) any income from investments recorded using the equity method;

(7) gains on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(8) the amount of any minority interest income consisting of Subsidiary loss attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income); and

(9) Cash Taxes;

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Agreements for currency exchange risk). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, and subject to pro forma adjustment with respect to acquisitions and dispositions occurring following the Issue Date and adjustments provided under clause (a)(11) above, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $32,200,000, $87,500,000 and $95,000,000, respectively, for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007.

Consolidated Fixed Charges” of any Person means, for any period, the aggregate amount (without duplication and determined in each case in accordance with GAAP) of:

(1) interest expensed or capitalized, paid on, accrued (including, in accordance with the following sentence, interest attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries during such period, including (a) amortization of original issue discount results from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133—“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and amortization of costs for the issuance of Indebtedness) or accruals on any Indebtedness, (b) the interest portion of all deferred payment obligations, and (c) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to bankers’ acceptances and letters of credit financings and Hedging Obligations (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts due upon settlement of any such Hedging Obligation), in each case to the extent attributable to such period, and excluding (i) the accretion or any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Merger or the Related Financing Transactions or any acquisition, (ii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (iii) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and (iv) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees;

 

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(2) the product of (a) the amount of dividends accrued or payable (or guaranteed) by such Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of Preferred Stock (other than by Subsidiaries of such Person to such Person or such Person’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and than those paid solely in Equity Interests other than Disqualified Capital Stock) times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; and

(3) the product of (a) the amount of dividends accrued or payable in respect of any Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person and its Subsidiaries (other than those paid solely in Equity Interests other than Disqualified Capital Stock) times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

For purposes of this definition, (x) interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP and (y) without duplication, interest expense attributable to any Indebtedness represented by the guaranty by such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person of an obligation of another Person shall be deemed to be the interest expense attributable to the Indebtedness guaranteed.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (before preferred stock dividends and otherwise determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) for such period, minus an amount equal to any payments made to a Parent Entity pursuant to clause (h) of Section 4.9 during such period, to the extent the expenses of such Parent Entity paid with the proceeds of such dividend would not otherwise reduce Consolidated Net Income, and adjusted to exclude (only to the extent included in computing such net income (or loss and without duplication) the amount (in the case of clauses (j) and (k)) or the After Tax Amount (in the case of clauses (a) through (i)) of:

(a) any gain, loss, charge or expense which is extraordinary (as determined in accordance with GAAP);

(b) the net income, if positive, of any Person, other than a Consolidated Subsidiary, in which such Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has an interest, except to the extent of the amount of any dividends or distributions actually paid in cash to such Person or a Consolidated Subsidiary of such Person during such period, but in any case not in excess of such Person’s pro rata share of such Person’s net income for such period;

(c) the net income, if positive, of any of such Person’s Consolidated Subsidiaries to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or bylaws or any other agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary;

(d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

(e) any non-cash compensation expense realized from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

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(f) amounts resulting from currency fluctuations;

(g) any goodwill impairment charges pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 142;

(h) any gains from key man life insurance to the extent used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (a)(ii)(B) of the second paragraph under Section 4.9;

(i) Transaction Expenses incurred prior to March 31, 2008;

(j) the amortization or write-off of any amounts as a result of applying purchase accounting, including applying purchase accounting to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue, required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and the Subsidiaries), as a result of the Merger and Related Financing Transactions, any acquisition consummated prior to the Issue Date and any permitted acquisitions occurring after the Issue Date or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof; and

(k) to the extent deducted in arriving at net income, the provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes paid or accrued during such period.

Consolidated Net Income shall be (x) reduced by the amount paid in cash or, without duplication, payable in cash (excluding deferred taxes and reserves for taxes) or (y) increased by the amount of refunds received in cash or, without duplication, receivable in cash (excluding deferred taxes and reserves for taxes), in either case, during such period for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes (“Cash Taxes”). In addition, Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by an amount equal to $3,750,000 for each completed fiscal quarter occurring during such period; provided, however, that this reduction shall not be made in connection with determining “Consolidated EBITDA” for any period.

For purposes of calculating “Consolidated Net Income,” the “After Tax Amount” means, with respect to any item which Consolidated Net Income is adjusted to exclude, the aggregate amount of such item so excluded, multiplied by 1 minus the actual marginal combined tax rate; provided, with respect to any item so excluded which does not change the taxable income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, such marginal combined tax rate shall be zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and without duplication, to the extent that the tax impact of such item so excluded occurs over future periods, the cash tax adjustment associated with such item will be made in the periods in which the tax impact actually occurs. For the avoidance of doubt, for any period, the sum of (x) the After Tax Amount of all items excluded from Consolidated Net Income under clauses (a) through (i) above for such period plus (y) Consolidated Net Income for such period prior to the addition or reduction of such After Tax Amount, shall not exceed Consolidated Net Income for such period calculated as if such items had not occurred.

Consolidated Subsidiary” means, for any Person, each Subsidiary of such Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which are Consolidated for financial statement reporting purposes with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidation” means, with respect to the Issuer, the consolidation of the accounts of the Subsidiaries with those of the Issuer, all in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Consolidation” will not include the consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary with the accounts of the Issuer. The term “consolidated” has a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

 

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Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.2 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Issuer.

Continuing Director” means during any period of 12 consecutive months beginning after the Issue Date, individuals who at the beginning of any such 12-month period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Issuer was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, including new directors designated in or provided for in an agreement regarding the merger, consolidation or sale, transfer or other conveyance, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, if such agreement was approved by a vote of such majority of directors).

Credit Facilities” means the facilities or Indebtedness available under (1) the credit agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Issuer, Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, and the other financial institutions party thereto, with respect to an aggregate $800,000,000 term loan facility, (2) the credit agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among, the Issuer, Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., and General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, Barclays Capital and Calyon New York Branch and General Electric Capital Corporation, as joint bookrunners, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as letter of credit issuer, and the other financial institutions party thereto, with respect to an aggregate $300,000,000 asset-based revolving credit facility and (3) any other agreements, instruments, indentures or other debt or financing arrangement, in each case, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as such credit agreement, indenture and/or related documents may be amended, restated, supplemented, renewed, replaced, refinanced (in whole or in part) or otherwise modified from time to time by one or more agreements, facilities, instruments, indentures, or any other debt or financing arrangement whether or not with the same agent, trustee, representative lenders or holders whether or not previously repaid in full or in part for any period of time, and, subject to the proviso to the next succeeding sentence, irrespective of any changes in the terms and conditions thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Credit Facilities” shall include agreements in respect of Hedging Obligations with Persons which, at the time such agreements were entered into, were lenders (or Affiliates thereof) party to the Credit Facilities and shall also include any amendment, amendment and restatement, renewal, extension, restructuring, supplement or modification to any Credit Facilities and all refundings, refinancings and replacements of any Credit Facilities, including any agreements, facilities, instruments, indentures, or any other debt or financing arrangement:

(a) extending the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby;

(b) adding or deleting borrowers or guarantors thereunder, so long as borrowers and issuers include one or more of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and their respective successors and assigns; or

(c) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof in a manner not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

 

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Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Default” means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.

Definitive Note” means one or more certificated Notes registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.6, in the form of Exhibit A except that such Note shall not include the information called for by footnotes 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 16 thereof.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.3 as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, until a successor will have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” will mean or include such successor.

Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (1) so long as any Indebtedness is outstanding or commitments to lend exist under the Credit Facilities, the Credit Facilities, upon receipt of the consent of the requisite lenders under the Credit Facilities or (2) at any time at which no Indebtedness is outstanding (and no commitments to lend exist) under the Credit Facilities, any series of Senior Indebtedness with at least $50,000,000 principal amount outstanding as may be designated in writing by the Issuer, with a copy of such designation delivered to the Trustee.

Disqualified Capital Stock” means with respect to any Person, (1) Equity Interests of such Person that, by its terms or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable, is, or upon the happening of an event or the passage of time or both would be, required to be redeemed or repurchased including at the option of the holder thereof by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in whole or in part, on or prior to 91 days following the Stated Maturity of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding, (2) any preferred stock of the Issuer that is issued for cash and is so designated as Disqualified Capital Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the issuance date thereof, and (3) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of such Person other than any common equity with no preferences, privileges, and no redemption or repayment provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if the terms of such Equity Interests provide that the Issuer may not repurchase or redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions prior to the Issuer’s purchase of the Notes as are required to be purchased pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4.12 and 4.13 hereof.

Distribution Compliance Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests).

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or its successor, as operator of the Euroclear system.

Event of Loss” means, with respect to any property or asset, any (1) loss, destruction or damage of such property or asset or (2) any condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, of such property or asset, or confiscation or requisition of the use of such property or asset.

 

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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Exchange Notes” means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.6(f) hereof.

Exchange Offer” shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or other proceeds received by the Issuer from (1) contributions to its common equity capital, and (2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officer’s certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 4.9.

Exempted Affiliate Transaction” means (1) customary employee compensation arrangements approved by a majority of independent (as to such transactions) members of the Board of Directors and reasonable and customary directors fees, indemnification and similar arrangements provided for the benefit of current or former officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, and payments pursuant thereto, (2) transactions solely between or among the Issuer and any of its Subsidiaries or solely among Subsidiaries of the Issuer, (3) payment of any Restricted Payment or any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, not prohibited by this Indenture, (4) payments or loans to employees or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, and employment agreements, stock option plans and other similar arrangements with such employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith, (5) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, (6) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) that is an Affiliate of the Issuer solely because the Issuer owns, directly or through a Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person, (7) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer to Affiliates or to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Parent Entities or any of its Subsidiaries or any contribution to the capital of the Issuer, any of its Parent Entities or any of its Subsidiaries by Affiliates of the Issuer, (8) the provision of administrative services and therefore, of supplies and equipment, to any Unrestricted Subsidiary on substantially the same terms provided to or by Subsidiaries, (9) payment of any Tax Payments that are not prohibited by this Indenture, (10) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be considered an Exempt Affiliate Transaction to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise materially disadvantageous to the Holders when taken as a whole, (11) the Merger and Related Financing

 

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Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Merger and Related Financing Transactions, and (12) payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Hellman & Friedman LLC and its Affiliates incurred by them in connection with advisory services provided to the Issuer or any of its Parent Entities; provided that the amount of such payments pursuant to this clause (12) shall not exceed up to $1,500,000 in any calendar year.

Existing Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities) in existence on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Merger and Related Financing Transactions), reduced to the extent such amounts are repaid, refinanced or retired.

Existing Notes” means the 7- 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. and the Senior Floating Rate Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. outstanding immediately prior to the Merger.

Fair Market Value” means the price that would be paid in an arm’s-length transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy, as determined in good faith by the Issuer.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer which is not organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States as in effect on the Issue Date.

Global Notes” means one or more Notes in the form of Exhibit A, that includes the information referred to in footnotes 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 16 to such form of Note, issued under this Indenture and, that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.6(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used with respect to the Notes, a “Guarantee” means a guarantee by the Guarantors of all or any part of the Notes, in accordance with Article X hereof.

Guarantor” means each of the Issuer’s present and future Subsidiaries that at the time are guarantors of the Notes in accordance with this Indenture.

Hedging Agreement” shall mean (1) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or

 

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options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (2) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements, that are not entered into for speculative purposes.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication:

(1) all liabilities and obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person, to the extent such liabilities and obligations would appear as a liability upon the consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (a) in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (b) evidenced by bonds, Notes, debentures or similar instruments, (c) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, in each case, except (i) those incurred in the ordinary course of its business that would constitute a trade payable to trade creditors and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(2) all liabilities and obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) evidenced by bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks, (b) relating to any Capitalized Lease Obligation, or (c) evidenced by a letter of credit or a reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to any letter of credit;

(3) all net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations;

(4) all liabilities and obligations of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (1), (2) or (3) that such Person has guaranteed or that is otherwise its legal liability or which are secured by any assets or property of such Person;

(5) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancing and refundings (whether direct or indirect) of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (1), (2), (3) or (4), or this clause (5), whether or not between or among the same parties; and

(6) all Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person (measured at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued and unpaid dividends).

For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such Fair Market Value to be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the issuer (or managing general partner of the issuer) of such Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

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The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (A) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (B) the principal amount thereof in the case of any other Indebtedness.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Indirect Participant” means an entity that, with respect to DTC, clears through or maintains a direct or indirect, custodial relationship with a Participant.

Initial Purchasers” means the initial purchasers of the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 among the Issuer and such initial purchasers.

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who is not also a QIB.

Interest Payment Date” means the stated due date of an installment of interest on the Notes.

Interest Period” means the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending on and including the day immediately preceding the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

Investment” by any Person in any other Person means (without duplication):

(1) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) by such Person (whether for cash, property, services, securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests, Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership or other ownership interests or other securities, including any options or warrants, of such other Person;

(2) the making by such Person of any deposit with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, such other Person (including the purchase of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such other Person), other than accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commissions travel and similar advances to officers and employees, endorsements for collection or deposits arising in the ordinary course of business;

(3) other than guarantees of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to the extent permitted by Section 4.7, the entering into by such Person of any guarantee of, or other credit support or contingent obligation with respect to, Indebtedness or other liability of such other Person;

(4) the making of any capital contribution by such Person to such other Person; and

(5) the designation by the Board of Directors of any Person to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer shall be deemed to make an Investment in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Issuer’s or its Subsidiaries’ equity or debt investment in such Person (or, if neither the Issuer nor any of

 

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its Subsidiaries has theretofore made an Investment in such subsidiary, in an amount equal to the Investments being made), at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and any property transferred to an Unrestricted Subsidiary from the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be deemed an Investment valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have made an Investment in a Person that is or was required to be a Guarantor if, upon the issuance, sale or other disposition of any portion of the Issuer’s or the Subsidiary’s ownership in the Capital Stock of such Person, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor. The Fair Market Value of each Investment shall be measured at the time made or returned, as applicable.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investors” means Hellman & Friedman LLC, and its Affiliates that are collective investment vehicles for which Hellman & Friedman LLC or its direct or indirect subsidiaries act directly or indirectly as general partner, investment manager, managing member or in a similar capacity (any of the foregoing, a “H&F Investment Vehicle”); provided that with respect to any Investment Vehicle formed after the Issue Date, (a) such H&F Investment Vehicle shall not have been formed primarily to hold securities of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect Parent Entities), or (b) the limited partners or members of such H&F Investment Vehicle shall consist solely of (i) Persons that are limited partners or members of other H&F Investment Vehicles as of the Issue Date or (ii) Affiliates of Persons described in clause (i). Notwithstanding the foregoing, portfolio companies of any of the foregoing shall not constitute “Investors.”

Issue Date” means the date of first issuance of the Notes under the Indenture.

Junior Security” means any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) and any Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (and any securities issued in exchange for or in replacement of Senior Indebtedness) at least to the same extent as the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to this Indenture and has no scheduled installment of principal due, by redemption, sinking fund payment or otherwise, on or prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that in the case of subordination in respect of Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, “Junior Security” shall mean (except with the consent of the requisite lenders under the Credit Facilities) any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) and any Indebtedness of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, that:

(1) has a final maturity date occurring after the final maturity date of all Senior Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities (and any securities issued in exchange or replacement of such Senior Indebtedness) on the date of issuance of such Equity Interests or Indebtedness;

(2) is unsecured;

(3) has an Average Life longer than the security for which such Equity Interests or Indebtedness are being exchanged; and

(4) by its terms or by law is subordinated to Senior Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities (and any securities issued in exchange for Senior Indebtedness) on the date of issuance of such Equity Interests or Indebtedness at least to the same extent as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to this Indenture (including, without limitation, with respect to payment blockage and turnover).

 

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Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Issuer and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, hypothecation or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind, real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired.

Liquidated Damages” means all Liquidated Damages then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer in the case of a sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or a Capital Contribution and by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in respect of an Asset Sale plus, in the case of an issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) upon any exercise, exchange or conversion of securities (including options, warrants, rights and convertible or exchangeable debt) of the Issuer that were issued for cash on or after the Issue Date, the amount of cash originally received by the Issuer upon the issuance of such securities (including options, warrants, rights and convertible or exchangeable debt) less, in each case, the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale or Issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), including, without limitation, legal, accounting, investment banking and other professional fees, and brokerage and sales commissions and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof incurred in connection with such Asset Sale or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), and, in the case of an Asset Sale only less (1) the amount (estimated reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer) of income, franchise, sales and other applicable taxes required to be paid by the Issuer or any of its respective Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale in the taxable year that such sale is consummated or in the immediately succeeding taxable year, the computation of which shall take into account the reduction in tax liability resulting from any available operating losses and net operating loss carryovers, tax credits and tax credit carry-forwards, and similar tax attributes, (2) cash payments attributable to Persons owning an interest (other than a Lien) in the assets subject to the Asset Sale, (3) any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liability associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and (4) any holdbacks with respect to indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustments pending receipt thereof.

Non-Cash Charges” shall mean (1) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long lived assets, and investments in debt and equity securities pursuant to GAAP, (2) all losses from investments recorded using the equity method, (3) all non-cash compensation expenses, (4) the non-cash impact of purchase accounting, and (5) other non-cash charges (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period).

Non-U.S. Person” means any Person other than a U.S. Person.

 

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Notes” means the Exchange Notes, any Additional Notes and any PIK Notes issued in respect of any Notes. For purposes of this Indenture, all references to “principal amount” of the Notes shall include any PIK Notes issued in respect thereof (and any increase in the principal amount thereof) as a result of the payment of PIK Interest.

Notes Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

Obligation” means any principal, premium or interest payment, or monetary penalty, or damages, due by the Issuer or any Guarantor under the terms of the Notes or this Indenture, including any Liquidated Damages due pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Principal Accounting Officer, or any Vice President of such Person.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor by two Officers of the Issuer or such Guarantor, one of whom must be Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Principal Accounting Officer, or any Vice President of the Issuer or such Guarantor, that meets the requirements of Sections 12.4 and 12.5.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel that meets the requirements of Sections 12.4 and 12.5, which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions, limitations and qualifications. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Original Issue Discount Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.6(g)(iv) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued with original issue discount.

Parent Entity” means a Person that holds, directly or indirectly, Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer with voting power, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer.

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

Permitted Holders” means (a) each of the Investors, (b) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) consisting solely of the Investors and members of management of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect Parent Entities), and (c) so long as no person (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than a group described in clause (b), has beneficial ownership of a greater voting or economic interests represented by the Equity Interests of the Issuer and its direct or indirect Parent Entities, members of management of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect Parent Entities).

Permitted Indebtedness” means:

(1) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Guarantors, evidenced by the Notes and the Guarantees issued pursuant to this Indenture up to the amounts being issued on the original Issue Date (and any PIK Notes or PIK Interest and any Guarantee thereof) less any amounts repaid or retired;

 

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(2) Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, as applicable (including Disqualified Capital Stock), with respect to Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2) and (10) of this definition or incurred pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio test set forth in Section 4.7;

(3) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries solely in respect of bankers acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, performance bonds, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees and Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims in each, to the extent that such incurrence does not result in the incurrence of any obligation to repay any obligation relating to borrowed money incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(4) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer that is owed to (borrowed from) any Subsidiary, and Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary owed to (borrowed from) any other Subsidiary or the Issuer; provided that in the case of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary payable to any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such obligations shall be unsecured and contractually subordinated to payments then due in respect of the Issuer’s obligations pursuant to the Notes, and any event that causes any Subsidiary to which such Indebtedness is owed no longer to be a Subsidiary (including by designation to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed to be a new incurrence by such issuer of such Indebtedness and any guarantor thereof subject to Section 4.7;

(5) guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary that was permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Indenture;

(6) Hedging Obligations incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate, currency or commodity risk with respect to any fixed or floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by this Indenture to be outstanding or any receivable, liability or contractual provision the payment in respect of which is determined by reference to a foreign currency or commodity; provided that such obligations shall be Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (6) only to the extent that the notional amount of any such Hedging Obligation does not exceed the principal amount of any other Indebtedness to which such Hedging Obligation relates;

(7) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries 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 covered within ten Business Days;

(8) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(9) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit; provided that such letter of credit was permitted to be issued under Section 4.7;

 

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(10) Indebtedness of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or merged into a Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or merger; provided, further, that after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or merger either (a) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in Section 4.7 or (b) so long as the Debt Incurrence Ratio prior to such acquisition or merger is greater than 1.25 to 1.0, the Debt Incurrence Ratio is equal to or greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

(11) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, the net proceeds of which are used to satisfy, defease or discharge the Notes as provided under Article VIII hereof;

(12) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries consisting of take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(13) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect Parent Entity of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (a) of the second paragraph of Section 4.9; provided, that such Indebtedness (a) is unsecured, (b) is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Guarantees and (c) has a maturity after the Stated Maturity, and (d) provides for no cash interest payments or other payments if (i) any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and/or (ii) the most recent payment of interest on the Notes was not made entirely in cash; and

(14) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and the Subsidiaries in connection with customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Investment” means:

(1) any Investment in any of the Notes;

(2) any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Subsidiary: (a) in the Issuer (excluding payments to any securityholder of the Issuer by a Subsidiary of the Issuer), (b) in any Guarantor, or (c) in any Person if as a result of such Investment such Person becomes a Guarantor or such Person is merged with or into the Issuer or a Guarantor;

(4) other Investments in any Person or Persons, provided that after giving pro forma effect to each such Investment, the aggregate amount of all such Investments made on and after the Issue Date pursuant to this clause (4) that are outstanding (after giving effect to any such Investments that are returned to the Issuer or the Subsidiary that made such prior Investment, without restriction, in cash on or prior to the date of any such calculation, but only up to the amount of the Investment made under this clause (4) in such Person), at any time does not in the aggregate exceed $17,500,000 (measured by the value attributed to the Investment at the time made, without giving effect to subsequent change in value);

(5) any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer or a Parent Entity;

(6) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.12;

 

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(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

(8) Investments in customers and suppliers that either (a) generate accounts or notes receivable, or (b) are accepted in settlement of bona fide disputes;

(9) Investments in the form of loans or advances to employees for travel, relocation and like expenses, in each case, consistent with the Issuer’s past practices;

(10) Investments received in settlement of obligations or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, recapitalization or liquidation of any Person as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any Investment in default; or the good faith settlement of debts of, or litigation or disputes with, any Person that is not an Affiliate;

(11) Investments of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date;

(12) Investments in Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries, provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments outstanding at any time shall not exceed $25,000,000;

(13) [RESERVED]; and

(14) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment made in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Lien” means:

(1) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(2) Liens imposed by governmental authorities for taxes, assessments or other charges not yet subject to penalty or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Issuer in accordance with GAAP;

(3) statutory Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, material men, landlords, repairmen or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business, provided that (a) the underlying obligations are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or (b) such Liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Issuer in accordance with GAAP;

(4) Liens securing the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, letters of credit and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(5) easements, rights-of-way, zoning, similar restrictions and other similar encumbrances or title defects which, singly or in the aggregate, do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto (as such property is used by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(6) Liens arising by operation of law in connection with judgments, only to the extent, for an amount and for a period not resulting in an Event of Default with respect thereto;

 

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(7) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security legislation or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal-bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(8) Liens securing the Notes;

(9) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Issuer or a Subsidiary or Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in connection with an acquisition, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation, were not incurred in anticipation thereof, and do not extend to any other assets owned by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(10) Liens arising from Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.7, provided such Liens relate solely to the property which is subject to such Purchase Money Indebtedness;

(11) leases or subleases or licenses or sublicenses (including of intellectual property) granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(12) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(13) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance any Indebtedness that was previously so secured (other than Indebtedness secured pursuant to clause (28)) in a manner no more adverse to the Holders than the terms of the Liens securing such refinanced Indebtedness, and provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing (but only to the extent such committed amount, if not incurred at the time of such refinancing, would have been permitted to be incurred and secured under this Indenture on the date of such refinancing) and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses including premiums, related to such financing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(14) Liens securing Senior Indebtedness (including under the Credit Facilities) incurred in accordance with the terms of Section 4.7;

(15) Liens securing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary incurred in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.7;

(16) Liens securing Hedging Obligations;

(17) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or a Guarantor permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.7;

 

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(18) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(19) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(20) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

(21) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

(22) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(23) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (c) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(25) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.9, provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

(26) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (a) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(27) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(28) Liens (a) in respect of sale leasebacks permitted by the Credit Facility described in clause (1) of the definition of Credit Facility, and (b) securing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance any Indebtedness incurred to refinance the sale leasebacks described in clause (a) in a manner no more adverse to the Holders than the terms of the Liens securing such sale leaseback, and provided that (i) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (ii) such Indebtedness shall provide no recourse to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries other than with respect to foreclosure upon the collateral securing such Lien;

 

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(29) Liens (a) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 4.9 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (b) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 4.12, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, disposition, transfer or lease, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien; and Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted by this Indenture;

(30) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture;

(31) [RESERVED];

(32) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; and

(33) Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is secured equally and ratably (or on a basis subordinated to) the Notes) in an amount not to exceed 15% of the total assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (calculated on a consolidated basis); provided that such Liens were created during a Suspension Period.

Person” or “person” means (unless stated otherwise) any corporation, individual, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, partnership, unincorporated association, governmental regulatory entity, country, state or political subdivision thereof, trust, municipality or other entity.

PIK Interest” means interest paid with respect to the Notes in the form of increasing the outstanding principal amount of the Notes or issuing PIK Notes.

PIK Notes” means additional Notes issued under this Indenture on the same terms and conditions as the Notes issued on the Issue Date in connection with the payment of PIK Interest.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest of any class or classes of a Person (however designated) which is preferred as to payments of dividends, or as to distributions upon any liquidation or dissolution, over Equity Interests of any other class of such Person.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.6(g)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where specifically stated otherwise by the provisions of this Indenture.

Public Equity Offering” means an underwritten public offering generating net cash proceeds in excess of $100,000,000 pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with the Securities Act of (1) common stock of the Issuer or (2) common stock of any Parent Entity, to the extent that the cash proceeds therefrom are used as a Capital Contribution to the Issuer.

Purchase Money Indebtedness” of any Person means any Indebtedness of such Person to any seller or other Person incurred solely to finance the acquisition (including in the case of a Capitalized Lease Obligation, the lease), construction, installation or improvement of any after acquired real or personal tangible property which is incurred within 270 days following with such acquisition, construction, installation or improvement and is secured only by the assets so financed. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that Purchase Money Indebtedness may be incurred under the Credit Facilities.

 

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QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualified Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of (1) Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) by the Issuer other than to an Affiliate or (2) Equity Interests by the Parent Entity where the Net Cash Proceeds of such sale are contributed to the Issuer as a Capital Contribution substantially concurrently therewith, and in each case, other than public offerings registered on a Form S-8.

Qualified Exchange” means:

(1) any legal defeasance, redemption, retirement, repurchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock, or Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Parent Entity with the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer made within 60 days of the sale of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) (other than to a Subsidiary) or, to the extent used to retire Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer issued on or after the Issue Date, Refinancing Indebtedness of the Issuer;

(2) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to purchase, any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of the Issuer; or

(3) any issuance of Refinancing Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to purchase, Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer.

Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Record Date” means a Record Date specified in the Notes, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

Recourse Indebtedness” means Indebtedness as to which either the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (1) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (2) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), or (3) constitutes the lender.

Reference Period” with regard to any Person means the four full fiscal quarters (or such lesser period during which such Person has been in existence) ended immediately preceding any date upon which any determination is to be made pursuant to the terms of the Notes or this Indenture.

Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) (1) issued in exchange for, or the proceeds from the issuance and sale of which are used within 60 days to repay, redeem, defease, refund, refinance, discharge or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, or (2) constituting an amendment, modification or supplement to, or a deferral or renewal of ((1) and (2) above are, collectively, a “Refinancing”), any Indebtedness (including the Notes and Disqualified Capital Stock) in a principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Capital Stock, liquidation preference,

 

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not to exceed (after deduction of reasonable and customary fees and expenses (including defeasance costs) incurred in connection with the Refinancing plus the amount of any premium paid (including reasonable tender premiums) in connection with such Refinancing) the lesser of (a) the principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Capital Stock, liquidation preference, of the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) so Refinanced and (b) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced was issued with an original issue discount, the accreted value thereof (as determined in accordance with GAAP) at the time of such Refinancing; provided that (i) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall only be used to refinance outstanding Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of such Person issuing such Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall (A) not have an Average Life shorter than the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) to be so refinanced at the time of such Refinancing and (B) in all respects, be no less contractually subordinated or junior, if applicable, to the rights of Holders of the Notes than was the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) to be refinanced, (iii) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable, no earlier than the final stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable, of the Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) to be so refinanced or, if sooner, 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes, and (iv) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be secured (if secured) in a manner no more adverse to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of the Liens (if any) securing such refinanced Indebtedness, and provided that (A) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (I) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (II) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), shall not constitute “Refinancing Indebtedness” in connection with a Refinancing of Disqualified Capital Stock.

Reg S Permanent Global Note” means one or more permanent Global Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the Original Issue Discount Legend, that will be issued in an aggregate amount of denominations equal in total to the outstanding principal amount of the Reg S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period.

Reg S Temporary Global Note” means one or more temporary Global Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the Original Issue Discount Legend and the Reg S Temporary Global Note Legend, issued in an aggregate amount of denominations equal in total to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Reg S Temporary Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.6(g)(iii), which is required to be placed on all Reg S Temporary Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of Issue Date, by and among the Issuer and the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor provision thereto.

Regulation S Global Note” means a Reg S Temporary Global Note or a Reg S Permanent Global Note, as the case may be.

Related Business” means the business conducted (or proposed to be conducted) by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any reasonable extension thereof and any and all businesses that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors are materially related, ancillary or complementary businesses.

 

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Related Business Asset” means assets (except in connection with the acquisition of a Subsidiary in a Related Business that becomes a Guarantor, other than Notes, bonds, obligations and securities) and capital expenditures, in each case that, in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, will immediately constitute, be a part of, or be used in, a Related Business of the Issuer or a Subsidiary.

Related Financing Transactions” means the financing transactions in connection with the consummation of the Merger, including the related equity investment by the Investors, members of management and others, the execution of, and borrowings on the Issue Date under, the Credit Facilities and the pledge and security arrangements in connection with the foregoing, the entry into this Indenture, the related Purchase Agreement with the Initial Purchasers and the Registration Rights Agreement, the refinancing, repurchase, redemption and/or repayment of the Existing Notes and certain other existing indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, the consummation of any other transactions connected with the Merger or the foregoing and the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the Merger or any of the foregoing.

Restricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend, issued under this Indenture.

Restricted Global Note” means one or more Global Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the Original Issue Discount Legend, issued under this Indenture; provided that in no case shall an Exchange Note issued in accordance with this Indenture and the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement be a Restricted Global Note.

Restricted Investment” means, in one or a series of related transactions, any Investment, other than other Permitted Investments.

Restricted Payment” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution in respect of Equity Interests of such Person or any parent of such Person by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(2) any payment (except to the extent made with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock)) by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer on account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of such Person or any parent of such Person;

(3) other than with the proceeds from the substantially concurrent sale of, or in exchange for, Refinancing Indebtedness, any purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of, any payment in respect of any amendment of the terms of or any defeasance of, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than the Notes), directly or indirectly, by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer prior to the scheduled maturity, prior to any scheduled repayment of principal, or prior to any scheduled sinking fund payment, as the case may be, of such Indebtedness, other than:

(a) Indebtedness permitted under clause (4) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”; or

 

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(b) 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; and

(4) any Restricted Investment by such Person,

provided, however, that the term “Restricted Payment” does not include (i) any dividend, distribution or other payment on or with respect to Equity Interests of an issuer to the extent payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of such issuer, (ii) any dividend, distribution or other payment to the Issuer, or to any Subsidiary of the Issuer, by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and any Investment in any Subsidiary by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary and any Investment in the Issuer by any Subsidiary of the Issuer so long as the Issuer receives the proceeds of such Investment in the Issuer, (iii) the payment of the cash merger consideration in connection with the Merger or (iv) the repurchase, repayment, redemption or setting aside funds for the repurchase, repayment or redemption of the Existing Notes, including the payment of any consent fee in connection therewith or with any amendment of the terms thereof.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor provision thereto.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor provision thereto.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Senior Indebtedness” of the Issuer or any Guarantor means Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor arising under the Credit Facilities (including any fees, costs and other monetary obligation in respect of the Credit Facilities, and interest, whether or not allowable, accruing on Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Credit Facilities after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law) or that, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness, is expressly designated as “senior indebtedness” and is senior in right of payment to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee and all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, expenses, reimbursements, damages and other amounts payable pursuant to the documentation governing or relating to such Indebtedness; provided that in no event shall Senior Indebtedness include (1) Indebtedness to any Subsidiary of the Issuer or any officer, director or employee of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, (2) Indebtedness incurred in violation of the terms of this Indenture; provided that such Indebtedness will not cease to be Senior Indebtedness as a result of this clause (2) if the lenders thereunder obtained a certificate from an executive officer of the Issuer on the date such Indebtedness was incurred certifying that the incurrence of such Indebtedness was not prohibited by this Indenture, (3) trade Indebtedness to trade creditors, (4) Disqualified Capital Stock, (5) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Issuer or such Guarantor and (6) any other Indebtedness other than (A) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c) of the third paragraph of Section 4.7, (B) guarantees of Indebtedness described in clause (A) and (C) Hedging Obligations incurred with respect to Indebtedness described in clause (A) or (B).

Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary or group of Subsidiaries that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Regulation S-X of the Securities Act, as in effect on the Issue Date.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, and its successors.

Special Record Date” means, for payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Paying Agent pursuant to Section 2.12.

Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Note, means February 15, 2016.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor that is subordinated in right of payment by its terms or the terms of any document or instrument relating thereto (“contractually”) to the Notes or such Guarantee, as applicable, in any respect.

Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means (1) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Equity Interests, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, and (2) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has a majority of the Voting Equity Interests, or (3) a partnership in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the time, a general partner and in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has a majority ownership interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not be a Subsidiary of the Issuer or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer. Unless the context requires otherwise, Subsidiary means each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Issuer, any Parent Entity or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and the Related Financing Transactions.

Transfer Restricted Notes” means Global Notes and Definitive Notes that bear or are required to bear the Private Placement Legend, issued under this Indenture.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of U.S. Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) closest to the period from such Redemption Date to February 15, 2011, provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to February 15, 2011, is not equal to the constant maturity of a U.S. Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of one year) from the weekly average yields of U.S. Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that, if the period from the Redemption Date to February 15, 2011 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

 

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Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend, issued under this Indenture.

Unrestricted Global Note” means one or more permanent Global Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend, issued under this Indenture.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Issuer designated by the Board of Directors as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” provided that, at the time of designation by the Board of Directors, such subsidiary does not directly, indirectly or beneficially own any Capital Stock of, and Indebtedness of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided further, that such Subsidiary at the time of such designation (1) has no Recourse Indebtedness; (2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer (unless in compliance with Section 4.11); (3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and (4) does not guarantee or otherwise directly or indirectly provide credit support for any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Subsidiary, provided that (a) no Default or Event of Default is existing or will occur as a consequence thereof and (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, on a pro forma basis, either (i) the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in Section 4.7 or (ii) so long as the Debt Incurrence Ratio prior to such designation is greater than 1.25 to 1.0, the Debt Incurrence Ratio would be greater than such ratio immediately prior to such designation. Each such designation shall be evidenced by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

U.S. Government Obligations” means direct non-callable obligations of, or non-callable obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which obligation or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

U.S. Person” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the Securities Act.

Voting Equity Interests” means Equity Interests which at the time are entitled to vote in the election of, as applicable, directors, members or partners generally.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary all the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) are owned by the Issuer or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Issuer or a combination thereof.

Section 1.2. OTHER DEFINITIONS.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

“Acceleration Notice”

   6.2(a)

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“After Tax Amount”

   Definition of “Consolidated Net Income”

“Asset Sale”

   4.12

“Asset Sale Amount”

   4.12

 

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“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.12

“Asset Sale Offer Amount”

   4.12

“Asset Sale Offer Price”

   4.12

“Asset Sale Offer Period”

   4.12

“Authentication Order”

   2.2

“Benefited Party”

   10.1

“Cash Taxes”

   Definition of “Consolidated Net Income”

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.13

“Change of Control Offer Period”

   4.13

“Change of Control Purchase Date”

   4.13

“Change of Control Purchase Price”

   4.13

“Company Affiliated Group”

   4.9(h)

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.3

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.19

“Debt Incurrence Ratio”

   4.7

“Defaulted Interest”

   2.12

“Discharge”

   Definition of “Consolidated Coverage Ratio”

“DTC”

   2.3

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.12

“Goodman”

   Preamble

“Guarantee Obligations”

   10.1

“HYDO Determination Date”

   3.8

“HYDO Redemption”

   3.8

“HYDO Redemption Amount”

   3.8

“incur” or “incurrence”

   4.7

“Incurrence Date”

   4.7

“Issuer”

   Preamble

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.2

“Merger”

   Preamble

“Merger Agreement”

   Preamble

“Notes”

   Preamble

“Parent”

   Preamble

“Paying Agent”

   2.3

“Payment Blockage Period”

   11.2(b)

“Payment Default”

   11.2(a)

“Payment Blockage Notice”

   11.2(b)

“Redemption Date”

   3.7(c)

“Registrar”

   2.3

“Refinancing”

   Definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness”

“Reversion Date”

   4.19

“Suspended Covenant”

   4.19

“Suspension Period”

   4.19

“Tax Payment”

   4.9(h)

“Transaction Date”

   Definition of “Consolidated Coverage Ratio”

“Trustee”

   Preamble

 

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Section 1.3. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission;

obligor” on the Notes means the Issuer, each Guarantor and any successor obligor on the Notes.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(A) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(B) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(C) “or” is not exclusive;

(D) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(E) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(F) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision and, unless the context otherwise requires, any references to “Articles”, “Section”, “Exhibit” or other subdivision refers to an Article, Section, Exhibit or other subdivision, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

(G) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time;

(H) calculation of amounts for purposes of any provision of this Indenture shall be without duplication of amounts otherwise included in such calculation; and

(I) any amount requiring calculation of a U.S. dollar-equivalent of a currency other than U.S. dollars shall be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of the transaction or calculation, as applicable, without regard to subsequent fluctuations in such exchange rate.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

Section 2.1. FORM AND DATING.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements

 

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required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; provided that PIK Notes in definitive form shall be in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples thereof.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.6.

(c) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking Luxembourg” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream in effect at the relevant time shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

Section 2.2. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION. An Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature. In the case of Definitive Notes, such signatures may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on such Notes. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid. A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Issuer signed by an Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate Notes for issuance up to the aggregate principal amount stated in such Authentication Order; provided that Notes authenticated for issuance on the Issue Date shall not exceed $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount. In addition, at any time and from time to time, the Trustee shall, upon an Authentication Order, authenticate Additional Notes, Exchange Notes or PIK Notes (or increases in the principal amount of any Notes) as a result of the payment of PIK Interest for issuance up to the aggregate principal amount stated in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes, Exchange Notes or PIK Notes (or increases in the principal amount of any Notes) issued or increased hereunder. The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer.

Section 2.3. REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND DEPOSITARY. The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange

 

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(“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar. The Issuer initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

Section 2.4. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or Cash Interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.5. HOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or shall cause the Registrar (if other than the Issuer) to furnish, to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Issuer shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

Section 2.6. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes if (i) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that (x) the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary for the Global Notes and the Issuer thereupon fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 120 days or (y) the Depositary is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (ii) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) upon request of the Trustee or Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes if there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes; provided that in no event shall the Reg S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificate identified by the Issuer and its counsel to be required pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in

 

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part, as provided in Sections 2.7 and 2.10. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.6 or Section 2.7 or 2.10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.6(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.6(b), (c) or (f).

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Reg S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.6(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.6(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) both (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) both (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in clause (B)(i) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Reg S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period (unless such exchange is effected by the Issuer, does not require an investment decision on the part of the holder thereof and does not violate the provisions of Regulation S) and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates identified by the Issuer or its counsel to be required pursuant to Rule 903 and Rule 904 under the Securities Act. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.6(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.6(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the

 

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Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.6(h).

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.6(b)(ii) and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Reg S Temporary Global Note or the Reg S Permanent Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.6(b)(ii) and:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 2.6(f), and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, 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 (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer (or such other certification as the Issuer or its counsel determines to be required under applicable laws);

(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: (1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or (2) 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 a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B,

 

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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 and the Issuer 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.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

(D) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable,

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.6(h), and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order pursuant to Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Restricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.6(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or

 

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Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Restricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.6(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(ii) 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 the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.6(b)(ii) and:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 2.6(f), 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 (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer (or such other certification as the Issuer or its counsel determines to be required under applicable law);

(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: (1) 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, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or (2) 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, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar and the Issuer 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.

(iii) 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 an Unrestricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.6(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.6(h), and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order pursuant to Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions an

 

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Unrestricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Unrestricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.6(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Unrestricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Unrestricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.6(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(iv) Transfer or Exchange of Reg S Temporary Global Notes. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.6, a beneficial interest in the Reg S Temporary Global Note may not be (A) exchanged for a Definitive Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period (unless such exchange is effected by the Issuer, does not require an investment decision on the part of the holder thereof and does not violate the provisions of Regulation S) and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates identified by the Issuer or its counsel to be required pursuant to Rule 903 and Rule 904 under the Securities Act or (B) transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to the events set forth in clause (A) above or unless the transfer is pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon presentation or surrender to the Registrar of such Restricted Definitive Note duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; or

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof,

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.

 

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(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 2.6(f), and the Holder, 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 (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer (or such other certifications as the Issuer or its counsel determines to be required under applicable law);

(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: (1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or (2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B, 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 and the Issuer 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.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.6(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Notes so transferred or exchanged and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(iii) 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 shall 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

 

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any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) of this Section 2.6(d) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.6(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.6(e).

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 2.6(f), and the Holder, 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 (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer (or such other certification as the Issuer or its counsel determines to be required under applicable law);

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(C) any 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: (1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or (2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes 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), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar and the Issuer 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.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the sum of (A) the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not Broker-Dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer (or such other certification as the Issuer or its counsel determines to be required under applicable law), and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (B) the principal amount of Definitive Notes exchanged or transferred for beneficial interests in Unrestricted Global Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.6(d)(ii) and (ii) Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer (other than Definitive Notes described in clause (i)(B) immediately above). Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order pursuant to Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

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(i) Private Placement Legend.

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.”

“THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) to this Section 2.6 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii) Global Note Legend. To the extent required by the Depositary, each Global Note shall bear legends in substantially the following forms:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.”

“UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A

 

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NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(iii) Reg S Temporary Global Note Legend. To the extent required by the Depositary, each Reg S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

(iv) Original Issue Discount Legend. Each Note issued with original issue discount shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE IS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. A HOLDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY FOR SUCH NOTES BY SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE ISSUER AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., 5151 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 500, HOUSTON, TX 77056, ATTENTION: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement may be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement may be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 or at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.6, 4.12 and 4.13).

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same Indebtedness, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.2 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2.

(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.6 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as to any certifications and certificates delivered to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.6, the Registrar’s duties shall be limited to confirming

 

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that any such certifications and certificates delivered to it are in the form of Exhibits B, C and D. The Registrar shall not be responsible for confirming the truth or accuracy of representations made in any such certifications or certificates.

Section 2.7. REPLACEMENT NOTES. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuer and the Trustee and the Issuer receive evidence (which evidence may be from the Trustee) to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.8. OUTSTANDING NOTES. The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee (including any PIK Notes issued in respect thereof, and any increase in principal amount thereof, as a result of the payment of PIK Interest and including any Note represented by a Global Note) except for those cancelled by it or at its direction, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.8 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.9, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note. If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7, such Note, together with any Guarantee of that particular Note endorsed thereon, ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser. If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.1, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue. If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or the maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.9. TREASURY NOTES. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

Section 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 2.11. CANCELLATION. The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee, or at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer), and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the

 

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Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuer. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST. Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date plus, to the extent lawful, any interest payable on the defaulted interest at the rate and in the manner provided in Section 4.1 and in the Note (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant Record Date, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Issuer, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Issuer may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of cash equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Paying Agent for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such cash when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as provided in this clause (1). Thereupon the Paying Agent shall fix a “Special Record Date” for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Paying Agent of the notice of the proposed payment. The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Issuer and the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at its address as it appears in the Note register maintained by the Registrar not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Issuer may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Issuer to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee and the Paying Agent.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

Section 2.13. CUSIP NUMBERS. The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

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Section 2.14. ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL NOTES. The Issuer may, subject to Section 4.7 and applicable law, issue Additional Notes under this Indenture. The Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that, in connection with the payment of PIK Interest, the Issuer is entitled to, without the consent of the Holders (and without regard to any restrictions or limitations set forth in Section 4.7), increase the outstanding principal amount of the Notes or issue PIK Notes.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.1. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE. If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.7, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) but not more than 60 days (unless a longer period is acceptable to the Trustee) before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.2. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the rules of DTC, if applicable, or on a pro rata basis. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes in denominations of larger than $2,000 selected shall be in minimum amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not an integral multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed; provided that PIK Notes in definitive form selected shall be in amounts of $1.00 or integral multiples of $1.00, except that if all of the PIK Notes in definitive form of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not an integral multiple of $1.00, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.3. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the redemption date;

(b) the redemption price;

(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, on or after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

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(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(f) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.4. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Once notice of redemption is mailed or otherwise delivered in accordance with Section 3.3, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

Section 3.5. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.

(a) Prior to 12:00 noon Eastern time on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on, all Notes to be redeemed.

(b) If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the clause (a) of this Section 3.5, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.1.

Section 3.6. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

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Section 3.7. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) and clause (c) of this Section 3.7, the Issuer shall not have the right to redeem any Notes pursuant to this Section 3.7 prior to February 15, 2011. The Notes will be redeemable for cash at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time on or after February 15, 2011, upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior notice mailed by first class mail to each Holder at its last registered address, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing February 15, of the years indicated below, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), thereon to the date of redemption of the Notes:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2011

   106.75 %

2012

   104.50 %

2013

   102.25 %

and thereafter

   100.00 %

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.7, at any time or from time to time on or prior to February 15, 2011 upon one or more Qualified Equity Offerings, up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture (only as necessary to avoid any duplication, excluding any replacement Notes) may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option within 90 days of the closing of any such Qualified Equity Offering from the Net Cash Proceeds of such Qualified Equity Offering, on not less than 30 days, but not more than 60 days, notice to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price equal to 113.5% of principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon to the redemption date; provided, however, that immediately following each such redemption not less than 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Issue Date remain outstanding (only as necessary to avoid any duplication, excluding any replacement Notes).

(c) At any time on or prior to February 15, 2011, the Notes may be redeemed as a whole or in part at the Issuer’s option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, including Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date (the “Redemption Date”), except that installments of interest which are due and payable on dates falling on or prior to the applicable redemption date will be payable to the persons who were the Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates.

(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.1 through 3.6 hereof and must relate to at least the lesser of (x) $5,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, and (y) all of the outstanding Notes.

Section 3.8. HYDO REDEMPTION. If, without the payment with respect to the HYDO Redemption Amount contemplated herein, the Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(l) of the Code, at the end of each “accrual period” (as defined in Section 1272(a)(5) of the Code) ending after the fifth anniversary of the Notes’ issuance (each, a “HYDO Determination Date”), the Issuer will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Note then outstanding equal to the “HYDO Redemption Amount” (each such redemption, a “HYDO Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each Note redeemed pursuant to any

 

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HYDO Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. “HYDO Redemption Amount” means, as of each HYDO Determination Date, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the Notes, over (b) an amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the Notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the Notes. No partial redemption or repurchase of the Notes prior to any HYDO Determination Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture will alter the Issuer’s obligation to make any HYDO Redemption with respect to any Notes that remain outstanding on such HYDO redemption date.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this section, after the first HYDO Determination Date, the Issuer shall not be permitted to pay PIK Interest for any Interest Period (and must pay Cash Interest) to the extent paying PIK Interest would cause the accrued and unpaid interest and original issue discount on the Notes to exceed the amount described in clause (b) of the definition of HYDO Redemption Amount.

Not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to each HYDO Determination Date, the Issuer shall calculate the HYDO Redemption Amount and provide notice to the Trustee of the HYDO Redemption Amount and the number of Notes to be redeemed on such HYDO Determination Date. Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.8 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.1 through 3.6.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.1. PAYMENT OF NOTES. The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and Cash Interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 12:00 noon Eastern time on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and Cash Interest then due. PIK Interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee is directed on or prior to such date to issue PIK Notes or increase the principal amount of the Notes, in each case in an amount equal to the amount of applicable PIK Interest. The Issuer shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and herein. The Issuer shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same form of payment elected by the Issuer for the payment of interest with respect to the applicable Interest Period.

The Issuer shall pay interest (including Accrued Bankruptcy Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including Accrued Bankruptcy Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY. The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such

 

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office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Issuer and the Guarantors shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.3 hereof.

Section 4.3. REPORTS TO HOLDERS.

(a) Whether or not the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee, within 5 days after the Issuer is or would have been (if the Issuer was subject to such reporting obligations) required to file such with the Commission, annual and quarterly financial statements substantially equivalent to financial statements that would have been included in reports if the Issuer were subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including, with respect to annual information only, a report thereon by the Issuer’s certified independent public accountants, and, in each case, together with a management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations which would be so required and, from and after the registration of the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, unless the Commission will not accept such reports, file with the Commission the annual, quarterly and other reports which it is or would have been required to file with the Commission; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission, (A) consolidating footnotes as required by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X in any such financial statements will not be required for financial statement provided in respect of any financial period ending prior to December 31, 2007, (B) no certifications or attestations concerning the financial statements or disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls that would otherwise be required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will be required to be included in or accompany any financial statements, (C) financial statements shall not be required to include any financial schedules required by Regulation S-X, (D) financial statements shall not be required pursuant to Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X except in respect of completed acquisitions for the most recent fiscal year of the acquired business and subsequent interim periods, and shall not be required to include more information than the financial statements of the Issuer, and (E) no financial statements of unconsolidated entities that would be required pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X shall be required.

(b) Unless the information required by Section 4.3(c) to be delivered is electronically available on EDGAR (or any successor system for reports with the Commission), including on a registration statement on Form S-4, the Issuer will distribute such information and such reports electronically to the Trustee, and will make them available upon request to any Holder, any beneficial owner of the Notes, any prospective investor, any securities analyst and any market maker in the Notes by posting such information and reports on the Issuer’s website, Intralinks or any comparable online data system and the provision of such information through such online data system shall satisfy the Issuer’s obligation to deliver such information pursuant to Section 4.3(a).

(c) In the event that (1) the rules and regulations of the Commission permit the Issuer and any Parent Entity to report at such Parent Entity’s level on a consolidated basis and (2) such Parent Entity is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the Capital Stock of the Issuer and its Affiliates, the information and reports required by this Section 4.3 may be those of such Parent Entity on a consolidated basis; provided that

 

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such information and reports distinguish in all material respects between the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and such Parent Entity and its other subsidiaries, if any; provided, further, that if such Parent Entity’s capitalization (including cash, Cash Equivalents and Indebtedness) differs from that of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in any material respect, such information and reports will include annual and quarterly financial statements substantially equivalent to the financial statements that would have been included in reports filed with the Commission, if the Issuer were subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including, with respect to annual information only, a report thereon by the Issuer’s certified independent public accountants.

(d) To the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, Holders and prospective purchasers that are “qualified institutional buyers” (as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) shall have the right to obtain from the Issuer and the Guarantors, upon request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under the foregoing clauses (a) through (d) of this Section 4.3 for purposes of Section 6.1(c) until 30 days after the date any financial statements or reports hereunder are due.

(f) The Issuer will hold a conference call for all the Holders and securities analysts to discuss such financial information no later than (i) ten Business Days after distribution of such information pursuant to Section 4.3(b) in the case of quarterly financial information other than for the end of a fiscal year, and (ii) fifteen Business Days after the distribution of such information pursuant to Section 4.3(b) in the case of annual financial information, and, in each case, will give prior notice to Holders of such calls at least two Business Days prior to such conference call. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under the foregoing for purposes of Section 6.1(c) until 10 days after receipt of a written notice from the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the outstanding Notes directing the Issuer to hold such conference call.

(g) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, no later than ten Business Days after the Issuer actually delivers the annual financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.3(a) to the Trustee, a certificate of an Officer containing the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments that the Issuer and its Subsidiaries could have made as of the end of the fiscal year covered by such annual financial statements pursuant to clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 4.9.

Section 4.4. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE.

(a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuer and its Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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(b) The Issuer shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within five Business Days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.5. TAXES. The Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Guarantors to satisfy their obligations under the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture.

Section 4.6. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS. The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.7. LIMITATION ON INCURRENCE OF ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS AND DISQUALIFIED CAPITAL STOCK. Except as set forth in this Section 4.7, the Issuer shall not and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, issue, assume, guaranty, incur, become directly or indirectly liable with respect to (including as a result of an acquisition), or otherwise become responsible for, contingently or otherwise (individually and collectively, to “incur” or, as appropriate, an “incurrence”), any Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock and Acquired Indebtedness), other than Permitted Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the foregoing if:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of, or would occur after giving effect on a pro forma basis to, such incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof; and

(2) on the date of such incurrence (the “Incurrence Date”), the Issuer’s Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Reference Period immediately preceding the Incurrence Date for which internal financial statements of the Issuer are available, after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, would be at least 2.0 to 1.0 (the “Debt Incurrence Ratio”), then the Issuer and the Guarantors may incur such Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock and Acquired Indebtedness).

In addition, the foregoing limitations of the first and second paragraphs of this Section 4.7 will not prohibit:

(a) the Issuer’s incurrence or the incurrence by any Subsidiary of (1) Purchase Money Indebtedness, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that (A) the amount of such Indebtedness shall not constitute more than 100% of the Issuer’s cost or the cost to such Subsidiary (determined in accordance with GAAP in good faith by the Issuer), as applicable, of the property so purchased, constructed, improved or leased, (B) such Indebtedness is not incurred to acquire the Capital Stock of any Person, and (C) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (1) shall not exceed $50,000,000; (2) Capital Lease

 

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Obligations; (3) Indebtedness for the financing of insurance premiums; and (4) any Refinancing of Indebtedness described in clause (2) or (3); provided, that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to clauses (2), (3) and (4) of this clause (a) shall not exceed $20,000,000,

(b) the Issuer’s incurrence or the incurrence by any Guarantor of Indebtedness in an aggregate amount incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (b) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof of up to $25,000,000;

(c) the Issuer’s incurrence or the incurrence by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness pursuant to the Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (c) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) of up to $1,225,000,000, with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the full amount thereof, minus the amount of any such Indebtedness (1) retired with the Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale applied to permanently reduce the outstanding amounts or the commitments with respect to such Indebtedness pursuant to clause (b) of the third paragraph of Section 4.12 hereof or (2) assumed by a transferee in an Asset Sale;

(d) the incurrence by any Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate amount incurred and outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (d) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) of up to $20,000,000; and

(e) Existing Indebtedness and the incurrence by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.7:

(i) Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of any Person which is outstanding at the time such Person becomes one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries (including upon designation of any subsidiary or other Person as a Subsidiary) or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have been incurred at the time such Person becomes or is designated one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries as applicable.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.7, but only to avoid duplication, a guarantee of the Issuer’s Indebtedness or of the Indebtedness of a Subsidiary incurred in accordance with the terms of this Indenture will not constitute a separate incurrence, or amount outstanding, of Indebtedness. Upon each incurrence the Issuer may designate (and later redesignate) in the Issuer’s sole discretion pursuant to which provision of this Section 4.7 or the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” any Indebtedness is being incurred and the Issuer may subdivide an amount of Indebtedness and designate (and later redesignate) more than one such provision pursuant to which such amount of Indebtedness is being incurred and such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been incurred or outstanding under any other provision of this Section 4.7 or the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness.” Accrual of interest or dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock paid in kind, changes in obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations, and any increase as a result of currency fluctuations will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.7.

 

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(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, outstanding Indebtedness shall be determined without duplication of Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

(iv) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

(v) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Section 4.8. LIMITATION ON LIENS. The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind, other than Permitted Liens, upon any of their respective assets now owned or acquired on or after the Issue Date or upon any income or profits therefrom securing any of the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, unless the Issuer provides, and cause the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to provide, concurrently therewith, that the Notes and the applicable Guarantees are equally and ratably so secured for so long as such other Indebtedness is secured by such Lien; provided that if such Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, the Lien securing such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be contractually subordinate and junior to the Lien securing the Notes (and any related applicable Guarantees) with the same relative priority as such Subordinated Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Notes (and any related applicable Guarantees).

Section 4.9. LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS. The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payment if, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis:

(1) a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(2) the Issuer is not permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth in Section 4.7; or

(3) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, including after giving effect to such proposed Restricted Payment on and after the Issue Date, would exceed, without duplication, the sum of:

(a) 50% of the Issuer’s aggregate Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on the first day of the first full fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to and including the last day of the most recent fiscal period for which internal financial statements are available (or, in the event Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, then minus 100% of such deficit), plus

 

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(b) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer from a Capital Contribution or from the sale of the Issuer’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or of debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than (i) to one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, (ii) the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer from a Capital Contribution or from the sale of the Issuer’s Equity Interests in connection with the Merger and Related Financing Transactions, (iii) to the extent applied in connection with a Qualified Exchange, (iv) Excluded Contributions, or (v) used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (a)(ii)(A) of the following paragraph, or, to avoid duplication, otherwise given credit for in any provision of the following paragraph), after the Issue Date, plus

(c) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash, less the cost of disposition, by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or

(ii) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Subsidiary pursuant to paragraph (i) of the following paragraph of this Section 4.9 or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

(d) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the Fair Market Value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary, not to exceed the amount of Investments previously made by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in such Person through the designation of such Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

The foregoing clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.9, however, will not prohibit:

(a) (i) other Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (a)(i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000, and (ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, payments of cash dividends to any Parent Entity for repurchases of Equity Interests, or regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Restricted Payments in the form of repurchase of Equity Interest in exchange for subordinated Indebtedness described in clause (13) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness,” in each case, from the Issuer’s employees, distributors or directors (or their heirs or estates) or employees or directors (or their heirs or estates) of, any Parent Entity or any Subsidiary of the Issuer upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment, provided such repurchases are made with the proceeds of such dividends within ten Business Days of the payment of such dividends, provided, further, that, the aggregate amount of such repurchases (x) in any calendar year does not exceed $5,000,000, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to the immediately succeeding calendar year and (y) the aggregate

 

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amount of such repurchases after the Issue Date shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate; provided, still further, that such amounts specified above relating to calendar and aggregate limits may be increased by an amount equal to

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any Parent Entity, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests are not Excluded Contributions and have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.9; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary after the Issue Date; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (a)(ii);

(b) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Capital Stock issued after the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.7 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charges”;

(c) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee (i) with Excess Proceeds to the extent such Excess Proceeds are permitted to be used for general corporate purposes under Section 4.12 or (ii) with, after the completion of a Change in Control Offer pursuant to the terms of Section 4.13, cash offered to redeem Notes pursuant to such Change of Control Offer less any cash paid to Holders of the Notes pursuant to such Change in Control Offer;

(d) the declaration and payment of any dividend, distribution or other payments by any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries on its Equity Interests that is paid pro rata to all holders of such Equity Interests;

(e) a Qualified Exchange;

(f) the payment of any dividend on shares of Capital Stock within 60 days after the date of its declaration if such dividend could have been made on the date of such declaration in compliance with the foregoing provisions;

(g) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price thereof;

(h) payments to a Parent Entity (or a subsidiary of a Parent Entity), pursuant to this clause (h), (1) to enable the Parent Entity to pay Federal, state or local tax liabilities (any such payments to a Parent Entity, a “Tax Payment”), not to exceed the amount of any tax liabilities that would be otherwise payable by the Issuer and its United States subsidiaries to the appropriate taxing authorities to the extent that the Parent Entity has an obligation to pay such tax liabilities relating to the operations, assets, or capital of the Issuer or its United States subsidiaries; provided that (x) notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of determining the amount of a Tax Payment that is permitted to be paid by the

 

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Issuer and any of its United States subsidiaries in respect of their consolidated Federal income tax liability, or consolidated, combined, unitary or group, state or local income tax liability, such payment shall be determined assuming that the Issuer is the parent company of an affiliated group (the “Company Affiliated Group”) filing a consolidated Federal income tax return or consolidated, combined, unitary, or group, state or local income tax return, and that the Parent Entity and each such United States subsidiary is a member of the Issuer Affiliated Group and (y) any Tax Payments shall either be used by the Parent Entity to pay such tax liabilities within 90 days of the Parent Entity’s (or a subsidiary of a Parent Entity) receipt of such payment or refunded to the payee, (2) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 during any calendar year, in each case in order to pay legal and accounting expenses, payroll and other compensation expenses in the ordinary course of business, and filing and listing fees and other corporate overhead expenses in the ordinary course of business, and (3) in order to pay the fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Issuer, related to any unsuccessful equity of such Parent Entity. For purposes of this clause (h), “tax liabilities” shall include any penalties and interest related to a tax liability;

(i) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances to any Parent Entity to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of, or issuance of Capital Stock in lieu of cash dividends on, any Capital Stock of any Parent Entity, up to an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (i) not to exceed $1,000,000;

(j) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions; and

(k) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Merger and the Related Financing Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto.

The full amount of any Restricted Payment made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) and (d) (but not pursuant to clause (a), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k)) of the immediately preceding sentence, however, will be counted as Restricted Payments made for purposes of the calculation of the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments available to be made referred to in clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.9.

For purposes of this Section 4.9, the amount of any Restricted Payment made or returned, if other than in cash, shall be the Fair Market Value thereof, as determined in the good faith reasonable judgment of the Issuer’s Board of Directors, unless stated otherwise, at the time made or returned, as applicable.

Section 4.10. LIMITATION ON DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES. The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, assume or suffer to exist any consensual restriction on the ability of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to or on behalf of, or to pay any obligation to or on behalf of, or otherwise to transfer assets or property to or on behalf of, or make or pay loans or advances to or on behalf of, the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, except:

(1) restrictions imposed by the Notes or this Indenture or by the Issuer’s other Indebtedness (which may also be guaranteed by the Guarantors) ranking senior or pari passu with the Notes or the Guarantees, as applicable, provided that such restrictions are no more restrictive taken as a whole than those imposed by this Indenture and the Notes;

(2) restrictions imposed by applicable law;

 

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(3) existing restrictions on Existing Indebtedness and restrictions that are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than such existing restrictions, on Refinancing Indebtedness thereof;

(4) restrictions under any Acquired Indebtedness not incurred in violation of this Indenture or any agreement (including any Equity Interest) relating to any property, asset, or business acquired by the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, which restrictions in each case existed at the time of acquisition, were not put in place in connection with or in anticipation of such acquisition and are not applicable to any Person, other than the Person acquired, or to any property, asset or business, other than the property, assets and business so acquired;

(5) restrictions imposed by Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities or other Senior Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 4.7; provided that such restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those imposed by the Credit Facilities;

(6) restrictions with respect solely to any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries imposed pursuant to a binding agreement which has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or any assets of such Subsidiary; provided that such restrictions apply solely to the Equity Interests or assets of such Subsidiary which are being sold or, in the case of a sale of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, the cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Subsidiary;

(7) restrictions on transfer contained in Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 4.7; provided that such restrictions relate only to the transfer of the property acquired, constructed, installed or improved with the proceeds of such Purchase Money Indebtedness;

(8) customary provisions with respect to joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(9) restrictions contained in Indebtedness incurred under clause (b) under Section 4.7;

(10) restrictions contained in Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.7; provided that such restrictions relate only to one or more Foreign Subsidiaries;

(11) [RESERVED];

(12) customary restrictions on deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(13) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses or similar agreements, including those with respect to intellectual property and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(14) customary restrictions contained in any Hedging Obligation that is Permitted Indebtedness; and

(15) in connection with and pursuant to permitted refinancings, amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings or replacements of restrictions imposed pursuant to clauses (1), (3), (4), (7), (14) or this clause (15) of this paragraph that are not more restrictive taken as a whole than those being replaced and do not apply to any other Person or assets than those that would have been covered by the restrictions in the Indebtedness so refinanced.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with industry practice shall not be prohibited by the foregoing and (b) any asset subject to a Lien which is not prohibited to exist with respect to such asset pursuant to the terms of this Indenture may be subject to customary restrictions on the transfer or disposition thereof pursuant to such Lien.

Section 4.11. LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Neither the Issuer nor any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries shall be permitted on or after the Issue Date to enter into or amend any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction with any Affiliate (an “Affiliate Transaction”), or any series of related Affiliate Transactions (other than Exempted Affiliate Transactions), (1) unless it is determined that the terms of such Affiliate Transactions are fair and reasonable to the Issuer, and no less favorable to the Issuer than could have been obtained in an arm’s length transaction with a non-Affiliate, and (2) if involving consideration to either party in excess of $10,000,000, unless such Affiliate Transaction(s) has been approved by a majority of the members of the Issuer’s Board of Directors (including a majority of members of the Issuer’s Board of Directors that are disinterested in such transaction, if there are any directors who are so disinterested), and (3) if involving consideration to either party in excess of $20,000,000, unless, in addition the Issuer, prior to the consummation thereof, obtain a written favorable opinion, which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications, as to the fairness of such transaction to the Issuer from a financial point of view from an independent investment banking firm of national reputation in the United States or an appraisal or valuation firm of national reputation in the United States. Within 10 days of any Affiliate Transaction(s) involving consideration to either party of $10,000,000 or more (other than Exempted Affiliate Transactions), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate addressed to the Trustee certifying that such Affiliate Transaction(s) were made in compliance with this Indenture and a copy of the board resolutions and opinion as to the fairness of such transaction, as applicable.

Section 4.12. LIMITATION ON SALE OF ASSETS AND SUBSIDIARY STOCK. The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, in one or a series of related transactions, convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of their property, business or assets, including by merger or consolidation (in the case of one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries), and including any sale or other transfer or issuance of any Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, whether by the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or through the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests by one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries and including any sale and leaseback transaction, other than in any such case to the Issuer or another Subsidiary and other than sales of Disqualified Capital Stock in compliance with Section 4.7 (any of the foregoing, an “Asset Sale”), unless:

(1) at least 75% of the total consideration for such Asset Sale or series of related Asset Sales consists of cash, Cash Equivalents, Related Business Assets or a combination thereof;

(2) with respect to any Asset Sale or related series of Asset Sales involving a conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of securities, property or assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $10,000,000, senior management determines in good faith that the Issuer shall receive or such Subsidiary shall receive, as applicable, Fair Market Value for such Asset Sale; and

(3) with respect to any Asset Sale or related series of Asset Sales involving a conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of securities, property or assets with an

 

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aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $15,000,000, the Issuer’s Board of Directors determines in good faith that the Issuer receive or such Subsidiary receives, as applicable, Fair Market Value for such Asset Sale.

For purposes of clause (1) above of this Section 4.12, the following shall be deemed cash consideration: (x) Senior Indebtedness or balance sheet liabilities (other than contingent liabilities) assumed by a transferee in connection with such Asset Sale; provided that the Issuer is and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are fully released from obligations in connection therewith; (y) property that within 135 days of such Asset Sale is converted into cash or Cash Equivalents; and (z) any non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other non-cash consideration received pursuant to this clause (z) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25,000,000, with the Fair Market Value of each item of non-cash consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents shall be treated as Net Cash Proceeds attributable to the original Asset Sale for which such property was received.

Within 365 days following such Asset Sale, the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom (the “Asset Sale Amount”) may be:

(a) invested in Related Business Assets, used to make Restricted Investments that are not prohibited by Section 4.9;

(b) used to retire Senior Indebtedness or Indebtedness of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries; provided that if such Senior Indebtedness is Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, the Issuer will permanently reduce the amount of such Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (c) of Section 4.7, provided that in the case of a revolver or similar arrangement that makes credit available, such commitment is so permanently reduced by such amount;

(c) applied to the optional redemption of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and to the optional redemption of other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to repurchase such Indebtedness with the proceeds from such Asset Sale, pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding; or

(d) applied in any combination of the foregoing.

Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds, the Issuer may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Cash Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

The accumulated Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Sales not applied as set forth in the preceding paragraph shall constitute Excess Proceeds. Within 30 days after the date that the amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25,000,000, the Issuer shall apply an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds (rounded down to the nearest $1,000) (the “Asset Sale Offer Amount”) by making an offer to repurchase the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to make an offer to purchase such Indebtedness with the proceeds from such Asset Sale pursuant to a cash offer (subject only to conditions required by applicable law, if any), pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding (the “Asset Sale Offer”). The Issuer will offer to purchase the Notes in the Asset Sale Offer at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes (the “Asset

 

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Sale Offer Price”), together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) to the date of payment. Each Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for 20 Business Days following its commencement (the “Asset Sale Offer Period”).

Upon expiration of the Asset Sale Offer Period, the Issuer shall apply the Asset Sale Offer Amount plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages) if any, to the purchase of all Indebtedness properly tendered in accordance with the provisions hereof (on a pro rata basis if the Asset Sale Offer Amount is insufficient to purchase all Indebtedness so tendered) at the Asset Sale Offer Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) to the date of payment, in the case of any Notes that have been tendered, and the price required by the terms of any such other pari passu Indebtedness with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to make an offer to purchase such Indebtedness with the proceeds from such Asset Sale. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Asset Sale Offer Amount, the Issuer may use any remaining Net Cash Proceeds for general corporate purposes as otherwise permitted by this Indenture and following the consummation of each Asset Sale Offer the Excess Proceeds amount shall be reset to zero.

Notwithstanding, and without complying with, the provisions of this Section 4.12:

(1) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may, in the ordinary course of business, convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of inventory and other assets acquired and held for resale in the ordinary course of business;

(2) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may liquidate Cash Equivalents;

(3) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of assets pursuant to and in accordance with Section 5.1;

(4) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell or dispose of damaged, worn out or other obsolete personal property in the ordinary course of business so long as such property is no longer necessary for the proper conduct of the Issuer’s business or the business of such Subsidiary, as applicable;

(5) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may surrender or waive contract rights or settle, release or surrender contract, tort or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(6) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may grant Liens (and permit foreclosure thereon) not prohibited by this Indenture;

(7) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell or grant licenses to use the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary’s intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business, other than the licensing of intellectual property on a long-term basis;

(8) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell assets received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary upon the foreclosure on a Lien;

(9) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may sell or exchange equipment in connection with the purchase or other acquisition of other equipment;

 

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(10) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may dispose any Capital Stock or other ownership interest in or assets or rights of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(11) the Issuer may and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may make conveyances, sales, assignments or other dispositions that constitute Permitted Investments (excluding clauses (1), (2) and (3) in the definition thereof) and Restricted Payments not prohibited by Section 4.9;

(12) the Issuer may, and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries may, in one or a series of related transactions, sell or dispose of assets for which the Issuer or the Issuer’s Subsidiaries receive aggregate consideration of less than $10,000,000;

(13) a Subsidiary of the Issuer may dispose of property or assets to the Issuer and the Issuer or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer may dispose of property or assets to another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(14) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code or any comparable or successor provision, engage in any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Related Business;

(15) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may lease, assign or sub-lease any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(16) foreclosures, condemnation or any similar action on assets shall not be subject to this Section 4.12;

(17) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may sell or discount inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or convert accounts receivable to notes receivable in the ordinary course of business;

(18) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may unwind any Hedging Obligation; and

(19) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of property or assets described in Schedule 9.4 of the credit facility described in clause (1) of the definition of Credit Facility.

All Net Cash Proceeds in excess of $10,000,000 from an Event of Loss shall be reinvested or used as otherwise provided above in clauses (a) or (b) or the first paragraph of this Section 4.12.

Any Asset Sale Offer shall be made in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including, if applicable, Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the Issuer’s compliance or the compliance of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of the Issuer’s obligations under this Section 4.12.

If the payment date in connection with an Asset Sale Offer hereunder is on or after the Record Date for an Interest Payment Date and on or before the associated Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) due on such Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

 

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Section 4.13. REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that a Change of Control has occurred, each Holder of Notes will have the right, at such Holder’s option, pursuant to an offer (subject only to conditions required by applicable law, if any) by the Issuer (the “Change of Control Offer”), to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes (provided that the principal amount of such Notes must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; provided, however, that the principal amount of PIK Notes in definitive form must be $1.00 or an integral multiple thereof) on a date (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”) that is no later than 60 calendar days after the occurrence of such Change of Control, at a cash price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”), together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), to the Change of Control Purchase Date.

The Change of Control Offer shall be made within 30 calendar days following a Change of Control and shall remain open for 20 Business Days following its commencement, or such other period as may be required by applicable law (the “Change of Control Offer Period”). Upon expiration of the Change of Control Offer Period, the Issuer shall purchase all Notes properly tendered in response to the Change of Control Offer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer, including any requirements to repay in full all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, any of the Issuer’s other Senior Indebtedness or Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor or obtain the consents of such lenders to such Change of Control Offer as set forth in the following paragraph, and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (2) the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described above in Section 3.7.

Prior to the commencement of a Change of Control Offer, but in any event within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer will:

(1) (a) repay in full in cash and terminate all commitments under Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities and all other Senior Indebtedness the terms of which require repayment upon a Change of Control or (b) offer to repay in full and terminate all commitments under all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities and all such other Senior Indebtedness and repay the Indebtedness owed to each lender which has accepted such offer in full; or

(2) obtain the requisite consents under the Credit Facilities and all such other Senior Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided herein.

The Issuer’s failure to comply with the preceding sentence shall constitute an Event of Default described in Section 6.1(c).

On or before the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Issuer will:

(1) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent cash sufficient to pay the Change of Control Purchase Price (together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) to the Change of Control Purchase Date) of all Notes so tendered; and

 

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(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate listing the Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Issuer.

The Issuer will promptly pay or cause to be paid to the Holders of the Notes so accepted an amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price (together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) to the Change of Control Purchase Date) and the Trustee promptly will authenticate and deliver to such Holders a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Notes not so accepted will be delivered promptly by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Purchase Date.

Any Change of Control Offer will be made in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, if applicable, Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.13, the Issuer’s compliance or compliance by any of the Guarantors with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of their obligations under this Section 4.13.

If the Change of Control Purchase Date hereunder is on or after an interest payment Record Date and on or before the associated Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) due on such Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

Section 4.14. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS. (a) The Issuer shall cause all of the Issuer’s present and future Subsidiaries that guarantee the obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (other than solely obligations of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries) under the Credit Facilities, to jointly and severally guaranty all principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on a senior subordinated basis by executing a supplemental indenture, substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries (including Foreign Subsidiaries) that is not a Guarantor guarantees any of the Issuer’s other Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness of the Guarantors, or the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, individually or collectively, pledges more than 66% of the Voting Equity Interests of a Subsidiary (including Foreign Subsidiaries) that is not a Guarantor to a lender to secure the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, then such Subsidiary must become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture, substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

Section 4.15. [RESERVED].

Section 4.16. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES AND INSURANCE. The Issuer and the Guarantors shall cause all material properties used or useful to the conduct of their business and the business of each of their Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in their reasonable judgment may be necessary, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.16 shall prevent the Issuer or any Guarantor from discontinuing any operation or maintenance of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is (a) (i) in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, desirable in the conduct of the business of such entity and (ii) would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Guarantors to satisfy their obligations under the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, (b) as otherwise permitted under Section 4.12.

 

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The Issuer and Guarantors shall provide, or cause to be provided, for themselves and each of their Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Issuer is adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Issuer, the Guarantors and such Subsidiaries.

Section 4.17. CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to Article V hereof, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (a) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Subsidiary and (b) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer to satisfy its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture.

Section 4.18. LIMITATION ON LAYERING INDEBTEDNESS. The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, incur, or suffer to exist any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinate in right of payment to any of the Issuer’s other Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness of a Guarantor unless, by its terms, such Indebtedness is contractually subordinate in right of payment to, or ranks pari passu with, the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, including, Sections 4.7 and 4.8, the Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, incur, or suffer to exist (a) any Indebtedness that is secured by any Liens that have any form of subordinated lien priority with respect to the Liens securing any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors, or (b) any Indebtedness secured by a common Lien with other Indebtedness, subject to a payment waterfall or similar arrangement whereby one item of Indebtedness has priority over the other in its right to receive proceeds of collateral covered by such common Lien, in each case, other than:

(1) Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.7 clause (c) may be secured by Liens with respect to assets (the “Purchase Money Debt Common Collateral”) which also secure Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 4.7 clause (a) and the Liens securing the Credit Facilities may have a subordinate priority with respect to the Purchase Money Debt Common Collateral to the Liens securing such Purchase Money Indebtedness; and

(2) if any of the Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.7 clause (c) is incurred pursuant to an asset based-revolving loan facility (the “ABL Facility”) that makes credit available based on the value of the obligors’ current assets that are collateral for such facility (the “ABL Common Collateral”) and at the same time Indebtedness is incurred under the Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.7 clause (c) in the form of one or more term loans (the “Term Loans”), the Liens securing the Term Loans may have a subordinate priority, consistent with customary practice, with respect to any of the ABL Common Collateral, to the Liens securing the ABL Facility, and the Liens securing the ABL Facility may have a subordinate priority, consistent with customary practice, with respect to any of the assets securing the Term Loans, to the Liens securing the Term Loans.

 

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Section 4.19. SUSPENSION OF COVENANTS. During any period of time that (a) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will not be subject to Section 4.7, Section 4.9, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.12, Section 4.13, Section 4.14 and Section 4.18 and clause (3) of Section 5.1 (collectively, the “Suspended Covenant”). In the event that the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenant under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies (x) withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to such series of Notes below an Investment Grade Rating and/or (y) the Issuer or any of its Affiliates enters into an agreement to effect a transaction that would result in a Change of Control and one or more of the Rating Agencies indicate that if consummated, such transaction (alone or together with any related recapitalization or refinancing transactions) would cause such Rating Agency to withdraw its Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the ratings assigned to such series of Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenant under this Indenture with respect to future events, including, without limitation, a proposed transaction described in clause (y) of this paragraph. Notwithstanding any provision in this Indenture to the contrary during the period when a Suspended Covenant is in effect (a “Suspension Period”), (A) the amount of Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales shall be reset to zero and (B) no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer or any Subsidiary prior to the Reversion Date will give rise to a Default or Event of Default, provided that (A) with respect to Restricted Payments made after the Reversion Date, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though the limitations contained in Section 4.9 had been in effect prior to, but not during such Suspension Period and (B) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Capital Stock issued, during such Suspension Period will be deemed to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.7(e).

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.1. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS. Except for the Merger, the Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge with or into another Person or, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, convey or transfer all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets (such amounts to be computed on a consolidated basis), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, to another Person or group of affiliated Persons or adopt a plan of liquidation, unless:

(1) either (a) the Issuer is the continuing entity or (b) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity or, in the case of a plan of liquidation, the entity which receives the greatest value from such plan of liquidation, is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of the Issuer’s obligations in connection with the Notes and this Indenture;

(2) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall occur immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such transaction;

(3) unless such transaction is solely the merger of the Issuer and one of the Issuer’s previously existing Wholly Owned Subsidiaries which is also a Guarantor for the purpose of reincorporation into another jurisdiction, which transaction is not for the purpose of evading the restrictions imposed by this Indenture, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, either (a) the consolidated resulting, surviving or transferee entity would immediately thereafter be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt Incurrence Ratio set forth

 

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in Section 4.7 or (b) so long as the Debt Incurrence Ratio prior to such transaction is greater than 1.25 to 1.0, the Debt Incurrence Ratio for the resulting, surviving or transferee entity would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(4) each Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.1(1)(b) shall apply) shall have, by amendment to its Guarantee set forth in this Indenture, if necessary confirmed in writing that its Guarantee shall apply to the obligations of the Issuer or the surviving entity in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture.

Notwithstanding clauses (2) and (3) of this Section 5.1, (a) any Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer, and (b) the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

Section 5.2. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED. Upon any consolidation or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets in accordance with the foregoing, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to and (except in the case of a lease or any transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets) be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named therein as the Issuer, and (except in the case of a lease or any transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets) the Issuer shall be released from the obligations under the Notes and this Indenture except with respect to any obligations that arise from, or are related to, such transaction.

For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries, the Issuer’s interest in which constitutes all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties and assets, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties and assets.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events:

(a) the Issuer’s failure to pay any installment of interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes as and when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for 30 days;

(b) the Issuer’s failure to pay all or any part of the principal, or premium, if any, on the Notes when and as the same becomes due and payable at maturity, redemption, by acceleration or otherwise, including, without limitation, payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price or the Asset Sale Offer Price, on Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable;

(c) the Issuer’s failure or the failure by any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the Notes or this Indenture and, except for the provisions under Section 3.8, Section 4.13, and Section 5.1 hereof, the continuance of such failure for a

 

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period of 30 days after written notice is given to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding (provided that, if applicable, failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor to comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the TIA will not in itself be deemed a Default or an Event of Default under this Indenture);

(d) a default in the Issuer’s Indebtedness or the Indebtedness any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries with an aggregate amount outstanding in excess of $25,000,000 (i) resulting from the failure to pay principal at maturity or (ii) as a result of which the maturity of such Indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its stated maturity;

(e) final unsatisfied judgments not covered by insurance aggregating in excess of $25,000,000, at any one time rendered against the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries and not paid, stayed, bonded or discharged within 60 days after such judgments become final;

(f) any Guarantee of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect or becomes unenforceable or invalid or is declared null and void (other than in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee and this Indenture) or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its Obligations under its Guarantee;

(g) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a decree or order for (A) relief in respect of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable Bankruptcy Law now or hereafter in effect, (B) appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, Custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or (C) the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary and, in each case, such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(h) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (A) commences a voluntary case under any applicable Bankruptcy Law now or hereafter in effect, or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, (B) consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, Custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or (C) effects any general assignment for the benefit of creditors. If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee must, within 90 days after the receipt of notice of such Default, give to the Holders notice of such Default.

Section 6.2. ACCELERATION. (a) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1 (g) or (h) hereof relating to the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Significant Subsidiaries,) then in every such case, unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) (an “Acceleration Notice”), may declare all principal, determined as set forth below, and accrued interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that if any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding pursuant to the Credit Facilities, upon a declaration of such acceleration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the fifth Business Day after sending the Issuer and the representative under the Credit Facilities such written notice, unless such Event of Default is cured or waived prior to such date and (y) the date of acceleration of any Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities. In the event a declaration of acceleration resulting from an Event of Default described in Section 6.1(d) hereof has occurred and is continuing, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if (i) the Indebtedness or Guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged, (ii) such default is cured, (iii)

 

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such default is waived or (iv) the Holders of the Indebtedness which is the subject of such default have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness within 30 days thereof and, with respect to clauses (iii) or (iv), the Trustee has received written notice of such waiver or rescission within 30 days of the declaration of such acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(g) and (h) hereof, relating to the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Significant Subsidiaries occurs, all principal and accrued interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon will be immediately due and payable on all outstanding Notes without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes generally are authorized to rescind such acceleration if all existing Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived.

(b) Prior to the declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may waive on behalf of all the Holders any Default, except a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Note not yet cured or a Default with respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected. Subject to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity.

(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may, on behalf of all of the Holders, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration have been cured or waived).

(d) Notwithstanding clause (c) of this Section 6.2, no waiver shall be effective against any Holder for any Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would be an Event of Default with respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby, unless all such affected Holders agree, in writing, to waive such Event of Default or other event. No such waiver shall cure or waive any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.3. OTHER REMEDIES. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.4. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. Subject to Section 6.7 hereof, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may, on behalf of all Holders, waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences under this Indenture, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, and Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes

 

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(including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related Payment Default that resulted from such acceleration.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right arising therefrom.

Section 6.5. CONTROL BY MAJORITY. Subject to the provisions of this Indenture and applicable law, Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes not joining in the giving of such direction or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability and the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of the Notes.

Section 6.6. LIMITATION ON SUITS. A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

Section 6.7. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.2, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.8. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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Section 6.9. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may be a member of the creditor’s committee.

Section 6.10. PRIORITIES. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.7, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection (including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel);

Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, respectively; and

Third: to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a Record Date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

Section 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

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ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

Section 7.1. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE. (a) If an Event of Default of which the Trustee has knowledge has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Trustee has knowledge:

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an Officer of the Trustee, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2.

(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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Section 7.2. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. (a) In connection with the Trustee’s rights and duties under this Indenture, the Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting under this Indenture, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g) Except with respect to Section 4.1, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Issuer’s covenants in Article IV hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except (i) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Sections 6.1(a), 6.1(b) and 4.1 hereof or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification in the manner set forth in this Indenture or an officer in the corporate trust administration of the Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 4.3 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s, as applicable, compliance with any of their covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).

(h) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee may, in its discretion, make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

Section 7.3. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the TIA) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

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Section 7.4. TRUSTEES DISCLAIMER. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.5. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice in the manner and to the extent provided by Section 313(c) of the TIA of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.6. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES. Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the 12 months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed by the Trustee to the Issuer and filed with the Commission and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 7.7. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer (including this Section 7.7) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.7 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 7.7, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(g) or 6.1(h) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

Section 7.8. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.8.

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of Notes of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer, or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this

 

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Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided, all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.7. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.9. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC. If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or trust company (or a member of a bank holding company) organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has (or the bank holding company of which it is a member has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER. The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 8.1. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. The Issuer may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

Section 8.2. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.2, each of the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable, shall, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 8.4, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees, as applicable, on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Guarantees), which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, such Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.4 hereof, and as more fully set forth in Section 8.4, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article II and Section 4.2, (c) the rights,

 

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powers, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article VIII. Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3.

Section 8.3. COVENANT DEFEASANCE. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 8.4, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations under Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18 and 4.19 and clause (3) of Section 5.1 and the Guarantors shall be released from their obligations under Section 10.3(b), in each case on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes and the Guarantees shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, (x) Sections 6.1(c) through 6.1(g) shall not constitute Events of Default and (y) Sections 6.1(g) and 6.1(h) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default to the extent they occur after the 91st day following the occurrence of the Issuer’s exercise of Covenant Defeasance; provided, however that for all other purposes as set forth herein, such Covenant Defeasance provisions shall be effective.

Section 8.4. CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.2 or 8.3 to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(a) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States legal tender, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in amounts that will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Trustee must have, for the benefit of Holders of the Notes, a valid, perfected exclusive security interest in such trust;

(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.2, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.3, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and in each case the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit and, in the case of an election under Section 8.2, no Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(g) or (h) hereof may occur at any time from the date of the deposit to the 91st calendar day thereafter;

(e) the Defeasance may not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under this Indenture or a default under any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(f) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud any other of the Issuer’s creditors; and

(g) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (a) through (f) above, and an Opinion of Counsel, confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clauses (a) (with respect to the validity and perfection of the security interest), (b), (c) and (e).

If the amount deposited with the Trustee to effect a Defeasance is insufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when due, or if any court enters an order directing the repayment of the deposit to us or otherwise making the deposit unavailable to make payments under the Notes when due, then (so long as the insufficiency exists or the order remains in effect) the Issuer and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes will be revived, and the Defeasance will be deemed not to have occurred.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance shall be deemed to occur on the day on which all of the applicable conditions set forth in this Section 8.4 are satisfied (which shall not be earlier than the 91st day after the date of the deposit described in Section 8.4(a) in the case of Legal Defeasance).

Section 8.5. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Subject to Section 8.6, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof, other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

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Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.4 which, in the opinion of a firm of independent public accountants nationally recognized in the United States expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.4(a)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.6. REPAYMENT TO ISSUER. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its written request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

Section 8.7. REINSTATEMENT. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States legal tender or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2 or 8.3, as the case may be, by reason of any order directing the repayment of the deposited money to the Issuer or otherwise making the deposit unavailable to make payments under the Notes when due, or if any court enters an order avoiding the deposit of money with the Trustee or Paying Agent or otherwise requires the payment of the money so deposited to the Issuer or to a fund for the benefit of its creditors, then (so long as the insufficiency exists or the order remains in effect) the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.3 or 8.4, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

Section 8.8. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes) as to all outstanding Notes when either:

(a) All outstanding Notes, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuer, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) (A) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in

 

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U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(A) the Issuer shall have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be;

(B) such deposit does and will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under this Indenture or a default under any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are a party or are otherwise bound;

(C) the Issuer shall have paid all other amounts payable by the Issuer under this Indenture;

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any other of the Issuer’s creditors; and

(E) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion can be subject to customary qualifications, confirming the satisfaction of the conditions in clause (3) above.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 8.8 and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Indenture and the Notes.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES. Notwithstanding Section 9.2, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee, without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of Definitive Notes or to alter the provisions of Article II hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;

(c) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Issuer pursuant to Article V hereof;

(d) to provide for additional Guarantors as set forth in Section 4.14 or for the release or assumption of a Guarantee in compliance with this Indenture;

(e) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder of the Notes;

 

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(f) to comply with the provisions of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream or the Trustee with respect to the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes relating to transfers and exchanges of Notes or beneficial interests therein;

(g) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(h) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof; and

(i) to provide for the issuance of PIK Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.6, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that adversely affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.2. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES. Except as expressly stated otherwise in this Section 9.2, and subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including, without limitation, the Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class) then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a Payment Default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes).

Subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Issuer or any Subsidiary with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees.

However, without the consent of each Holder affected (it being understood that, except as expressly stated otherwise in paragraphs (a) through (e) below, Sections 4.12 and 4.13 may be amended, waived or modified in accordance with the first paragraph of this Section 9.2) an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) change the Stated Maturity on any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate (or extend the time for payment) of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof at the Issuer’s option, or change the coin or currency in which, any Note or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption at the Issuer’s option, on or after the redemption date), or after an Asset Sale or Change of Control has occurred reduce the Change of Control Purchase Price or the Asset Sale Offer Price with respect to the corresponding Asset Sale or Change of Control or alter the provisions (including the defined terms used therein) regarding the Issuer’s right to redeem the Notes at the Issuer’s option in a manner adverse to the Holders;

 

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(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver provided for in this Indenture; or

(c) modify any of the waiver provisions, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby.

(d) make any changes in the foregoing clauses (a) through (c) or this clause (d) hereof, in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment to the subordination provisions of this Indenture may adversely affect the rights of any holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness then outstanding without the consent of the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give such consent).

In connection with any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Article IX, the Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, offer to any Holder who consents to such amendment, supplement or waiver, or to all Holders, consideration for such Holder’s consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.6 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver.

Section 9.3. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.4. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective (as determined by the Issuer and which may be prior to any such amendment, supplement or waiver becoming operative), a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note

 

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that evidences the same Indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective (as determined by the Issuer), which may be prior to any such amendment, supplement or waiver becoming operative.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which record date shall be the date so fixed by the Issuer notwithstanding the provisions of the TIA. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date, and only those Persons (or their duly designated proxies), shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (d) of Section 9.2, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note; provided that any such waiver shall not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal and premium of and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on a Note, on or after the respective dates set for such amounts to become due and payable expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates.

Section 9.5. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.6. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC. The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Issuer may not sign an amended or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEES

Section 10.1. GUARANTEES. By its execution of a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E, each of the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that it receives substantial benefits from the Issuer and that such party is providing its Guarantee for good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, such substantial benefits and services, and the Holders are relying on the Notes being guaranteed by the Guarantors to the extent required by this Indenture. Accordingly, subject to the provisions of this Article X and Article XI hereof, each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally guarantees on a senior subordinated basis to each Holder of a Note authenticated and

 

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delivered by the Trustee and its successors and assigns that: (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes shall be duly and punctually paid in full or performed when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control Offer, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise, and interest on overdue principal, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any interest, if any, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes (including fees, expenses or other) shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms hereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.5 (collectively, the “Guarantee Obligations”).

Subject to the provisions of this Article X and Article XI hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any thereof, the entry of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes: (a) any right to require the Trustee, the Holders or the Issuer (each, a “Benefited Party”) to proceed against the Issuer, the Subsidiaries or any other Person or to proceed against or exhaust any security held by a Benefited Party at any time or to pursue any other remedy in any secured party’s power before proceeding against the Guarantors; (b) any defense that may arise by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority, death or disability of any other Person or Persons or the failure of a Benefited Party to file or enforce a claim against the estate (in administration, bankruptcy or any other proceeding) of any other Person or Persons; (c) demand, protest and notice of any kind (except as expressly required by this Indenture), including but not limited to notice of the existence, creation or incurring of any new or additional Indebtedness or obligation or of any action or non-action on the part of the Guarantors, the Issuer, the Subsidiaries, any Benefited Party, any creditor of the Guarantors, the Issuer or the Subsidiaries or on the part of any other Person whomsoever in connection with any obligations the performance of which are hereby guaranteed; (d) any defense based upon an election of remedies by a Benefited Party, including but not limited to an election to proceed against the Guarantors for reimbursement; (e) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal; (f) any defense arising because of a Benefited Party’s election, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Law, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; and (g) any defense based on any borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Guarantors hereby covenant that, except as otherwise provided herein, the Guarantees shall not be discharged except by payment in full of all Guarantee Obligations, including the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other costs provided for under this Indenture or as provided in Article VIII hereof.

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, or any trustee, Custodian or liquidator or similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid by the Issuer or the Guarantors to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each of the Guarantors agrees that it shall not be entitled to exercise any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guarantee Obligations hereby until payment in full of all such obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders of Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes hereof, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guarantee Obligations, and (y) in the

 

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event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such Guarantee Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purpose of the Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such rights does not impair the rights of the Holders of the Guarantees.

Section 10.2. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF GUARANTEES. To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.1, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture, as the case may be) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer thereof.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.1 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture, as the case may be) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantees set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

Section 10.3. GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS. (a) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of any Guarantor with or into each other or with or into the Issuer or prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor. Upon any such consolidation or merger, the Guarantee of the Guarantor that does not survive the consolidation, merger or sale shall no longer be of any force or effect.

(b) Except for a merger or consolidation in which a Guarantor is sold and its Guarantee is released in compliance with the provisions of Section 10.4, no Guarantor shall consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person unless, subject to the provisions of Section 10.4 and the other provisions of this Indenture, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which such Person shall guarantee, on a senior subordinated basis, all of such Guarantor’s obligations under such Guarantor’s Guarantee on the terms set forth in this Indenture. In case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Guarantee of the Notes set forth in Section 10.1 and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by such Guarantor, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for such Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. All the Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

(c) The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, shall be entitled to receive an Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation or merger, and any such assumption of Guarantee Obligations, comply with the provisions of this Section 10.3. Such Officers’ Certificate shall comply with the provisions of Section 12.5.

 

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Section 10.4. RELEASE OF GUARANTORS. Notwithstanding Section 10.3(b) hereof, upon the sale or disposition (including by merger or stock purchase) of a Guarantor (as an entirety) or of all or substantially all of its assets to an entity which is not and is not required to become a Guarantor, which transaction is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture (including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 4.12), the exercise by the Issuer of Legal Defeasance (upon such Legal Defeasance becoming effective as provided in Section 8.4) in accordance with Article VIII or the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in accordance with the Indenture, or the designation of a Guarantor to become an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Guarantor will be deemed released from its obligations under its Guarantee of the Notes; provided, however, that any such termination shall occur only to the extent that, following consummation of such transaction, all obligations of such Guarantor under all of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets or other security interests which secure, any of the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any other of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries shall also terminate upon such release, sale or transfer and none of its Equity Interests are pledged for the benefit of any holder of any of the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries.

Any Guarantee that is defeased or discharged in accordance with Article VIII hereof will be released. Furthermore, if any Guarantor became a Guarantor because it guaranteed any of the Issuer’s other Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness of the Guarantors, or, because more than 66% of its Voting Equity Interests were pledged to a lender to secure the Issuer’s Indebtedness or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, and such Guarantor is released from that guarantee, then it shall also be released from its Guarantee under this Indenture.

Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate, to the effect that such sale or other disposition or that such designation was made by the Issuer in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee. Except as provided in Section 10.3(a), any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article X.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article X, (i) any Guarantor whose Guarantee would otherwise be released pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.4 may elect, at its sole discretion, by written notice to the Trustee, to maintain such Guarantee in effect notwithstanding the event or events that otherwise would cause the release of such Guarantee (which election to maintain such Guarantee in effect may be conditional or for a limited period of time), and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Issuer which is not a Guarantor may elect, at its sole discretion, by written notice to the Trustee, to become a Guarantor (which election may be conditional or for a limited period of time).

Section 10.5. LIMITATION OF GUARANTORS LIABILITY; CERTAIN BANKRUPTCY EVENTS. (a) Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee Obligation of such Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the Guarantee Obligations of such Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to such maximum amount and to any collections from rights to receive contributions from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the Guarantee Obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the Guarantee Obligations of such Guarantor under this Article X, resulting in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

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(b) Each Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees, to the fullest extent that it may do so under applicable law, that in the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer, such Guarantor shall not file (or join in any filing of), or otherwise seek to participate in the filing of, any motion or request seeking to stay or to prohibit (even temporarily) execution on the Guarantee and hereby waives and agrees not to take the benefit of any such stay of execution, whether under Section 362 or 105 of the Bankruptcy Law or otherwise.

Section 10.6. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN TERMS AND PROVISIONS TO THE GUARANTORS. (a) For purposes of any provision of this Indenture which provides for the delivery by any Guarantor of an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel, the definitions of such terms in Section 1.1 shall apply to such Guarantor as if references therein to the Issuer were references to such Guarantor.

(b) Any request, direction, order or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is to be made by any Guarantor, shall be sufficient if evidenced as described in Section 12.2 as if references therein to the Issuer were references to such Guarantor.

(c) Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Notes to or on any Guarantor may be given or served as described in Section 12.2 as if references therein to the Issuer were references to such Guarantor.

(d) Upon any demand, request or application by any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as are required in Section 12.4 as if all references therein to the Issuer were references to such Guarantor.

Section 10.7. SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEES. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee pursuant to this Article X is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer as provided for in Article XI hereof. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including as set forth in Article XI hereof. In the event that the Trustee or the Holders receive any payment from a Guarantor at a time when such payment is prohibited by the foregoing sentence, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and immediately paid over and delivered to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay in full in cash all such Senior Indebtedness and to cash collateralize any letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities that remain effective.

ARTICLE XI

SUBORDINATION

Section 11.1. NOTES SUBORDINATED TO SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Issuer and the Guarantors, and each Holder by its acceptance of Notes, agree that (a) the payment of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes and (b) any other payment in respect of the Notes, including on account of the acquisition or redemption of the Notes by the Issuer and the Guarantors (including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 4.12 and 4.13) is subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article XI, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer and the termination or cash collateralization of all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities and that these subordination provisions are for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

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This Article XI shall constitute a continuing offer to all Persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of, or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness and such holders are made obligees hereunder and any one or more of them may enforce such provisions.

Section 11.2. NO PAYMENT ON NOTES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor may make payment (by set-off or otherwise) to the Holders of the Notes on account of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes, or on account of the redemption provisions of the Notes (including any repurchases of Notes), for cash or property (other than Junior Securities): (i) upon the maturity of the Issuer’s Senior Indebtedness or any Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor by lapse of time, acceleration (unless waived) or otherwise, unless and until all principal of, premium, if any, and the interest and other amounts on such Senior Indebtedness are first paid in full in cash and, in the case of Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities shall either have been terminated or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms thereof; or (ii) in the event of default in the payment of any principal of, premium, if any, or interest or other amounts on the Issuer’s Senior Indebtedness or Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, as applicable, when such Senior Indebtedness becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise (a “Payment Default”), unless and until such Payment Default has been cured or waived or otherwise has ceased to exist or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash and all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities have been terminated or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b) Upon (i) the happening of an event of default other than a Payment Default that permits the holders of any Designated Senior Indebtedness to declare such Designated Senior Indebtedness to be due and payable and (ii) written notice of such event of default delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee by the holders or representatives of any Designated Senior Indebtedness (a “Payment Blockage Notice”), then, unless and until such event of default has been cured or waived or otherwise has ceased to exist, no payment (by set-off or otherwise) may be made by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor, in each case, which is an obligor or guarantor under such Designated Senior Indebtedness, to the Holders of the Notes on account of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Liquidated Damages) on the Notes, (including any repurchases of any of the Notes), or on account of the redemption provisions of the Notes, in any such case, other than payments made with Junior Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Designated Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such event of default exists has been declared due and payable in its entirety within 179 days after the Payment Blockage Notice is delivered as set forth above (the “Payment Blockage Period”) (and such declaration has not been rescinded or waived), at the end of the Payment Blockage Period, the Issuer shall and the Guarantors shall be required to pay all sums not previously paid to the Holders of the Notes during the Payment Blockage Period due to the foregoing prohibitions and to resume all other payments as and when due on the Notes.

Any number of Payment Blockage Notices may be given; provided, however, that: (i) not more than one Payment Blockage Notice shall be given within a period of any 360 consecutive days, and (ii) no non-Payment Default that existed upon the date of such Payment Blockage Notice or the commencement of such Payment Blockage Period shall be made the basis for the commencement of any other Payment Blockage Period unless such default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days (for purposes of this provision, any subsequent action, or any subsequent breach of any financial covenant for a period commencing after the expiration of such Payment Blockage Period that, in

 

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either case, would give rise to a new event of default, even though it is an event that would also have been a separate breach pursuant to any provision under which a prior event of default previously existed, shall constitute a new event of default for this purpose).

(c) In furtherance of the provisions of Section 11.1, in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.2 or Section 11.3, any payment or distribution of assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other than Junior Securities) shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.2, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, and shall be immediately paid or delivered by the Trustee or such Holders, as the case may be, to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid for or to their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate principal amounts remaining unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, for application to the payment of all such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full in cash and to cash collateralize all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities that remain outstanding after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.3. NOTES SUBORDINATED TO PRIOR PAYMENT OF ALL SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION OR REORGANIZATION. Upon any distribution of assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor upon any dissolution, winding up, total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or a Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary, in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or a similar proceeding or upon assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshaling of assets or liabilities:

(a) the holders of all of the Issuer’s Senior Indebtedness or such Guarantor’s Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, will first be entitled to receive payment in full in cash and all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities will either have been terminated or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms thereof before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment (other than in the form of Junior Securities) on account of any Obligation in respect of the Notes, including the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (or Liquidated Damages) on the Notes; and

(b) any payment or distribution of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s assets of any kind or character from any source, whether in cash, property or securities (other than Junior Securities) to which the Holders or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders would be entitled (by set-off or otherwise), except for the subordination provisions contained in this Indenture, will be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such a payment or distribution directly to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative to the extent necessary to make payment in full in cash on all such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid and to cash collateralize all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities that remain outstanding, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.4. HOLDERS TO BE SUBROGATED TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. Subject to the termination or cash collateralization of all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities and the payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor as provided herein, the Holders of Notes shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets of the Issuer applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Notes shall be paid in full, and for the purpose of such subrogation no such payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor, or by or on behalf of the Holders by virtue of this Article XI, which

 

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otherwise would have been made to the Holders shall, as between the Issuer or any Guarantor and the Holders, be deemed to be payment by the Issuer or any Guarantor or on account of such Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article XI are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

Section 11.5. RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Article XI defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture shall: (1) impair, as between the Issuer and Holders, the obligation of the Issuer or the obligation of the Guarantors, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay, when due, principal of, premium, if any, and interest on or (if applicable, Liquidated Damages on) the Notes in accordance with their terms; (2) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the Issuer other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Indebtedness; or (3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders.

Section 11.6. TRUSTEE ENTITLED TO ASSUME PAYMENTS NOT PROHIBITED IN ABSENCE OF NOTICE. The Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until a Trust Officer of the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall have received, no later than three Business Days prior to such payment written notice thereof from the Issuer or from one or more holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any representative therefor and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2, shall be entitled in all respects conclusively to assume that no such fact exists.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Notes, upon any distribution of assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors referred to in this Article XI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2, and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XI so long as such court has been apprised of the provisions of, or the order, decree or certificate makes reference to, the provisions of this Article XI.

Section 11.7. APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF ASSETS DEPOSITED WITH IT. Amounts deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article VIII hereof shall be for the sole benefit of Holders and, to the extent the making of such deposit by the Issuer shall (i) not be in contravention of any term or provision of the Credit Facilities when made and (ii) be allocated for the payment of the Notes, shall not be subject to the subordination provisions of this Article XI. Otherwise, any deposit of assets with the Trustee or the Agent (whether or not in trust) for the payment of principal of or interest on any Notes shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4; provided that, if prior to one Business Day preceding the date on which by the terms of this Indenture any such assets may become distributable for any purpose (including without limitation, the payment of either principal of or interest on any Note) the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall not have received with respect to such assets the written notice provided for in Section 11.6, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have full power and authority to receive such assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such date.

 

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Section 11.8. SUBORDINATION RIGHTS NOT IMPAIRED BY ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS OR HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination provisions contained in this Article XI shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Issuer or any Guarantor or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Issuer or any Guarantor with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. The holders of Senior Indebtedness may extend, renew, modify or amend the terms of the Senior Indebtedness or any security therefor and release, sell or exchange such security and otherwise deal freely with the Issuer and the Guarantors, all without affecting the liabilities and obligations of the parties to this Indenture or the Holders. The subordination provisions contained in this Indenture are for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Senior Indebtedness and may not be rescinded, cancelled, amended or modified in any way other than any amendment or modification that is consented to by each holder of Senior Indebtedness that would be adversely affected thereby. The subordination provisions hereof shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Senior Indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any holder of the Senior Indebtedness upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Issuer, any Guarantor, or otherwise, all as though such payment has not been made.

Section 11.9. HOLDERS AUTHORIZE TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION OF NOTES. Each Holder of the Notes by his acceptance thereof authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provisions contained in this Article XI and to protect the rights of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purpose, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Issuer or any Guarantor), the immediate filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of his Notes in the form required in said proceedings and cause said claim to be approved. In the event of any liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding, if the Holders of the Notes (or the Trustee on their behalf) have not filed any claim, proof of claim, or other instrument of similar character necessary to enforce the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor in respect of the Notes at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of the time to file the same, then in such event, but only in such event, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or a representative on their behalf may, as an attorney-in-fact for such Holders, file any claim, proof of claim, or other instrument of similar character on behalf of such Holders. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 11.10. RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO HOLD SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Trustee shall be entitled to all of the rights set forth in this Article XI in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

Nothing in this Article XI shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.7.

Section 11.11. ARTICLE XI NOT TO PREVENT EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The failure to make a payment on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any)

 

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on the Notes by reason of any provision of this Article XI shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1 or in any way limit the rights of the Trustee or any Holder to pursue any other rights or remedies with respect to the Notes.

Section 11.12. NO FIDUCIARY DUTY OF TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to the Holders of Notes or the Issuer, any Guarantor or any other Person, cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XI or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XI and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. Nothing in this Section 11.12 shall affect the obligation of any other such Person to hold such payment for the benefit of, and to pay such payment over to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative. In the event of any conflict between the fiduciary duty of the Trustee to the Holders of Notes and to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee is expressly authorized to resolve such conflict in favor of the Holders.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.1. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the TIA, the imposed duties shall control.

Section 12.2. NOTICES. Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuer:

Goodman Global, Inc.

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, TX 77056

713-861-2500

Attention: Ben D. Campbell, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

If to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

1445 Ross Avenue—2nd Floor

Dallas, Texas 75202

214-777-4086

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

The Issuer, the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

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All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) when answered back, if telexed; (iii) when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and (iv) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 12.3. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 12.4. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.5) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.5) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 12.5. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

96


(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificate of public officials.

Section 12.6. RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.7. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS. No direct or indirect stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future of the Issuer, the Guarantors or any successor entity shall have any personal liability in respect of the Issuer’s obligations or the obligations of the Guarantors under this Indenture or the Notes solely by reason of his or its status as such stockholder, employee, officer or director, except that this provision shall in no way limit the obligation of any Guarantor pursuant to any guarantee of the Notes. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 12.8. GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND NEW YORK CIVIL PRACTICE LAWS AND RULES 327(b).

Section 12.9. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES, THE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.10. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.11. SUCCESSORS. All agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their successors, except as provided in Section 10.4. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 12.12. SEVERABILITY. In case any one or more of the provisions of this Indenture or in the Notes or in the Guarantees shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

Section 12.13. COUNTERPART ORIGINALS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

Section 12.14. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC. The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

[Signatures on following page]

 

97


SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indenture as of the date first written above.

 

THE ISSUER:
CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 
THE TRUSTEE:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF NOTE]

[CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.] [GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.]

[[RULE 144A] [REGULATION S [TEMPORARY] [PERMANENT]] GLOBAL NOTE

representing up to $             principal amount (plus any PIK Interest thereon) of]1

13.5%/14.0% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

CUSIP:             

 

No.   [$            ]2

[Chill Acquisition, Inc.] [Goodman Global, Inc.], a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company” which term includes any successors under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to             , or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto,]3 [of              Dollars,]4 on February 15, 2016.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15 commencing August 15, 2008.

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1.

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note on the reverse side, which will, for all purposes, have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

1

To be included only on Global Notes.

2

To be included only on Definitive Notes.

3

To be included only on Global Notes.

4

To be included only on Definitive Notes.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

[CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.
a Delaware corporation to be merged with Goodman Global, Inc.]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Dated: [                    ]

 

A-2


(Back of Note)

13.5%/14.0% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.]5

[UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]6

[THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A

 

5 To be included only on Global Notes deposited with DTC as Depositary.
6 To be included only on Global Notes deposited with DTC as Depositary.

 

A-3


UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.]7

[THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]8

THIS NOTE IS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. A HOLDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY FOR SUCH NOTES BY SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE ISSUER AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., 5151 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 500, HOUSTON, TX 77056, ATTENTION: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. [Chill Acquisition, Inc.] [Goodman Global, Inc.], a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum equal to 13.5% and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuer will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). The first Interest Payment Date shall be August 15, 2008. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date. To the extent lawful, the Issuer shall pay interest (including Accrued Bankruptcy Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at then applicable interest rate; the Issuer shall pay interest (including Accrued Bankruptcy Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

7 To be included only on Transfer Restricted Notes.
8 To be included only on Reg S Temporary Global Notes.

 

A-4


The Issuer may, at its option, elect to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum equal to 14.0%, of which up to 3.0% per annum may be paid by issuing PIK Notes (“PIK Interest”); provided that the Issuer may not make any interest payment in PIK Notes after the first HYDO Determination Date to the extent such interest payment in PIK Notes would cause the accrued and unpaid interest and original issue discount on the Notes to exceed the amount described in clause (b) of the definition of HYDO Redemption Amount. PIK Interest will be payable [by increasing the principal amount of this Note by an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable Interest Period (rounded up to the nearest $1,000)]9 [by issuing PIK Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable Interest Period (rounded up to the nearest whole dollar) and the Trustee will, at the request of the Issuer, authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes for original issuance to Holders on the relevant Record Date, as shown on the Note register]10.

The Issuer must elect the form of interest payment with respect to each Interest Period by delivering a notice to the Trustee prior to the beginning of each Interest Period. The Trustee shall promptly deliver a corresponding notice to the Holders. In the absence of such an election for any Interest Period, interest on this Note will be payable in the form of the interest payment for the prior Interest Period. Interest for the first Interest Period commencing on the Issue Date shall be payable in cash.

[Following an increase in the principal amount of this Note as a result of the payment of PIK Interest, this Note will bear interest on such increased principal amount from and after the date of such interest payment in PIK Notes.]11 [Any PIK Notes will be dated as of the applicable Interest Payment Date and will bear interest from and after such date.]12 All PIK Notes issued pursuant to the payment of PIK Interest will mature on February 15, 2016 and will be governed by, and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of, the Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the Notes issued on the Issue Date. [Any PIK Notes will be issued with the description “PIK” on the face of such PIK Note.]13

If, without the payment with respect to the HYDO Redemption Amount contemplated herein, the Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(l) of the Code, at the end of each “accrual period” (as defined in Section 1272(a)(5) of the Code) ending after the fifth anniversary of the Notes’ issuance (each, a “HYDO Determination Date”), the Issuer will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Note then outstanding equal to the “HYDO Redemption Amount” (each such redemption, a “HYDO Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each Note redeemed pursuant to any HYDO Redemption will be 100% of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued

 

9 Applicable if this Note is represented by Global Notes.
10 Applicable if this Note is represented by Definitive Notes.
11 Applicable if this Note is represented by Global Notes.
12 Applicable if this Note is represented by Definitive Notes.
13 Applicable if this Note is represented by Definitive Notes.

 

A-5


interest thereon on the date of redemption. “HYDO Redemption Amount” means, as of each HYDO Determination Date, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest and all accrued and unpaid “original issue discount” (as defined in Section 1273(a)(1) of the Code) with respect to the Notes, over (b) an amount equal to the product of (i) the “issue price” (as defined in Sections 1273(b) and 1274(a) of the Code) of the Notes multiplied by (ii) the “yield to maturity” (as defined in the Treasury Regulation Section 1.1272-1(b)(1)(i)) of the Notes. No partial redemption or repurchase of the Notes prior to any HYDO Determination Date pursuant to any other provision of the Indenture will alter the Issuer’s obligation to make any HYDO Redemption with respect to any Notes that remain outstanding on such HYDO redemption date.

2. Method of Payment. The Issuer will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date (each a “Record Date”), even if such Notes are cancelled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture (as defined below) with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, interest, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained within the City and State of New York for such purpose, or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of Cash Interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account within the United States will be required with respect to principal of and Cash Interest, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Global Notes. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. Indenture. The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of the Issue Date (“Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.

5. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) and clause (c), the Issuer shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 5 prior to February 15, 2011. The Notes will be redeemable for cash at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time on or after February 15, 2011, upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior notice mailed by first class mail to each Holder at its last registered address or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing February 15 of the years indicated below, together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), thereon to the date of redemption of the Notes:

 

A-6


Year

   Percentage  

2011

   106.75 %

2012

   104.50 %

2013

   102.25 %

and thereafter

   100.00 %

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 5, at any time or from time to time on or prior to February 15, 2011 upon one or more Qualified Equity Offerings, up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued pursuant to the Indenture (only as necessary to avoid any duplication, excluding any replacement Notes) may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option within 90 days of the closing of any such Qualified Equity Offering from the Net Cash Proceeds of such Qualified Equity Offering, on not less than 30 days, but not more than 60 days, notice to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price equal to 113.5% of principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) thereon to the redemption date; provided, however, that immediately following each such redemption not less than 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued pursuant to the Indenture on the Issue Date remain outstanding (only as necessary to avoid any duplication, excluding any replacement Notes).

(c) At any time on or prior to February 15, 2011, the Notes may be redeemed as a whole at the Issuer’s option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, including Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Redemption Date, except that installments of interest which are due and payable on dates falling on or prior to the applicable redemption date will be payable to the persons who were the Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates.

(d) Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed; provided that PIK Notes in definitive form in denominations larger than $1.00 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1.00, unless all of the PIK Notes in definitive form held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption unless the Issuer defaults in such payments due on the redemption date.

6. Offers to Purchase.

(a) Change of Control. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, in the event that a Change of Control has occurred, each Holder of Notes will have the right, at such Holder’s option, pursuant to an offer (subject only to conditions required by applicable law, if any) by the Issuer (the “Change of Control Offer”), to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes (provided that the principal amount of such Notes must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; provided, however, that the principal amount of PIK Notes in definitive form must be $1.00 or an integral multiple thereof) on a date (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”) that is no later than 60 calendar days after the

 

A-7


occurrence of such Change of Control, at a cash price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”), together with accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any), to the Change of Control Purchase Date.

The Change of Control Offer shall be made within 30 calendar days following a Change of Control and shall remain open for 20 Business Days following its commencement, or such other period as may be required by applicable law (the “Change of Control Offer Period”). Upon expiration of the Change of Control Offer Period, the Issuer shall purchase all Notes properly tendered in response to the Change of Control Offer.

(b) Asset Sale. The Issuer shall not and the Guarantors shall not, and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall permit any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to, in one or a series of related transactions, convey, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of their property, business or assets, including by merger or consolidation (in the case of one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries), and including any sale or other transfer or issuance of any Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, whether by the Issuer or one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or through the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests by one of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries and including any sale and leaseback transaction, other than in any such case to the Issuer or another Subsidiary and other than sales of Disqualified Capital Stock or in compliance with Section 4.7 of the Indenture (any of the foregoing, an “Asset Sale”), unless:

(1) at least 75% of the total consideration for such Asset Sale or series of related Asset Sales consists of cash, Cash Equivalents, Related Business Assets or a combination thereof;

(2) with respect to any Asset Sale or related series of Asset Sales involving a conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of securities, property or assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $10,000,000, senior management determines in good faith that the Issuer shall receive or such Subsidiary shall receive, as applicable, Fair Market Value for such Asset Sale; and

(3) with respect to any Asset Sale or related series of Asset Sales involving a conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of securities, property or assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $15,000,000, the Issuer’s Board of Directors determines in good faith that the Issuer receive or such Subsidiary receives, as applicable, Fair Market Value for such Asset Sale.

For purposes of (1) above of this Section 6(b), the following shall be deemed cash consideration: (a) Senior Indebtedness or balance sheet liabilities (other than contingent liabilities) assumed by a transferee in connection with such Asset Sale; provided that the Issuer is and the Issuer’s Subsidiaries are fully released from obligations in connection therewith; (b) property that within 135 days of such Asset Sale is converted into cash or Cash Equivalents; and (c) any non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other non-cash consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25,000,000, with the Fair Market Value of each item of non-cash consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents shall be treated as Net Cash Proceeds attributable to the original Asset Sale for which such property was received.

 

A-8


Within 365 days following such Asset Sale, the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom (the “Asset Sale Amount”) may be:

(a) invested in Related Business Assets, used to make Restricted Investments that are not prohibited by Section 4.9 of the Indenture;

(b) used to retire Senior Indebtedness or Indebtedness of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries used to retire Senior Indebtedness or Indebtedness of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries; provided that if such Senior Indebtedness is Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, the Issuer will permanently reduce the amount of such Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 4.7 of the Indenture, provided that in the case of a revolver or similar arrangement that makes credit available, such commitment is so permanently reduced by such amount;

(c) applied to the optional redemption of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and to the optional redemption of other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to repurchase such Indebtedness with the proceeds from such Asset Sale, pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding; or

(d) applied in any combination of the foregoing.

7. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; provided that PIK Notes in definitive form will be in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuer may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

8. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

9. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of Definitive Notes or to alter the provisions of Article II of the Indenture (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder, to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s obligations to Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Issuer pursuant to Article V of the Indenture, to provide for additional Guarantors as set forth in the Indenture or for the release or assumption of Guarantees in compliance with the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or

 

A-9


benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the provisions of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream or the Trustee with respect to the provisions of the Indenture or the Notes relating to transfers and exchanges of Notes or beneficial interests therein, to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the date thereof and to provide for the issuance of PIK Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the date thereof.

10. Defaults and Remedies. The Indenture provides that each of the following constitutes an Event of Default:

(a) the Issuer’s failure to pay any installment of interest (or Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes as and when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for 30 days;

(b) the Issuer’s failure to pay all or any part of the principal, or premium, if any, on the Notes when and as the same becomes due and payable at maturity, redemption, by acceleration or otherwise, including, without limitation, payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price or the Asset Sale Offer Price, on Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable;

(c) the Issuer’s failure or the failure by any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the Notes or the Indenture and, except for the provisions under Section 3.8, Section 4.13, and Section 5.1 of the Indenture, the continuance of such failure for a period of 30 days after written notice is given to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding (provided that, if applicable, failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor to comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the TIA will not in itself be deemed a Default or an Event of Default under the Indenture or this Note);

(d) a default in the Issuer’s Indebtedness or the Indebtedness any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries with an aggregate amount outstanding in excess of $25,000,000 (i) resulting from the failure to pay principal at maturity or (ii) as a result of which the maturity of such Indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its stated maturity;

(e) final unsatisfied judgments not covered by insurance aggregating in excess of $25,000,000, at any one time rendered against the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries and not paid, stayed, bonded or discharged within 60 days after such judgments become final;

(f) any Guarantee of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect or becomes unenforceable or invalid or is declared null and void (other than in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee and the Indenture) or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its Obligations under its Guarantee;

(g) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a decree or order for (i) relief in respect of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable Bankruptcy Law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, Custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Issuer or any Significant

 

A-10


Subsidiary or (iii) the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary and, in each case, such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; and

(h) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (A) commences a voluntary case under any applicable Bankruptcy Law now or hereafter in effect, or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, (B) consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, Custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or (C) effects any general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

11. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Issuer or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

12. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder (direct or indirect) of the Issuer or the Guarantors (or any such successor entity), as such, shall have any liability for any Obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such Obligations or their creation, except in their capacity as an obligor or Guarantor of the Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

13. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

14. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

15. Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes.14 In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the date of the Indenture, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

16. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

14 To be included only on Transfer Restricted Notes.

 

A-11


17. Subordination. The Notes and the Guarantees are subordinated in right of payment to the extent and in the manner provided in Section 10.7 and Article XI of the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness and the termination or cash collateralization of all letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities. The Issuer and the Guarantors agree, and each Holder by accepting a Note consents and agrees, to the subordination provided in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect.

When a successor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor may be released from those obligations.

18. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND NEW YORK CIVIL LAWS AND RULES 327(b).

19. Conflicts Between this Note and the Indenture. In the event of any conflicts between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture [and/or the Registration Rights Agreement]15. Requests may be made to:

Goodman Global, Inc.

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, TX 77056

713-861-2500

Attention: Ben D. Campbell,

Executive Vice President, Secretary

and General Counsel

 

15 To be included only on Transfer Restricted Notes.

 

A-12


Assignment Form

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (We) assign and transfer this Note to

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint  

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

Date:                     

 

  Your Signature:  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*

 

 

 

* NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an Institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee.

 

A-13


Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.13 of the Indenture, check the box below:

¨  Section 4.12                     ¨  Section 4.13

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.13 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased (in denominations of $1,000 only, except if you have elected to have all of your Notes purchased; provided that PIK Notes in definitive form will be in denominations of $1.00 only, except if you have elected to have all of your PIK Notes in definitive form purchased): $            

 

Date:          Your Signature:  

 

         (Sign exactly as your name appears on the Note)
       Social Security or Tax Identification No.:                                     

Signature Guarantee*

 

 

 

* NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an Institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee.

 

A-14


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE16

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is [$            ]. The following exchanges of an interest in this Global Note for an interest in another Global Notes or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of an interest in another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

or PIK
Interest Payment

 

Amount of
Decrease in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note

 

Amount of
Increase in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note

 

Principal Amount of
this Global Note
Following Such Decrease
(or Increase)

 

Signature of Authorized
Officer of
Trustee or Note
Custodian

 

 

16 This should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-15

EX-4.2 3 dex42.htm GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Guarantor Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 4.2

EXECUTION COPY

GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Guarantor Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of February 13, 2008, among the Guarantors listed on the signature page attached hereto (each a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), subsidiaries of Goodman Global, Inc. (as successor to Chill Acquisition, Inc.) (the “Issuer”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of February 13, 2008, providing for the issuance of 13.5%/14.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances each Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which any newly-acquired or created Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee on a senior subordinated basis all of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (a “Subsidiary Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, each Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees on a senior subordinated basis the Guarantee Obligations, which include that (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes, shall be duly and punctually paid in full or performed when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control Offer, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any interest, if any, on the Notes, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee under the Indenture or under the Notes (including fees, expenses or other) shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at

 

1


Stated Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control Offer, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.5 of the Indenture.

The obligations of each Guaranteeing Subsidiary to the Holders and to the Trustee pursuant to this Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture (i) are expressly set forth in Articles X and XI of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Indenture for the precise terms of this Subsidiary Guarantee and (ii) are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of each Guaranteeing Subsidiary as set forth in Section 10.7 and Article XI of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Section and Article for the precise terms of such subordination.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder (direct or indirect) of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary (or any such successor entity), as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary under this Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation, except in their capacity as an obligor or Guarantor of the Notes in accordance with the Indenture.

This is a continuing Guarantee and shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon each Guaranteeing Subsidiary and its successors and assigns until full and final payment of all of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and Indenture or until released in accordance with the Indenture and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders, and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges herein conferred upon that party shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions hereof. This is a Guarantee of payment and performance and not of collectibility.

The obligations of each Guaranteeing Subsidiary under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be limited to the extent necessary to insure that it does not constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.

THE TERMS OF ARTICLES X and XI OF THE INDENTURE ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.

3. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.

4. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

5. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

2


[Signature Pages Follow]

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Guarantor Supplemental Indenture]


GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.
By:   Goodman Holding Company,
  its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Guarantor Supplemental Indenture]


GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.
By:   Goodman Holding Company,
  its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
GOODMAN SALES COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Guarantor Supplemental Indenture]


GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.
By:   Goodman Holding Company,
  its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.
By:   Quietflex Holding Company,
  its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
THE TRUSTEE:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Guarantor Supplemental Indenture]

EX-4.5 4 dex45.htm EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 13, 2008

Exhibit 4.5

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

THE OTHER GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO,

GSO DOMESTIC CAPITAL FUNDING LLC,

GSO COF FACILITY LLC,

GSO ORIGINATION FUNDING PARTNERS LP,

FARALLON FUNDING, L.L.C.,

ALPINVEST PARTNERS MEZZANINE 2007 C.V.,

KKR FINANCIAL HOLDINGS III, LLC,

CMP II INITIAL HOLDINGS, L.L.C.

$500,000,000

13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

Dated as of February 13, 2008

 

 


EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 13, 2008, by and among Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MergerCo” or, in its capacity as issuer of the Notes (defined below), the “Issuer”), GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC (“GSO Domestic Capital”), GSO COF Facility LLC (“GSO COF”), GSO Origination Funding Partners LP (“GSO Origination Funding” and, together with GSO Domestic Capital and GSO COF, the “GSO Purchasers”), Farallon Funding, L.L.C. (“Farallon Funding”), AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V. (“AlpInvest”), KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC (“KKR Financial”) and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C. (“CMP II” and, together with the GSO Purchasers, Farallon Funding, AlpInvest and KKR Financial, the “Purchasers”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, pursuant to (a) that certain Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2008, between the Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Indenture”) and (b) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among the Purchasers and the Issuer (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”), the Issuer is issuing and selling to the Purchasers on the date hereof its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2016 in an original aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 (together with all notes issued in exchange, substitution or replacement therefor (other than the Exchange Notes (defined below)), the “Notes”).

Upon consummation of the Merger (defined below) on the Closing Date the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture) will be required to execute the Guarantor Supplemental Indenture, pursuant to which the Guarantors will guarantee all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture to the extent required by the Indenture.

Furthermore, upon consummation of the Merger, the Company and the Initial Guarantors will be required to execute a Joinder and Assumption Agreement in the form of Exhibit A to the Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company will assume all obligations of the Issuer under this Agreement and each of the Initial Guarantors will assume all of the obligations of a guarantor under this Agreement.

As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer agrees with the Purchasers, for the benefit of the Holders (including, without limitation, the Purchasers), as follows:

1. Definitions.

Terms that are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement, or, if not defined therein, in the Indenture. The following terms shall have the meanings specified below (it being understood that defined terms shall include in the singular number the plural and in the plural the singular):

Advice” is defined in Section 5(t).

 

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Agreement” is defined in the Preamble.

AlpInvest” is defined in the Preamble.

Blackout Period” is defined in Section 3(d).

CMP II” is defined in the Preamble.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company” is defined in the Recitals.

Day” means a calendar day, unless otherwise expressly provided.

Effectiveness Date” means (i) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the 180th day from the Closing Date, provided that such date shall be extended for up to an additional 90 days during the period the Commission is reviewing the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and (ii) in the case of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement, the 120th day from the date of delivery of the Shelf Notice; provided that such date shall be extended for up to an additional 90 days during the period the Commission is reviewing the Initial Shelf Registration Statement.

Effectiveness Period” is defined in Section 3(a).

Event Date” is defined in Section 4(b).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exchange Guarantees” is defined in Section 2(a).

Exchange Notes” means the 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2016 of the Company, identical in all material respects to the Notes except that restrictive legends, restrictions on transfer and liquidated damages provisions shall be eliminated from the Exchange Notes and all notes issued in exchange, substitution or replacement for such Exchange Notes.

Exchange Offer” is defined in Section 2(a).

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2(a).

Farallon Funding is defined in the Preamble.

Filing Date” is defined in Section 2(a).

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

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Free-Writing Prospectus” shall mean an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, that is prepared by or on behalf of the Company.

GSO COF” is defined in the Preamble.

GSO Domestic Capital” is defined in the Preamble.

GSO Origination Funding” is defined in the Preamble.

GSO Purchasers” is defined in the Preamble.

Guarantees” means the senior subordinated guarantees given by the Guarantors to the Holders pursuant to the Indenture.

Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 6(c).

Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 6(c).

Indenture” is defined in the Recitals.

Initial Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 3(a).

Inspectors” is defined in Section 5(n).

Institutional Investor” means an entity that trades large volumes of securities, such as investment companies, mutual funds, brokerages, insurance companies, pension funds, investment banks and endowment funds.

Issuer” is defined in the Preamble.

KKR Financial” is defined in the Preamble.

Liquidated Damages” is defined in Section 4(a).

Losses” is defined in Section 6(a).

Maximum Contribution Amount” is defined in Section 6(e).

Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

MergerCo” is defined in the Preamble.

Notes” is defined in the Recitals.

Participating Broker-Dealer” is defined in Section 2(e).

 

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Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 430B), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

Purchase Agreement” is defined in the Recitals.

Purchaser” or “Purchasers” is defined in the Preamble.

Records” is defined in Section 5(n).

Registrable Notes” (i) Notes (for purposes of this definition which shall include the Guarantees) and (ii) Exchange Notes (for purposes of this definition which shall include the Exchange Guarantees) received in the Exchange Offer as to which Section 2(h)(iii) is applicable and as to which notice under Section 2(h)(iii) has been timely delivered to the Company, in each case that may not be sold without restriction under federal or state securities laws until, in each case, the earliest to occur of (a) a Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Notes as to which Section 2(h)(iii) is applicable and as to which notice under Section 2(h)(iii) has been timely delivered to the Company, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) covering such Note or Exchange Note has been declared effective by the Commission and such Note or Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (b) such Note has been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or Exchange Notes that may be resold without restriction under state and federal securities laws (other than prospectus delivery requirements), (c) such Note, or Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding or (d) such Note or Exchange Note, as the case may be, may be resold by non-affiliates of the Company without restriction as to volume pursuant to Rule 144 (as amended or replaced) or have been resold pursuant to Rule 144 (as amended or replaced) under the Securities Act.

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (including, but not limited to, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Shelf Registration Statement and any subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) that covers any of the Registrable Notes, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Rule 158” means Rule 158 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

Rule 405” means Rule 405 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

 

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Rule 415” means Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

Rule 424” means Rule 424 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

Rule 430A” means Rule 430A under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

Rule 430B” means Rule 430B under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

Shelf Notice” is defined in Section 2(h).

Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 3(b).

Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” is defined in Section 3(b).

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” means a registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

2. Exchange Offer

(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall (i) prepare and file with the Commission (the date of such filing, the “Filing Date”) a registration statement (the “Exchange Offer Registration Statement”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to an offer (an “Exchange Offer”) to the Holders to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Notes, a like principal amount of Exchange Notes, guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by the Guarantors (the “Exchange Guarantees”) on terms identical to the Guarantees of the Notes, except that the Exchange Notes and Exchange Guarantees shall have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement and except that restrictive legends, restrictions on transfer and liquidated damages provisions shall be eliminated from the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Guarantees, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective no later than the Effectiveness Date, (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement open for at least 20 Business Days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders, (iv) use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Exchange Offer whereby (A) the Company shall issue, promptly after the completion of the Exchange Offer, Exchange Notes in exchange for all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior thereto in the Exchange Offer and (B) the Guarantors will issue Exchange Guarantees guaranteeing the Company’s obligations under the Exchange Notes and (v) take all commercially reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized by the Company in connection with any registration required by this Agreement complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of

 

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the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. An Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that (i) such Exchange Offer, or the making of any exchange by a Holder, does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the Commission, (ii) the due tendering of Registrable Notes in accordance with the Exchange Offer, (iii) that each Holder of Registrable Notes exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have represented that all Exchange Notes to be received by it shall be acquired in the ordinary course of its business and that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer it shall have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes and shall have made such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable Commission rules, regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or other appropriate form under the Securities Act available, (iv) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer which, in the Company’s judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer, and no material adverse development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Company and (v) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained which the Company deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been completed only if the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Guarantees received in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities by Holders that meet the conditions for participation in the Exchange Offer are, upon receipt, transferable by each such Holder without restriction under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United States of America, it being understood that broker-dealers or affiliates of the Company or the Guarantors receiving Exchange Notes and Exchange Guarantees will be subject to certain prospectus delivery requirements with respect to resale of the Exchange Notes and Exchange Guarantees.

(b) The Exchange Notes and Exchange Guarantees shall be issued under, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture.

(c) Interest on each of the Exchange Notes will be payable (i) from the later of (A) the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor, or (B) if the Notes are surrendered for exchange on a date in a period which includes the record date for an interest payment date to occur on or after the date of such exchange and as to which interest will be paid, the date of such interest payment date or (ii) if no interest has been paid on such Notes, from the original issue date of the Notes.

(d) The Company and the Guarantors may require each Holder as a condition to participation in the Exchange Offer to represent (i) that any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) that at the time of the commencement and consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company and the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act, or, if it is an affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor, that it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable to it, (iv) if such Holder is not a Participating Broker-Dealer, that it is not engaged in,

 

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and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Notes and (v) if such Holder is a Participating Broker-Dealer, that such Holder will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, and that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes.

(e) The Company and the Guarantors shall include within the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution” which shall contain all information that the Commission requires with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer for its own account in exchange for Notes that were acquired by it as a result of market-making or other trading activity (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”). Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also allow, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the Commission, the use of the Prospectus by all Participating Broker-Dealers subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, and include a statement describing the manner in which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes. Each of the Purchasers represents that it is not a broker-dealer.

(f) In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(i) mail or cause to be mailed to each Holder of record a copy of the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(ii) utilize the services of a depository for the Exchange Offer;

(iii) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(iv) comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.

(g) As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer the Company shall:

(i) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and not validly withdrawn;

(ii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes so accepted for exchange; and

(iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each such Holder Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange; provided that in the case of any Exchange Notes held in global form by a depositary, authentication and delivery to such depositary of one or more replacement Exchange Notes in global form in an equivalent principal amount thereto for the account of such Holders in accordance with the Indenture shall satisfy such authentication and delivery requirement.

 

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(h) If, (i) applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission would not permit the consummation of the Exchange Offer as contemplated by this Section 2, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 60 days after the Effectiveness Date, for any reason, or (iii) in the case of any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer but, because of any changes in law, Commission rules or regulations or applicable public interpretations thereof by the Commission staff, does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction (other than prospectus delivery requirements) under state and federal securities laws and so notifies the Company in writing within 30 days of consummation of the Exchange Offer, then, in each case, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holders and the Trustee, written notice thereof (the “Shelf Notice”) and shall on one and only one occasion file an Initial Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3. In no event shall the Shelf Notice be given prior to the notice pursuant to Section 2(a) that could be given for the Exchange Offer.

3. Shelf Registration Statement

If a Shelf Notice is properly delivered pursuant to Section 2(h), then:

(a) Initial Shelf Registration Statement. The Company and each Guarantor shall as promptly as practicable after the date of the Shelf Notice file with the Commission a Registration Statement (the “Initial Shelf Registration Statement”) for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission the Initial Shelf Registration Statement within 60 days of the delivery of the Shelf Notice and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable thereafter (but in no event more than 120 days after the Shelf Notice). The Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by Holders in the manner or manners reasonably designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company and the Guarantors shall not permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in any Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder shall be entitled to include any of its Registrable Notes in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless such Holder furnishes to the Company and the Trustee in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a written request therefor, such information as the Company and the Trustee, after conferring with counsel with regard to information relating to Holders that would be required by the Commission to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, may reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein. The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Initial Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective (other than during any Blackout Period (as defined in Section 3(d) below)) under the Securities Act until the date which is one year from the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (the “Effectiveness Period”), or such shorter period ending when (i) all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration Statement have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or otherwise cease to be Registrable Notes or (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Notes covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

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(b) Subsequent Shelf Registration Statements. If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than during any permitted Blackout Period relating to such Shelf Registration Statement, or because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall use commercially reasonable efforts to amend such Shelf Registration Statement within 30 days of such cessation of effectiveness in a manner designed to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an additional “shelf” Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement was previously continuously effective. As used herein the term “Shelf Registration Statement” means the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statements.

(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Guarantors shall promptly supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested in writing by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement or by any underwriter of such Registrable Notes with respect to the information included therein regarding one or more of such Holders or, as applicable, such underwriter.

If the Company files any shelf registration statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the Holders, the Company agrees that it shall include in such registration statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B (referring to the unnamed selling security holders in a generic manner by identifying the initial offering of the securities to the Holders) in order to ensure that the Holders may be added to such shelf registration statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.

(d) Blackout Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors, upon notice to the Holders, may delay the filing of any Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer Registration Statement or suspend the use of the Prospectus included in any Shelf Registration Statement or an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in the event that and for a period of time (a “Blackout Period”) not to exceed an aggregate of 60 days in any twelve month period if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company

 

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determines, in good faith, that the disclosure of an event, occurrence or other item at such time could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), performance, property or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) the disclosure otherwise relates to a material business transaction which has not been publicly disclosed and the Board of Directors of the Company determines, in good faith, that any such disclosure would jeopardize the success of such transaction or that disclosure of the transaction is prohibited pursuant to the terms thereof; provided that upon the termination of such Blackout Period, the Company and the Guarantors shall promptly notify the Holders that such Blackout Period has been terminated. There shall be no more than two Blackout Periods during any twelve month period.

4. Liquidated Damages

(a) The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the Company or the Guarantors fails to fulfill their material obligations under Section 2 and/or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Company agrees to pay, and the Guarantors agree to guarantee, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company’s obligations with respect to, liquidated damages on the Registrable Notes (“Liquidated Damages”) under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below (each of which shall be given independent effect):

(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, or (B) notwithstanding that the Company and the Guarantors have consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, Liquidated Damages shall be paid on the principal amount of the Registrable Notes over and above the stated interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of such Registrable Notes for the first 90 days immediately following the Effectiveness Date, such Liquidated Damages rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum on the 90th day of such period and on the 90th day of each subsequent 90-day period thereafter, subject to the proviso in the last sentence of this paragraph;

(ii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer or the Guarantors have not issued the Exchange Guarantees in connection therewith on or prior to 30 Business Days after the applicable Effectiveness Date, or (B) if applicable, a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period (other than during any permitted Blackout Period relating to such Shelf Registration Statement, or such time as all Registrable Notes registered thereunder have been disposed of), then Liquidated Damages shall be paid on the principal amount of the Registrable Notes, over and above the stated interest, at a rate of 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of such Registrable Notes for the first 90 days commencing on (x) the 31st Business

 

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Day after the applicable Effectiveness Date, in the case of clause (A) above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective in the case of clause (B) above (or, if later, commencing on the first day following such permitted Blackout Period), such Liquidated Damages rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum on the 90th day of such period and on the 90th day of each subsequent 90-day period thereafter, subject to the proviso in the last sentence of this paragraph;

provided, however, that the maximum Liquidated Damages rate on the Registrable Notes may not exceed at any one time in the aggregate 1.0% per annum; and provided, further, that (1) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of (i) above), or (2) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered (in the case of (ii)(A) above) and the issuance of Exchange Guarantees in connection therewith, or upon the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (ii) above), Liquidated Damages on the Registrable Notes as a result of such clause, as the case may be, shall cease to accrue for periods on or after such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Liquidated Damages shall accrue or be paid with respect to Notes that are not Registrable Notes.

(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within 3 Business Days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Liquidated Damages is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Any amounts of Liquidated Damages due pursuant to clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of this Section 4 will be payable in cash on the dates and in the manner provided in the Indenture, commencing with the first such semi-annual date occurring after any such Liquidated Damages commences to be paid. The amount of Liquidated Damages will be determined by multiplying the applicable Liquidated Damages rate by the principal amount of the Registrable Notes outstanding, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Liquidated Damages rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.

(c) The parties hereto agree that the Liquidated Damages provided for in this Section 4 constitutes the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders by reason of the occurrence of any of the events described in Sections 4(a)(i) and 4(a)(ii) hereof and that the Company shall have used commercially reasonable efforts in meeting such time periods if they in fact have been met. The parties agree that the Liquidated Damages provided for in this Section 4 constitutes a reasonable estimate of damages that will be suffered by Holders by reason of clauses (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of this Section 4.

5. Registration Procedures

In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3 hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall effect such registrations to permit the sale of such securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder, the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, shall:

 

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(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed because of the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(h), a Shelf Registration Statement as prescribed by Section 3, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided that if a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, before filing any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes to be registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, or to the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case, other than in the case of a filing that includes pricing-related information previously excluded from a prospectus under Rule 430A or Rule 430B, at least 2 Business Days prior to such filing) and to make such representatives of the Issuer as shall reasonably be requested by the Holders of Registrable Notes available for discussion of such Registration Statement.

(b) Provide a trustee for the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Guarantees, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture (or other agreement relating to the Registrable Notes) to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement; and in connection therewith, to cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such agreement to be so qualified in a timely manner.

(c) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period; cause the related Prospectus or any Free-Writing Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to them with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus as so supplemented; provided that none of the foregoing shall be required during a permitted Blackout Period. With respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, other than during a permitted Blackout Period, the Company and the Guarantors shall not, during the Effectiveness Period, voluntarily take any action that would result in selling Holders of the Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement not being able to sell such Registrable Notes or such Exchange Notes during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law, rule or regulation or permitted by this Agreement.

(d) Furnish to such selling Holders who so request in writing in a timely fashion (i) such reasonable number of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement and of each

 

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amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including any documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits) and (ii) such reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and each amendment and supplement thereto, and such reasonable number of copies of the final Prospectus as filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and each amendment and supplement thereto. The Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus and any Free-Writing Prospectus delivered in connection therewith by each of the selling Holders and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by such Prospectus and any amendment thereto.

(e) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, notify the selling Holders, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within 2 Business Days), and confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement, Free-Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective (including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, without charge, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable Notes the representations and warranties of the Company or any Guarantors contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(m) hereof cease to be true and correct in any material respect, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any Free-Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in, or amendments or supplements to, such Registration Statement, Prospectus, Free-Writing Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Free-Writing Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) of any reasonable determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

(f) Use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible date.

 

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(g) If (i) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (ii) reasonably requested in writing by the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, (A) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information or revisions to information therein relating to such underwriters or selling Holders as the managing underwriters, if any, or such Holders or their counsel reasonably request in writing to be included or made therein and (B) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplements or post-effective amendment.

(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders, the managing underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Notes for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder or any managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in writing; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, cooperate with the selling Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company, and enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations (subject to applicable requirements contained in the Indenture) and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request in writing.

(j) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(e)(v) or 5(e)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable (except during a permitted Blackout Period), prepare and file with the Commission, at the expense of the Company, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any Free-Writing Prospectus delivered in connection therewith or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being sold thereunder, such Prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(k) [Reserved]

(l) Prior to the initial issuance of the Exchange Notes or registration of Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with one or more certificates for the Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide CUSIP numbers for the Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case may be.

 

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(m) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Registrable Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances) and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested in writing by the managing underwriters, if any) in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings by noteholders of debt securities similar to the Registrable Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances, and confirm the same if and when reasonably required; (ii) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any), addressed to the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions of counsel to the Company requested in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Registrable Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances; and (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof (which letters and updates (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters) from the registered independent public accounting firm of the Company (and, if necessary, any other registered independent public accounting firm of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Registrable Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5(m) shall not require the Company or the Guarantors to pay or reimburse fees or expenses of any Person in connection with such offering except as contemplated by Section 5(v), or to agree to do so.

(n) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes being sold, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder, or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), upon written request, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all pertinent financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, to the extent commercially reasonable, to supply or make available all information reasonably requested in writing by any such Inspector in connection with such due diligence responsibilities. Each Inspector shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records confidential and not disclose any of the Records unless (i) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of

 

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competent jurisdiction, (ii) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector or (iii) disclosure of such information is, in the reasonable written opinion of counsel for any Inspector, necessary in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, related to, or involving this Agreement, or any transaction contemplated hereby or arising hereunder; provided that in each case, such Inspector may disclose, without liability hereunder, only that portion of the Records that, (A) in the reasonable written opinion of counsel for such Inspector, it is legally required to disclose or (B) has been made generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector; provided, further that such Inspector shall agree to use reasonable efforts to preserve the confidentiality of the Records, or any portion thereof, including, without limitation, by cooperating with the Company to obtain an appropriate protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be afforded the Records, or any portion to be disclosed thereof, by such court. Each Inspector and each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes will be required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and, to the extent practicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential. Each Inspector of such Registrable Notes will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by such Inspector or on its behalf as the basis for any transactions in or relating to the securities or assets of the Company, including any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are defined in Rule 14a-1 under the Exchange Act) or consents to vote any securities, unless and until such information is made generally available to the public without any violation hereunder.

(o) [Reserved]

(p) Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer, if so requested by the Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company (in form, scope and substance customary for underwritten transactions), addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders participating in the Exchange Offer to the effect that (i) the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Notes and the Indenture, and (ii) the Exchange Notes and the Indenture constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to customary United States and foreign exceptions.

(q) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA.

(r) Use commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

(s) The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes or Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the

 

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Company such information regarding such seller or Participating Broker-Dealer and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time (which time in no event shall exceed 15 days) after receiving such request. Each seller of Registrable Notes or Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished by such seller not materially misleading.

(t) Each Holder and each Participating Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company (i) of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(e)(ii), 5(e)(iv), 5(e)(v), or 5(e)(vi) or (ii) of the commencement of a permitted Blackout Period, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement and such Participating Broker-Dealer will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Exchange Notes pursuant to any Prospectus and, in each case, forthwith discontinue dissemination of such Prospectus until (x) in the case of clause (i) of this paragraph, such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j), or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Notes current at the time of the receipt of such notice or (y) in the case of clause (ii) of this paragraph, the receipt of notice from the Company that such Blackout Period has ended. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) or (y) the Advice. No Liquidated Damages shall be paid or be payable during any such suspension period.

(u) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company (other than any underwriting discounts or commissions or any fees and expenses incurred by any Holders in connection with the execution and delivery of the Agreement) shall be borne by the Company, whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees, including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with FINRA in connection with any underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or blue sky laws, (ii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder, (iii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of all registered independent public accounting firms (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company desires such insurance, (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company, (vii) internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Company performing legal

 

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or accounting duties), (viii) the expense of any annual audit, (ix) the fees and expenses of any trustee and the Exchange Agent and (x) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements, indentures and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement (other than underwriting discounts and commissions).

(v) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel. The Company shall pay all documentary, stamp, transfer or other transactional taxes attributable to the issuance or delivery of the Exchange Notes in exchange for the Registrable Notes; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay taxes payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of any Exchange Note in a name other than that of the Holder of the Registrable Note in respect of which such Exchange Note is being issued.

6. Indemnification

(a) Indemnification by the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, each Person, if any, who controls each such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, employees and partners of each such Holder and controlling person from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees as provided in this Section 6) and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending against any of the foregoing) (collectively, “Losses”), insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus or any Free-Writing Prospectus or “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, utilized with the Company’s approval in connection with any related offering or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case, except insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder, any underwriter, if any, of an offering under a Shelf Registration Statement, or its or their respective counsel, expressly for use therein. The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, also agree to indemnify underwriters, if any, of an offering under a Shelf Registration Statement, their officers, directors, agents and employees and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, in each case, except insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such underwriter, or its counsel expressly for use in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus or any Free Writing-Prospectus in connection therewith.

 

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(b) Indemnification by Holder. Each Holder, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each Guarantor, their respective officers, directors, agents, employees and partners, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company or such Guarantors (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, employees and partners of such controlling persons, from and against all Losses insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus or any Free-Writing Prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent that such Losses have arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact contained in or omitted from any information furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company expressly for use therein. Each Holder, severally and not jointly, also agrees to indemnify underwriters, if any, of an offering under a Shelf Registration Statement, their officers, directors, agents and employees and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Company and each Guarantor, in each case, except insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such underwriter or the Company, or its or their respective counsel expressly for use in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus or any Free Writing-Prospectus in connection therewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the liability of any selling Holder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Notes giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the party or parties from which such indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party” or “Indemnifying Parties,” as applicable) in writing; provided that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Parties shall not relieve the Indemnifying Parties from any obligation or liability except to the extent (but only to the extent) that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal) that the Indemnifying Parties have been prejudiced materially by such failure.

The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an Indemnified Party, to assume, at its expense, the defense of any such proceeding (with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party), provided that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such proceeding or shall have failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; or (3) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or any of its affiliates or

 

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controlling persons, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more defenses available to such Indemnified Party that are in addition to, or in conflict with, those defenses available to the Indemnifying Party or such affiliate or controlling person (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Parties in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties, the Indemnifying Parties shall not have the right to assume the defense and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party; it being understood, however, that, the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related proceedings, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to one appropriate local counsel in each required jurisdiction) at any time for such Indemnified Party); provided, further, that, if the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of a proceeding, the Indemnifying Party shall promptly notify the Indemnified Party of all material developments with respect to such proceeding, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to make reasonably inquiry of the Indemnifying Party and its counsel and the Indemnifying Party and its counsel shall make all reasonable efforts to respond accurately to such inquiries, and the Indemnifying Party shall consult with the Indemnified Party with respect to any matters in such proceedings that relate directly to such Indemnified Party.

No Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any settlement of any such proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with its written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such proceeding, each Indemnifying Party jointly and severally agrees, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth above, to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Losses by reason of such settlement or judgment. The Indemnifying Party shall not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to each Indemnified Party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, from all liability in respect of such proceeding for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Party is a party thereto), which release does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or is insufficient to hold such Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses in respect of which this Section 6 would otherwise apply by its terms (other than by reason of exceptions provided in this Section 6), then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and such Indemnified Party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such

 

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statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any proceeding, to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in Section 6(a) or 6(b) was available to such party.

(e) The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by another method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), a selling Holder shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of such Holder’s Maximum Contribution Amount. A selling Holder’s “Maximum Contribution Amount” shall equal the excess of (i) the aggregate gross proceeds received by such Holder pursuant to the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes over (ii) the aggregate amount of damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

7. Underwritten Registrations of Registrable Notes

If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable Notes included in such offering; provided, however, that such investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers must be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

No Holder may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

8. Miscellaneous

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor, as of the date hereof, and each of the Company and each Guarantor covenants and agrees that it shall not enter, after the date of this Agreement, into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Notes in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with any provision hereof. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered and will not enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that will grant to any Person piggy-back rights with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

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(b) [RESERVED]

(c) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders as a group to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of the Company, the Guarantors and Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes; provided, however, that Section 6 and this Section 8(d) may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of the Company, the Guarantors and each Holder; provided, further, that a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Notes are being sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes being sold rather than all outstanding Registrable Notes.

(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:

(i) if to a Holder or to any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar of the Notes.

(ii) if to the Purchasers, as follows: GSO Capital Funding LLC, c/o GSO Capital Partners LP, 280 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Telecopy: (212) 503-6921, Attention: General Counsel, and Farallon Funding, L.L.C., c/o Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100, San Francisco, California 94111, Telecopy: (415) 616-6087, Attention: Michael Linn, with a copy to: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400, Los Angeles, California 90071, Telecopy: (213) 687-5600, Attention: Casey T. Fleck, Esq., and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Telecopy: (312) 861-2200, Attention: Gerald T. Nowak, Esq.

(iii) if to the Company or any Guarantor, Goodman Global, Inc., 5151 San Felipe, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056, Telecopy: (713) 426-1248, Attention: Ben D. Campbell, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 2550 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304, Telecopy: (650) 251-5002, Attention William Brentani, Esq.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the

 

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United States mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee under the Indenture at the address specified in the Indenture.

(f) Parties in Interest. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto. In the event that any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Notes in any manner permitted under the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture, as applicable, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of any kind, be deemed a party hereto for all purposes and such Registrable Notes shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Notes such transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Notes in violation of the terms of this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.

(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(j) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(k) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND THE NEW YORK CIVIL PRACTICE LAWS AND RULES 327(B). EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITS AND IN RESPECT OF ITS

 

23


PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY AND ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS SAID ADDRESS, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(m) Registrable Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company, the Guarantors or their controlled affiliates (as such terms are defined in Rule 405) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

(n) Third Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Notes are intended third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and, subject to Section 8(d) hereof, this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.

(o) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the related provisions of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and any and all prior oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understanding, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Purchasers on the one hand and the Company on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.

 

24


[The rest of this page is intentionally left blank]

 

25


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


PURCHASERS:   GSO DOMESTIC CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
  By:  

GSO Capital Partners LP,

its Investment Manager

    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  
  GSO COF FACILITY LLC
  By:  

GSO Capital Partners LP,

its Investment Manager

    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  
  GSO ORIGINATION FUNDING PARTNERS LP
  By:  

GSO Capital Partners LP,

its Investment Manager

    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  

[EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


PURCHASERS:   FARALLON FUNDING, L.L.C.
  By:  

Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C.,

its Manager

  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


PURCHASERS:   ALPINVEST PARTNERS MEZZANINE 2007 C.V.
  By:  

AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine Investments 2007/2009 B.V.,

its General Partner

  By:  

AlpInvest Partners N.V.,

its Managing Director

  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


PURCHASERS:   KKR FINANCIAL HOLDINGS III, LLC
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


PURCHASERS:   CMP II INITIAL HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
  By:   TC Group, L.L.C., its Managing Member
  By:   TCG Holdings, L.L.C., its Managing Member
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

EX-4.6 5 dex46.htm JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, DATED FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Joinder and Assumption Agreement, dated February 13, 2008

Exhibit 4.6

EXECUTION COPY

JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

This JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (this “Assumption Agreement”), is made and entered into as of February 13, 2008, among Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” or in its capacity as the successor issuer of the Notes, the “Successor Issuer”), the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto (the “Initial Guarantors”), GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC (“GSO Domestic Capital”), GSO COF Facility LLC (“GSO COF”), GSO Origination Funding Partners LP (“GSO Origination Funding” and, together with GSO Domestic Capital and GSO COF, the “GSO Purchasers”), Farallon Funding, L.L.C. (“Farallon Funding”), AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V. (“AlpInvest”), KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC (“KKR Financial”) and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C. (“CMP II” and, together with the GSO Purchasers, Farallon Funding, AlpInvest and KKR Financial, the “Purchasers”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (the “Merger Agreement”), among the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), and Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MergerCo”), MergerCo was merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation of the merger (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms hereof and as a result of the Merger, the Successor Issuer will succeed to the rights and obligations of MergerCo under (A) the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) and (B) the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement”), in each case among MergerCo and the Purchasers; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with the terms hereof, upon consummation of the Merger, each of the Initial Guarantors will be joined to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement as a Guarantor and will assume all the rights and obligations of a Guarantor thereunder.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Purchasers as follows:

(a) DEFINED TERMS. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in that certain Indenture, dated as of even date herewith, among MergerCo and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (as amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time, the “Indenture”).


(b) ASSUMPTION. By executing and delivering this Assumption Agreement, upon consummation of the Merger, the Successor Issuer hereby assumes (the “Assumption”) all rights, title, interests, obligations and liabilities of all and whatever nature of MergerCo under the Note Purchase Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (in furtherance of and in addition to, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) from and after the date hereof with the same force and effect as if originally the Successor Issuer were a party thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Successor Issuer hereby expressly agrees to observe and perform and be bound by all of the terms, covenants, representations, warranties, and agreements contained in this Assumption Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement which are binding upon, and to be observed or performed by, MergerCo.

(c) JOINDER. By executing this Assumption Agreement, the Initial Guarantors agree (the “Joinder”) that by the execution and delivery hereof, each Initial Guarantor becomes a Guarantor under the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and agree to be bound by the terms thereof and subject to the obligations contained therein applicable to a Guarantor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Initial Guarantors hereby expressly agree to observe and perform and be bound by all of the terms, covenants, representations, warranties, and agreements contained in this Assumption Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

(d) AMENDMENT. The Note Purchase Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are hereby deemed to be amended, modified and supplemented to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary to effect this Assumption Agreement. Except as expressly amended, modified and supplemented hereby, the provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified in all respects.

(e) NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THIS ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.

(f) COUNTERPARTS. This Assumption Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Assumption Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

(g) EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any provision hereof.

 

2


(h) SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Assumption Agreement is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

(i) ENTIRETY. This Assumption Agreement together with the Note Purchase Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement represents the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, relating to the Note Purchase Agreement and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Joinder and Assumption Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.
By:  

Goodman Holding Company,

its General Partner

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.
By:  

Goodman Holding Company,

its General Partner

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN SALES COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.
By:  

Goodman Holding Company,

its General Partner

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.
By:  

Quietflex Holding Company,

its General Partner

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


GSO DOMESTIC CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
By:  

GSO Capital Partners LP,

its Investment Manager

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GSO COF FACILITY LLC
By:  

GSO Capital Partners LP,

its Investment Manager

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GSO ORIGINATION FUNDING PARTNERS LP
By:  

GSO Capital Partners LP,

its Investment Manager

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


FARALLON FUNDING, L.L.C.
By:  

Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C.,

its Manager

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


ALPINVEST PARTNERS MEZZANINE 2007 C.V.
By:  

AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine Investments

2007/2009 B.V., its General Partner

By:  

AlpInvest Partners N.V.,

its Managing Director

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


KKR FINANCIAL HOLDINGS III, LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]


CMP II INITIAL HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By:   TC Group, L.L.C., its Managing Member
By:   TCG Holdings, L.L.C., its Managing Member
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]

EX-10.1 6 dex101.htm $800,000,000 CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 $800,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of February 13, 2008

among

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Holdings

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

(with GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the Borrower)

The Several Lenders

from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

BARCLAYS CAPITAL,

and

CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Joint Lead Arrangers,

and

BARCLAYS CAPITAL,

CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH,

and

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Joint Bookrunners,

 

 


EXECUTION COPY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         

Page

Section 1.

   Definitions    2

1.1

   Defined Terms    2

1.2

   Other Interpretive Provisions    46

1.3

   Accounting Terms    47

1.4

   Rounding    47

1.5

   References to Agreements, Laws, Etc    47

1.6

   Times of Day    47

1.7

   Timing of Payment of Performance    47

1.8

   Currency Equivalents Generally    47

Section 2.

   Amount and Terms of Credit Facilities    48

2.1

   Loans    48

2.2

   Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings    48

2.3

   Notice of Borrowing    48

2.4

   Disbursement of Funds    49

2.5

   Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt    50

2.6

   Conversions and Continuations    51

2.7

   Pro Rata Borrowings    52

2.8

   Interest    52

2.9

   Interest Periods    53

2.10

   Increased Costs, Illegality, etc    54

2.11

   Compensation    56

2.12

   Change of Lending Office    56

2.13

   Notice of Certain Costs    56

Section 3.

   Fees; Commitment Terminations    57

3.1

   Fees    57

3.2

   Mandatory Termination of Commitments    57

Section 4.

   Payments    57

4.1

   Voluntary Prepayments    57

4.2

   Mandatory Prepayments    57

4.3

   Method and Place of Payment    60


EXECUTION COPY

 

4.4

   Net Payments    60

4.5

   Computations of Interest and Fees    63

4.6

   Limit on Rate of Interest    63

Section 5.

   Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Event    64

5.1

   Credit Documents    64

5.2

   Collateral    64

5.3

   Legal Opinions    65

5.4

   Structure and Terms of the Transactions    65

5.5

   Closing Certificates    66

5.6

   Corporate Proceedings    66

5.7

   Corporate Documents    66

5.8

   Fees and Expenses    66

5.9

   Solvency Certificate    66

5.10

   Financial Statements    66

5.11

   Insurance Certificates    67

5.12

   Company Material Adverse Effect    67

5.13

   Closing EBITDA    67

5.14

   Representations and Warranties    67

Section 6.

   Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events    67

6.1

   No Default; Representations and Warranties    67

6.2

   Notice of Borrowing    68

Section 7.

   Representations, Warranties and Agreements    68

7.1

   Corporate Status    68

7.2

   Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability    68

7.3

   No Violation    69

7.4

   Litigation    69

7.5

   Margin Regulations    69

7.6

   Governmental Approvals    69

7.7

   Investment Company Act    69

7.8

   True and Complete Disclosure    69

7.9

   Financial Statements    70

7.10

   Tax Returns and Payments, etc    70

7.11

   Compliance with ERISA    70

 

ii


EXECUTION COPY

 

7.12

   Subsidiaries    71

7.13

   Intellectual Property    71

7.14

   Environmental Laws    72

7.15

   Properties, Assets and Rights    72

7.16

   Solvency    72

7.17

   Material Adverse Change    72

Section 8.

   Affirmative Covenants    73

8.1

   Information Covenants    73

8.2

   Books, Records and Inspections    77

8.3

   Maintenance of Insurance    77

8.4

   Payment of Taxes    77

8.5

   Consolidated Corporate Franchises    78

8.6

   Compliance with Statutes    78

8.7

   ERISA    78

8.8

   Good Repair    79

8.9

   End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters    79

8.10

   Additional Guarantors and Grantors    79

8.11

   Pledges of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness    79

8.12

   Use of Proceeds    80

8.13

   Changes in Business    80

8.14

   Further Assurances    80

8.15

   Designation of Subsidiaries    81

8.16

   Interest Rate Protection    81

8.17

   Maintenance of Ratings    82

8.18

   Senior Indebtedness    82

8.19

   Post-Closing Covenants    82

Section 9.

   Negative Covenants    82

9.1

   Limitation on Indebtedness    82

9.2

   Limitation on Liens    86

9.3

   Limitation on Fundamental Changes    89

9.4

   Limitation on Sale of Assets    91

9.5

   Limitation on Investments    94

9.6

   Limitation on Dividends    96

 

iii


EXECUTION COPY

 

9.7

   Limitations on Debt Payments and Amendments    99

9.8

   Limitations on Sale Leasebacks    99

9.9

   Negative Pledge Clauses    99

9.10

   Passive Holding Company    100

9.11

   Financial Covenants    101

9.12

   Transactions with Affiliates    104

Section 10.

   Events of Default    105

10.1

   Payments    105

10.2

   Representations, etc    105

10.3

   Covenants    105

10.4

   Default Under Other Agreements    106

10.5

   Bankruptcy, etc    106

10.6

   ERISA    106

10.7

   Guarantee    107

10.8

   Security Documents    107

10.9

   Subordination    107

10.10

   Judgments    107

10.11

   Change of Control    107

10.12

   Borrower’s Right to Cure    108

Section 11.

   The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent    108

11.1

   Appointment    108

11.2

   Limited Duties    109

11.3

   Binding Effect    109

11.4

   Delegation of Duties    109

11.5

   Exculpatory Provisions    109

11.6

   Reliance by Administrative Agent    110

11.7

   Notice of Default    110

11.8

   Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders    110

11.9

   Indemnification    111

11.10

   GECC in its Individual Capacity    111

11.11

   Successor Agent    112

11.12

   Withholding Tax    112

11.13

   Duties as Collateral Agent and as paying agent    113

 

iv


EXECUTION COPY

 

11.14

   Authorization to Release Liens and Guarantees    113

Section 12.

   Miscellaneous    113

12.1

   Amendments and Waivers    113

12.2

   Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies    115

12.3

   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies    116

12.4

   Survival of Representations and Warranties    116

12.5

   Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification    116

12.6

   Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments    117

12.7

   Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances    122

12.8

   Adjustments; Set-off    122

12.9

   Counterparts    123

12.10

   Severability    123

12.11

   Integration    123

12.12

   GOVERNING LAW    123

12.13

   Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers    123

12.14

   Acknowledgments    124

12.15

   WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL    124

12.16

   Confidentiality    125

12.17

   Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Subordination of Liens    125

12.18

   USA PATRIOT ACT    126

12.19

   Legend    126

 

v


EXECUTION COPY

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.1(a)    Commitments and Addresses of Lenders
Schedule 1.1(b)    Mortgaged Property
Schedule 5.4(d)    Indebtedness to be refinanced on the Closing Date
Schedule 7.12    Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.15    Owned Real Property
Schedule 8.19    Post-Closing Covenants
Schedule 9.1    Indebtedness
Schedule 9.2    Liens
Schedule 9.4    Dispositions
Schedule 9.5    Investments
Schedule 9.9    Negative Pledge Clauses
Schedule 9.12    Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 12.2    Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS   
Exhibit A    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B    Form of Guarantee
Exhibit C    Form of Mortgage
Exhibit D    Form of Perfection Certificate
Exhibit E-1    Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit E-2    Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit F    Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit G-1    Form of Legal Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Exhibit G-2    Form of Legal Opinion of Akerman Senterfitt
Exhibit G-3    Form of Legal Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP
Exhibit H    Form of Closing Certificate
Exhibit I    Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit J    Form of Intercompany Note

 

vi


EXECUTION COPY

CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008, among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”, which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Company surviving such merger as the borrower) (the “Borrower”), the lending institutions from time to time parties hereto (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC and CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as joint bookrunners (the “Joint Bookrunners”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION (“GECC”), as the Administrative and Collateral Agent.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used and not defined in the preamble and these recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, in accordance with the terms thereof, with the Company surviving such merger (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, in order to fund, in part, the Merger Funds (as defined below), the Investors will directly or indirectly make cash equity contributions (the “Equity Contribution”) to Merger Sub (through Holdings) in an aggregate amount equal to, when combined with the fair market value of the equity of management and existing shareholders of the Company rolled over or invested in connection with the Transactions, at least 40% of the total sources required to consummate the Merger (the “Merger Consideration”), to refinance, repurchase, redeem and/or repay the Existing Notes and certain other existing indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Refinancing”), and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions (such fees and expenses, together with the Merger Consideration and the Refinancing payment, the “Merger Funds”), excluding cash-on-hand at the Company used to fund a portion of the Merger Funds;

WHEREAS, in order to fund, in part, the Merger Funds, the Borrower will (x) borrow up to $105,000,000 in aggregate principal amount (plus any Existing Notes Additional Redemption Amount (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement and (y) issue up to $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture;

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the Borrower and Holdings have requested that the Lenders make available on the Closing Date to the Borrower the Term Loans for the purposes specified in this Agreement in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $800,000,000 (the “Credit Facility”);


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WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing and as an inducement for the Lenders to extend the credit contemplated hereunder, the Borrower has agreed to secure all of its Obligations by granting to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a first priority lien on its assets (except for Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2 and as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement), including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock (other than Excluded Capital Stock) of each of its Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing and as an inducement for the Lenders to extend the credit contemplated hereunder, the Guarantors have agreed to guarantee the Obligations and to secure their respective guarantees by granting to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a first priority lien on their respective assets (except for Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2 and as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement), including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock (other than Excluded Capital Stock) of each of their respective Subsidiaries.

AGREEMENT:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions

1.1 Defined Terms (a) As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1 unless the context otherwise requires:

ABR” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus  1/2 of 1%. If the Administrative Agent is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate due to its inability to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the definition thereof, after notice is provided to the Borrower, the ABR shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

ABR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest at the rate provided in Section 2.8(a).

Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment” shall mean a binding commitment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary entered into at any time prior to the end of the Reinvestment Period to reinvest the proceeds of an Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Permitted Sale Leaseback or Recovery Prepayment Event.

Acquired EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Pro Forma Entity for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” were references to such Pro Forma Entity and its subsidiaries which will become Restricted Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity.

 

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Acquired Entity or Business” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Acquisition Agreement” shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007, among, inter alia the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc. and Merger Sub, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto.

Administrative Agent” shall mean GECC, or any successor to GECC appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.11, together with its affiliates, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

Administrative Agent’s Office” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 299 Park Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York NY, 10171 or such other office as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. The term “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Agents” shall mean the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Agreement” shall mean this Credit Agreement.

Applicable Laws” shall mean, as to any Person, any law (including common law), statute, regulation, ordinance, rule, order, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding on such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

Applicable Margin” shall mean, a percentage per annum equal to (i) during the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Initial Financial Statement Delivery Date, (A) for Eurodollar Term Loans, 4.25% and (B) for ABR Loans, 3.25% and (ii) thereafter, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio as set forth in the most recent certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.1(d):

 

Pricing Level

 

Consolidated Total

Debt to

Consolidated

EBITDA Ratio

 

Applicable Margin for

Eurodollar Term

Loans

 

Applicable Margin

for ABR

Loans

1

  Greater than or equal to 4:1.0   4.25%   3.25%

2

  Less than 4:1.0   4.00%   3.00%

 

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Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date Section 8.1 Financials are delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 8.1(a) and 8.1(b); provided that at the option of the Required Lenders, the highest Pricing Level (as set forth in the tables above) shall apply (i) as of the first Business Day after the date on which Section 8.1 Financials were required to have been delivered but have not been delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Financials Section 8.1 Financials are so delivered (and thereafter the Pricing Level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply), and (ii) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 10 shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent has notified that the highest Pricing Level applies, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default shall cease to be continuing (and thereafter the Pricing Level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

In the event that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower determine that any Section 8.1 Financials previously delivered were incorrect or inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Borrower shall as soon as practicable deliver to the Administrative Agent the correct Section 8.1 Financials for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Margin shall be determined as if the Pricing Level for such higher Applicable Margin were applicable for such Applicable Period, and (iii) the Borrower shall within 3 Business Days of demand thereof by the Administrative Agent pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to Section 2.8(c) and Section 10.

Approved Fund” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(b).

Asset Sale Prepayment Event” shall mean any sale, transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, transfers or dispositions) of any business unit, asset or property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including any sale, transfer or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided that the term “Asset Sale Prepayment Event” shall not include (a) any Recovery Event or any Permitted Sale Leaseback or (b) any sale, transfer or other disposition permitted under clauses (a), (b), (d)(i), (e), (f), (i), (l) and (m) of Section 9.4.

Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

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Attributable Indebtedness” shall mean, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Authorized Officer” shall mean the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, with respect to certain limited liability companies or partnerships that do not have officers, any manager, managing member or general partner thereof, any other senior officer of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Credit Party designated as such in writing to the Administrative Agent by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Credit Party, as applicable, and, with respect to any document (other than the solvency certificate) delivered on the Closing Date, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of any Credit Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Credit Party and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

Available Amount” shall mean, at any time (the “Available Amount Reference Time”), an amount equal at such time to the sum of, without duplication:

(a) the amount (which amount shall not be less than zero) equal to 50% of the Cumulative Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time (other than the portion of any such dividends and other distributions that is used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay taxes);

(c) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of all cash repayments of principal received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time in respect of loans made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

(d) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income or applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i), the aggregate amount of all net cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of its ownership interest in any Minority Investment or Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; and

(e) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of any Final Refused Proceeds retained by the Borrower during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time,

 

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minus the sum of, without duplication and without taking into account the actual usage of the Available Amount being made at the applicable Available Amount Reference Time:

(i) the aggregate amount of any Investments made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (iii) of the proviso to Section 9.5(q) and clause (iii) of the proviso to Section 9.5(r) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time;

(ii) the aggregate amount of any Dividends made by Holdings pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of Section 9.6(f) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time; and

(iii) the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (B)(y) of the proviso to Section 9.7(a)(ii) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time; and

(iv) the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.11(c)(i)(z) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time.

Available Amount Reference Time” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Available Amount”.

Available Equity Amount” shall mean, at any time (the “Available Equity Amount Reference Time”), an amount equal to, without duplication, (a) the amount of any capital contributions or other equity issuances (other than the Equity Contribution, issuances of Permitted Cure Securities or any other capital contribution or equity issuance to the extent utilized in connection with other transactions permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 or Section 9.6) received as cash equity by the Borrower (through Holdings) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Equity Amount Reference Time, but excluding all proceeds from the issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) the aggregate amount of any Investments made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (ii) of the proviso to Section 9.5(q) and clause (ii) of the proviso to Section 9.5(r) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time;

(ii) the aggregate amount of any Dividends made by Holdings pursuant to clause (i) of Section 9.6(f) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time;

(iii) the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (A) of the proviso to Section 9.7(a)(ii) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time; and

 

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(iv) the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.11(c)(i)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time.

Available Equity Amount Reference Time” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Available Equity Amount”.

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrowing” shall mean and include the incurrence of one Type of Term Loan on the Closing Date (or resulting from conversions on a given date after the Closing Date) having, in the case of Eurodollar Term Loans, the same Interest Period (provided that ABR Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.10(b) shall be considered part of any related Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans).

Business Day” shall mean (a) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day that shall be in The City of New York a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law or other governmental actions to close and (b) if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Term Loans, any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of, without duplication, (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) all Capitalized Software Expenditures during such period, and (c) all fixed asset additions financed through Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and recorded on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP during such period; provided that the term “Capital Expenditures” shall not include (i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed from insurance proceeds or compensation awards paid on account of a Recovery Event, (ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time, (iii) the purchase of plant, property or equipment to the extent financed with the proceeds of sales, transfers or other dispositions that are not required to be applied to prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i), (iv) expenditures that constitute any part of Consolidated Lease Expense, (v) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that

 

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actually are paid for by a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period, it being understood, however, that only the amount of expenditures actually provided or incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such period and not the amount required to be provided or incurred in any future period shall constitute “Capital Expenditures” in the applicable period), (vi) the book value of any asset owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a capital expenditure during such period as a result of such Person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that (x) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period in which such expenditure actually is made and (y) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, (vii) any expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions and expenditures made in connection with the Transactions or (viii) any capitalized interest expense reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or capitalized as Capitalized Software Expenditures for such period.

Capital Stock” shall mean any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” shall mean, as applied to any Person, all obligations under Capitalized Leases of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case taken at the amount thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Leases” shall mean, as applied to any Person, all leases of property that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases of such Person.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Management Bank” shall mean any Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it provides any Cash Management Services or that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at any time after it has provided any Cash Management Services, including each Person deemed to be “Cash Management Bank” pursuant to the definition of the term “Cash Management Bank” in the Revolving Credit Agreement or in the documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness.

 

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Cash Management Obligations” shall mean obligations owed by Holdings, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in connection with, or in respect of, any Cash Management Services.

Cash Management Services” shall mean treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, including non-card e-payables services, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, automated clearing house fund transfer services and other cash management services.

Change of Control” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if (a) (i) at any time prior to a Qualifying IPO, the Sponsor and the Management Investors shall at any time not own, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, at least 35% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings and/or (ii) at any time after a Qualifying IPO, any person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person, entity or “group” and its Subsidiaries and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than the Sponsor and the Management Investors, shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act) of the greater of (A) 35% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings and (B) the percentage of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by the Sponsor and the Management Investors, unless in the case of either clause (i) or (ii) above, the Sponsor and the Management Investors have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings; provided that, for the purpose of this clause (a), the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of the Management Investors shall be deemed not to exceed 10% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings; and/or (b) at any time Continuing Managers shall not constitute at least majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings; and/or (c) any Person other than Holdings shall acquire direct ownership, beneficially or of record, of any Voting Stock of the Borrower; and/or (d) a “Change of Control” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement or in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or however defined in the documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any of such Indebtedness) shall have occurred.

Closing Date” shall mean the date of the initial Credit Event hereunder.

Closing Date Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness described on Schedule 9.1.

Closing EBITDA” shall mean “EBITDA” as defined in the indenture governing the notes identified in clause (i) of the definition of “Existing Notes” modified as follows: (a) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges under clause (4) of such definition shall only be permitted to be added back up to an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2007 and (b) EBITDA for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007, respectively, shall be deemed to be $32,700,000 and $88,300,000, respectively.

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder. Section references to the Code are to the Code, as in effect at the date of this Agreement, and any subsequent provisions of the Code, amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

 

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Collateral” shall have the meaning provided to such term in each of the Security Documents.

Collateral Agent” shall mean GECC, or any successor thereto appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.11, together with its affiliates, as the collateral agent for the Secured Parties.

Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.

Commitment Parties” shall mean the Joint Bookrunners and GSO Capital Partner LP.

Company” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Confidential Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.16.

Confidential Information Memorandum” shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum of the Borrower dated January 2008, delivered to prospective lenders in connection with this Agreement.

Consolidated EBITDA” shall mean, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities,

(ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes paid or accrued during such period,

(iii) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets established through purchase accounting and amortization of deferred financing fees or costs),

(iv) Non-Cash Charges,

(v) net after tax extraordinary losses in accordance with GAAP,

 

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(vi) net after tax non-recurring charges (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, transition costs and costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities,

(vii) restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring costs related to acquisitions after the Closing Date); provided that such restructuring charges, accruals and reserves shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for any Test Period,

(viii) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period to Consolidated Net Income),

(ix) (A) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) the Sponsor and (B) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted in this Agreement,

(x) losses on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business),

(xi) the amount of “run rate” cost savings projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken within 18 months after the Closing Date (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated EBITDA until fully realized (but in any event for no longer than 30 months following the Closing Date if such cost savings have not be realized by that time) and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that (A) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (B) no cost savings shall be added pursuant to this clause (xi) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings that are included in clauses (vi) and (vii) above or in the definition of the term “Pro Forma Adjustment” and (C) the aggregate amount of cost savings added pursuant to this clause (xi) shall not exceed $10,000,000 for any Test Period (it being understood and agreed that “run rate” shall mean the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken),

(xii) the amount of any net losses from discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP,

(xiii) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”,

 

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(xiv) any loss relating to amounts paid in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income for such period, and

(xv) any gain relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (b)(v) and (b)(vi) below;

less

(b) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) extraordinary gains and unusual or non-recurring gains,

(ii) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period),

(iii) gains on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business),

(iv) the amount of any net income from discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP,

(v) any non-cash gain attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such gain has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”,

(vi) any gain relating to amounts received in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in the such period,

(vii) any loss relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (a)(xiii) and (a)(xiv) above; and

 

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(viii) the amount of any minority interest income consisting of Subsidiary loss attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period to Consolidated Net Income),

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income,

(i) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Agreements for currency exchange risk),

(ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of (but not including the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired) (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired, including pursuant to the Transactions, and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), in each case based on the Acquired EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis and (B) an adjustment in respect of each Pro Forma Entity equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) as specified in the Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent (for further delivery to the Lenders); and

(iii) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified, a “Sold Entity or Business”), and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), in each case based on the Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer, disposition, closure, classification or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein and subject to adjustment as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the immediately preceding proviso with respect to acquisitions and dispositions occurring following the Closing Date and adjustments as provided under clause (a)(xi) above, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $32,200,000, $87,500,000 and $95,000,000, respectively, for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007.

 

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Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such date of determination to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; provided that, for purposes of calculating the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be (A) with respect to all amounts of Consolidated Interest Expense, other than amounts relating to the Revolving Credit Documents, an amount equal to actual Consolidated Interest Expense from the Closing Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is 365 and the denominator of which is the number of days from the Closing Date through the date of determination and (B) with respect to all amounts of Consolidated Interest Expense relating to the Revolving Credit Documents, calculated as if the average amount utilized and accruing Consolidated Interest Expense thereunder during any fiscal quarter prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, is $105,000,000 in respect of Revolving Loans and $33,000,000 in respect of Letters of Credit Outstanding (as defined in the Revolving Credit Documents). In the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility that has not been permanently repaid) subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio is being calculated, but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio shall be calculated giving Pro Forma Effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, redemption, retirement or extinguishing of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period.

Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, the cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases), net of cash interest income, of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Hedging Agreements, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, pay-in-kind interest expense and any other amounts of non-cash interest (including as a result of the effects of purchase accounting), (ii) the accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities during such period, (iii) any interest in respect of items excluded from Indebtedness in the proviso to the definition thereof, (iv) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, (v) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of Hedging Agreements for interest rates, and (vi) all non-recurring cash interest expense consisting of liquidated damages for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations and financing fees, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Lease Expense” shall mean, for any period, all rental expenses of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period under operating leases for real or personal property (including in connection with Permitted Sale Leasebacks), but excluding real estate taxes, insurance costs and common area maintenance charges and net of sublease

 

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income; provided that Consolidated Lease Expense shall not include (a) obligations under vehicle leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, (b) all such rental expenses associated with assets acquired pursuant to the Transactions and pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to the extent that such rental expenses relate to operating leases (i) in effect at the time of (and immediately prior to) such acquisition and (ii) related to periods prior to such acquisition, (c) Capitalized Lease Obligations, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (d) the effects from applying purchase accounting.

Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding, without duplication, (a) extraordinary items for such period (including expenditures incurred to settle environmental liabilities), (b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (c) in the case of any period that includes a period ending prior to or during the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2008, Transaction Expenses, (d) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, (e) any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments (other than commodity Hedging Agreements), (f) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period, (g) stock-based award compensation expenses and (h) any income (loss) from investments recorded using the equity method. There shall be included in Consolidated Net Income, without duplication, the amount of any cash tax benefits related to the tax amortization of intangible assets in such period. There shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the effects from applying purchase accounting, including applying purchase accounting to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of the Transactions, any acquisition consummated prior to the Closing Date and any permitted acquisitions or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof.

Consolidated Total Assets” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the total amount of all assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date.

Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of (i) indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments, minus (b) (i) the aggregate

 

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amount of cash and Permitted Investments (in each case, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens and other non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 9.2, Liens permitted under Sections 9.2(a), 9.2(h), 9.2(j), 9.2(m) and Liens permitted under clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 9.2(n)), excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are listed as “restricted”, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date less (ii) the aggregate amount of Reinvestment Deferred Amounts in excess of $50,000,000 at the date of determination.

Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of the relevant Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

Consolidated Working Capital” shall mean, at any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all amounts (other than cash and Permitted Investments) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date less (b) the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, including deferred revenue but excluding, without duplication, (i) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (ii) all Indebtedness (including Letters of Credit Outstanding as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) under the Revolving Credit Documents, to the extent otherwise included therein, (iii) the current portion of interest, (iv) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes, (v) Non-Cash Compensation Liabilities, (vi) any other liabilities that are not Indebtedness and will not be settled in cash or Permitted Investments during the next succeeding twelve month period after such date and (vii) the effects from applying purchase accounting.

Continuing Manager” shall mean, at any date, an individual (a) who is a member of the Board of Directors of Holdings on the Closing Date, (b) who, as at such date, has been a member of such Board of Directors for at least the 12 preceding months, (c) who has been nominated or designated to be a member of such Board of Directors, directly or indirectly, by the Sponsor or Persons nominated or designated by the Sponsor or (d) who has been nominated to be a member of such Board of Directors by a majority of the other Continuing Managers then in office.

Contract Consideration” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Excess Cash Flow”.

Contractual Obligation” shall mean, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound other than the Obligations.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

 

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Credit Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Fee Letter and any promissory notes issued by the Borrower hereunder.

Credit Event” shall mean and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan.

Credit Facility” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Credit Party” shall mean each of Holdings, the Borrower, the Guarantors and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a party to a Credit Document.

Cumulative Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, as at any date of determination, Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on January 1, 2008 and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which Section 8.1 Financials have been delivered.

Cure Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.12(a).

Cure Right” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.12(a).

Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event” shall mean any issuance or incurrence by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, excluding any Indebtedness permitted to be issued or incurred under Section 9.1 (other than Section 9.1(w) thereof).

Default” shall mean any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” shall mean any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Term Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured, (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or (d) has notified the Borrower and/or the Administrative Agent in writing of any of the foregoing (including any written notification of its intent not to comply with its obligations under Section 2).

Disposed EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” (and in the component financial definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business.

 

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Disposition” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.4(c).

Disqualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Capital Stock into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or (b) is redeemable or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), in whole or in part, or (c) provides for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash, in each case prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the latest Maturity Date of any Credit Facility hereunder; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Dividends” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.6.

Dollars” and “$” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the Applicable Laws of the United States, any state or territory thereof, or the District of Columbia.

E-Fax” shall mean any system used to receive or transmit faxes electronically.

Environmental Claims” shall mean any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) in the ordinary course of such Person’s business or (b) as required in connection with a financing transaction or an acquisition or disposition of real estate) or proceedings relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law (hereinafter, “Claims”), including (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from the release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment.

 

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Environmental Law” shall mean any applicable Federal, state, foreign or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code and rule of common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, in each case relating to the protection of the environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to substances that are harmful or deleterious to the environment, of human health or safety.

Equity Contribution” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time. Section references to ERISA are to ERISA as in effect at the date of this Agreement and any subsequent provisions of ERISA amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that together with Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

Eurodollar Base Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Term Loan, the greater of ((i) the rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for the applicable Interest Period appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day in such Interest Period and (ii) 3.25% per annum. In the event that the rate referred to in clause (i) above does not appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page at such time, the “Eurodollar Base Rate” shall be determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available service for displaying the offered rate for deposit in Dollars in the London interbank market as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower or, in the absence of such agreement, the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for the purposes of this paragraph shall instead be the rate per annum notified to the Administrative Agent by the Reference Lender as the rate at which the Reference Lender is offered Dollar deposits at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period in the interbank Eurodollar market where the Eurodollar and foreign currency and exchange operations in respect of its Eurodollar Loans are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of its Eurodollar Loan to be outstanding during such Interest Period availability, such other method to determine such offered rate as may be selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

Eurodollar Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Interest Period and for any Eurodollar Term Loan, an interest rate per annum determined as the ratio of (a) the Eurodollar Base Rate with respect to such Interest Period for such Eurodollar Term Loan to (b) the Statutory Reserve Requirements with respect to such Interest Period and for such Eurodollar Term Loan.

 

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Eurodollar Term Loan” shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

E-System” shall mean any electronic system, including Intralinks® and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent, any of its Related Parties, or any of such Person’s respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.

Excess Cash Flow” shall mean, for any period, an amount equal to the excess of

(a) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period;

(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all Non-Cash Charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital, decreases in long-term accounts receivable and increases in the long-term portion of deferred revenue for such period (other than any such decreases or increases, as applicable, arising from acquisitions or sales, transfers or other dispositions of property by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period);

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on the sale, transfer or other disposition of property by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than sales, transfers or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income; and

(v) cash payments received in respect of Hedging Agreements during such period to the extent not included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;

(vi) income tax expense to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;

over

(b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges included in clauses (a) through (h) of the definition of the term “Consolidated Net Income”;

(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Capital Expenditures made in cash or accrued during such period, except to the extent that such Capital Expenditures were financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (B) the amount of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans actually made pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (1) all other prepayments of Term Loans and (2) all prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) made during such period (other than in respect of any revolving credit facility to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder), except to the extent financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on the sale, transfer or other dispositions of property by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than the sale, transfer or other disposition of property in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;

(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital, increases in long term accounts receivable and decreases in the long-term portion of deferred revenue for such period (other than any such increases or decreases, as applicable, arising from acquisitions or sales, transfers or other dispositions of property by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period);

(vi) cash payments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness, except to the extent that such payments were financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Investments (other than Investments made pursuant to Section 9.5(b)) and acquisitions made during such period, except to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(viii) the amount of Dividends paid in cash during such period (other than pursuant to Section 9.6(f)), except to the extent that such Dividends were financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ix) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period, except to the extent that such expenditures were financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(x) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness, except to the extent financed by the issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in other periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to Permitted Acquisitions or Capital Expenditures to be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period; provided that to the extent that the aggregate amount of cash actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions or Capital Expenditures during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow, at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters;

(xii) income taxes, including penalties and interest, paid in cash in such period; and

(xiii) cash expenditures made in respect of Hedging Agreements during such period to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Rate” shall mean on any day with respect to any currency (other than Dollars), the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into any other currency (including Dollars), as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day on the Reuters World Currency Page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 11:00 a.m., local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant currency for delivery two Business Days later.

Excluded Capital Stock” shall mean (a) any Capital Stock with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Borrower and the Collateral Agent), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of pledging such Capital Stock shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (b) solely in the case of any pledge of Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary to secure the Obligations, any Capital Stock that is Voting Stock of

 

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such Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such class, (c) any Capital Stock to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Applicable Law or Contractual Obligation, (d) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary), (e) the Capital Stock of any Immaterial Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (f) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (g) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock would result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower and (h) such Capital Stock as has been identified on or prior to the Closing Date in writing to the Administrative Agent by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower and agreed to by the Administrative Agent.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary on any date such Subsidiary would otherwise be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the requirements of Section 8.10 (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary), (b) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by Applicable Law or Contractual Obligation existing on the Closing Date from guaranteeing the Obligations at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (and for so long as such restrictions or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect), (c) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (d) any Immaterial Subsidiary (provided that the Borrower shall not be permitted to exclude Immaterial Subsidiaries from guaranteeing the Obligations to the extent that (i) the aggregate amount of gross revenue for all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries) excluded by clause this clause (d) exceeds 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent Test Period ended prior to the date of determination or (ii) the aggregate amount of total assets for all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries) excluded by this clause (d) exceeds 2% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of the most recent Test Period ended prior to the date of determination), (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Borrower and the Collateral Agent), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing a guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (f) each Foreign Subsidiary and Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) each other Domestic Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition and financed with secured Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(k) or 9.1(l) and permitted by the proviso to subclause (z) or (y), respectively, of either of such Sections and each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees such Indebtedness to the extent that, and for so long as, the financing documentation relating to such Permitted Acquisition to which such Restricted Subsidiary is a party prohibits such Restricted Subsidiary from guaranteeing the Obligations, (h) any Subsidiary to the extent that the guarantee of the Obligations would result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower and (i) AsureCare Corp., a Florida corporation.

Existing Notes” shall mean collectively, (i) the existing fixed rate notes 7 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. and (ii) the outstanding Senior Floating Rate Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.

 

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Fair Market Value” shall mean with respect to any asset or group of assets on any date of determination, the value of the consideration obtainable in a sale of such asset at such date of determination assuming a sale by a willing seller to a willing purchaser dealing at arm’s length and arranged in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time having regard to the nature and characteristics of such asset, as reasonably determined by the Borrower.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letter” shall mean the letter dated the date hereof addressed to Borrower from the Administrative Agent and accepted by Borrower on the date hereof, with respect to certain fees to be paid from time to time to the Administrative Agent.

Fees” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1.

Final Refused Proceeds” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.2(b).

Financial Performance Covenants” shall mean the covenants of the Borrower set forth in Section 9.11.

First Refused Proceeds” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.2(b).

Foreign Asset Sale” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.2(f).

Foreign Recovery Event” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.2(f).

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Funded Debt” shall mean all indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the

 

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application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States, any foreign country or any multinational authority, or any state or political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including the PBGC and other quasi-governmental entities established to perform such functions.

Guarantee” shall mean the Term Loan Guarantee, made by each Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Guarantee Obligations” shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Indebtedness or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Indebtedness of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Indebtedness or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

Guarantors” shall mean (a) Holdings (b) each Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) on the Closing Date and (c) each Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) that becomes a party to the Guarantee after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 8.10.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing regulated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas; (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”, or “pollutants”, or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law; and (c) any other chemical, material or substance, which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Environmental Law.

 

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Hedge Bank” shall mean any Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it enters into a Secured Hedging Agreement or that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at any time after it has entered into a Secured Hedging Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto.

Hedging Agreement” shall mean(a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements.

Historical Financial Statements” shall mean (a) the audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the three most recently completed fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007 and each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of 2007) ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date and (c) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of the Company for each fiscal month after September 30, 2007 (other than any month with respect to which quarterly financial statements are delivered pursuant to the foregoing) ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date, which financial statements described in clauses (a) through (c) shall have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Holdings” shall mean CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC, a Delaware Corporation or, after the Closing Date, any other Person (the “New Holdings”) that is a Subsidiary of CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC, (or the previous New Holdings as the case may be) (the “Previous Holdings”); provided that (a) such New Holdings owns 100% of Voting Stock of the Borrower, (b) the New Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Previous Holdings under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (c) such substitution concurrently occurs under the Revolving Credit Documents, (d) the New

 

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Holdings shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such substitution and any supplements to the Credit Documents preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents, (e) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such substitution does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (f) all assets of the Previous Holdings are contributed or otherwise transferred to such New Holdings and (g) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such substitution and such substitution does not result in any Default or Event of Default or material tax liability; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Previous Holdings shall be automatically released of all its obligations under the Credit Documents and any reference to “Holdings” in the Credit Documents shall be meant to refer to the “New Holdings”.

Immaterial Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) at the last day of the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such determination date were less than 1% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, and (b) whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) for such Test Period were less than 1% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Indebtedness” shall mean, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money and all indebtedness of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net Hedging Obligations of such Person;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) current trade liabilities (but not any refinancings, extensions, renewals, or replacements thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business and maturing within 365 days after the incurrence thereof except if such trade liabilities bear interest and (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

 

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(f) all Attributable Indebtedness; and

(g) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing;

provided that Indebtedness shall not include (i) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business and (ii) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warrants or other unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt and (B) in the case of Holdings, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. The amount of any net Hedging Obligations on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the Fair Market Value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.5(a).

Initial Financial Statement Delivery Date” shall mean the date on which Section 8.1 Financials are delivered to the Administrative Agent under Section 8.1 for the first full fiscal quarter commencing after the Closing Date.

Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and between the Collateral Agent and GECC, as collateral agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and acknowledged by Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors.

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Term Loan, the interest period applicable thereto, as determined pursuant to Section 2.9.

Investment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.5.

Investors” shall mean the Sponsor, certain other investors arranged by and/or designated by the Sponsor and identified to the Joint Bookrunners prior to the Closing Date and the Management Investors.

Joint Lead Arrangers” shall mean Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC and Calyon New York Branch.

 

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Joint Bookrunners” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Lender” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment, lien (statutory or other) or similar encumbrance, and any easement, right-of-way, license, restriction (including zoning restrictions), defect, exception or irregularity in title or similar change or encumbrance (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to be a Lien.

Loan” shall mean any Term Loan made by any Lender hereunder.

Management Investors” shall mean the management officers, directors and employees of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries who become investors in Holdings, any of its direct or indirect parent entities or in the Borrower.

Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Hedging Agreement.

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean an effect that results in or causes, or could reasonably be expected to result in or cause, a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the legality, validity or enforceability of any Credit Document, (c) the ability of the Credit Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective obligations under the Credit Documents or (d) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is six years after the Closing Date; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the “Maturity Date” will be the next succeeding Business Day.

Merger” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Merger Consideration” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Merger Funds” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Merger Sub” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Minimum Borrowing Amount” shall mean $5,000,000.

Minority Investment” shall mean any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns Capital Stock.

 

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Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Mortgage” shall mean a mortgage or a deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed or other security document entered into by the owner of a Mortgaged Property and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property, substantially in the form of Exhibit C (with such changes thereto as may be necessary to account for local law matters) or otherwise in such form as agreed between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent or, in the case of any Mortgaged Property located outside the United States of America, in such form as agreed between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent.

Mortgage Supporting Documents” shall mean the documents which are to be delivered under Section 8.14(c) with respect to any Mortgage for any Mortgaged Property.

Mortgaged Property” shall mean, initially, each parcel of real estate and improvements thereto owned by a Credit Party and identified on Schedule 1.1(b), and each other parcel of real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is required to be granted pursuant to Section 8.14(b).

Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean, with respect to any Prepayment Event, (a) the gross cash proceeds (including payments from time to time in respect of installment obligations, if applicable) received by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Prepayment Event, less (b) the sum of:

(i) in the case of any Prepayment Event, the amount, if any, of all taxes paid or estimated to be payable by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Prepayment Event (including withholding taxes imposed on the repatriation of any such Net Cash Proceeds),

(ii) in the case of any Prepayment Event, the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (i) above) (x) associated with the assets that are the subject of such Prepayment Event and (y) retained by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries including any pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction; provided that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds of such Prepayment Event occurring on the date of such reduction,

(iii) in the case of any Prepayment Event, the amount of any principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest or other amounts on any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the assets that are the subject of such Prepayment Event to the extent that the instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness requires that such Indebtedness be repaid upon consummation of such Prepayment Event and such Indebtedness is actually so repaid,

(iv) in the case of any Asset Sale Prepayment Event or Permitted Sale Leaseback (other than transactions under Section 9.4(c) and 9.4(g) yielding net cash proceeds in excess of $150,000,000 in the aggregate for all such transactions consummated after the Closing

 

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Date and transactions under Section 9.4(d)(ii)), the amount of any proceeds of such Asset Sale Prepayment Event or such Permitted Sale Leaseback that the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary has reinvested (or intends to reinvest), or has entered into an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment to reinvest, within the Reinvestment Period, in the business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (subject to Section 8.13); provided that:

(A) the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall comply with Sections 8.10, 8.11 and 8.14(b) with respect to such reinvestment;

(B) any portion of such proceeds that has not been so reinvested or made subject to an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment within the Reinvestment Period shall (x) be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale Prepayment Event or a Permitted Sale Leaseback occurring on the later of (1) the last day of the Reinvestment Period and (2) 180 days after the date that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary shall have entered into an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment or provided a Restoration Certification and (y) be applied to the repayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i); and

(C) any proceeds subject to an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment that is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such proceeds are applied in accordance therewith shall be applied to the repayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i), unless the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment with respect to such proceeds prior to the end of the Reinvestment Period,

(v) in the case of any Recovery Prepayment Event, the amount of any proceeds of such Recovery Prepayment Event (x) that the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary has reinvested (or intends to reinvest), or has entered into an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment to reinvest, within the Reinvestment Period, in the business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (subject to Section 8.13), including for the repair, restoration or replacement of the asset or assets subject to such Recovery Prepayment Event, or (y) for which the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary has provided a Restoration Certification prior to the end of the Reinvestment Period; provided that:

(A) the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall comply with Sections 8.10, 8.11 and 8.14(b) with respect to such reinvestment;

(B) any portion of such proceeds that has not been so reinvested or made subject to an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment or Restoration Certification within the Reinvestment Period shall (x) be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds of a Recovery Prepayment Event occurring on the later of (1) the last day of the Reinvestment Period and (2) 180 days after the date that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary shall have entered into an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment or provided a Restoration Certification and (y) be applied to the repayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i); and

 

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(C) any proceeds subject to an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment or a Restoration Certification that is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such proceeds are applied in accordance therewith shall be applied to the repayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i), unless the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment or provides another Restoration Certification with respect to such proceeds prior to the end of the Reinvestment Period,

(vi) in the case of any Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Recovery Prepayment Event or Permitted Sale Leaseback by any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the net cash proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (vi)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof, and

(vii) in the case of any Prepayment Event, reasonable and customary fees, commissions, expenses (including attorney’s fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes and other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees), issuance costs, discounts and other costs paid by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, in connection with such Prepayment Event (other than those payable to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower), in each case only to the extent not already deducted in arriving at the amount referred to in clause (a) above.

Non-Cash Charges” shall mean (a) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and investments in debt and equity securities pursuant to GAAP, (b) all losses from investments recorded using the equity method, (c) all Non-Cash Compensation Expenses, (d) the non-cash impact of purchase accounting, and (e) other non-cash charges (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period).

Non-Cash Compensation Expense” shall mean any non-cash expenses and costs that result from the issuance of stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements.

Non-Cash Compensation Liabilities” shall mean any liabilities recorded in connection with stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements.

Non-Consenting Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.7(b).

Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean and include each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Excluded Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.4(a).

Non-U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.4(e).

 

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Notice of Borrowing” shall mean a request of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3 and substantially in the form of Exhibit F or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably).

Notice of Conversion or Continuation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6.

Obligations” shall mean the collective reference to (a) the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest at the applicable rate provided in this Agreement (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, and (ii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower or any other Credit Party to any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (b) the due and punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the covenants, agreements, and liabilities of each other Credit Party under or pursuant to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, (d) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations under each Secured Hedging Agreement and (e) the due and punctual payment and performance of all Cash Management Obligations under each Secured Cash Management Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any Secured Hedging Agreement and under any Secured Cash Management Agreement shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents and the Guarantee only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and guaranteed and (ii) any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement and the other Credit Document shall not require the consent of the holders of Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements or of the holders of Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements.

Organizational Documents” shall mean, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and, if applicable, any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.4(b).

Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(c)(i).

 

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PATRIOT ACT” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.18.

PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.

Perfection Certificate” shall mean a certificate of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition, by merger or otherwise, by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of assets (including any assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division) or Capital Stock, so long as (a) such acquisition and all transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with all Applicable Laws; (b) if such acquisition involves the acquisition of a Subsidiary, such acquisition shall result in the issuer of such Capital Stock becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and a Guarantor, to the extent required by Section 8.10; (c) such acquisition shall result in the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, being granted a security interest in any Capital Stock or any assets so acquired to the extent required by Sections 8.10, 8.11 and/or 8.14(b); (d) after giving effect to such acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (e) after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 8.13; (f) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such acquisition (including any Indebtedness assumed or permitted to exist or incurred pursuant to Sections 9.1(k) and 9.1(l), respectively, and any related Pro Forma Adjustment), with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such Test Period and (g) the Permitted Acquisition Consideration paid in connection with such Permitted Acquisition when combined with the Permitted Acquisition Consideration of the prior Permitted Acquisitions consummated after the Closing Date shall not exceed the sum of (i) 10% of Consolidated Total Assets (determined as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period prior to such Permitted Acquisition), plus (ii) the Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

Permitted Acquisition Consideration” shall mean in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, the aggregate amount (as valued at the Fair Market Value of such Permitted Acquisition at the time such Permitted Acquisition is made) of, without duplication: (i) the purchase consideration paid or payable in cash for such Permitted Acquisition, whether payable at or prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or deferred for payment at any future time, whether or not any such future payment is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, and including any and all payments representing the purchase price and any assumptions of Indebtedness and/or Guarantee Obligations, “earn-outs” and other agreements to make any payment the amount of which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of any person or business; (ii) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with such Permitted Acquisition; provided in each case, that any such future payment that is subject to a contingency shall be considered Permitted Acquisition Consideration only to the extent of the reserve, if any, required under GAAP (as determined at the time of the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition) to be established in respect thereof by Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Permitted Additional Notes” shall mean unsecured senior, senior subordinated or subordinated notes issued by the Borrower; provided that (a) the terms of such notes do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest Maturity Date of any Credit Facility hereunder, other than, subject to the prior repayment of or the prior offer to repay the Obligations hereunder, customary offers to purchase upon a change of control, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event and customary acceleration rights upon an event of default, (b) the covenants, events of default, Subsidiary guarantees and other terms for such notes (provided that such notes shall have interest rates and redemption premiums determined by Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, to be market rates and premiums at the time of issuance of such notes), taken as a whole, are determined by Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, to be market terms on the date of issuance and in any event are not more restrictive on Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or materially less favorable to the Lenders, than the terms of this Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date) and do not require the maintenance or achievement of any financial performance standards other than as a condition to taking specified actions; provided that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings and the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees), (c) if such notes are senior subordinated or subordinated notes, the terms of such notes provide for customary subordination of such notes to the Obligations and (d) no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor) is an obligor under such notes.

Permitted Cure Security” shall mean an equity security of Holdings or the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) having no mandatory redemption, repurchase or similar requirements prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date of any Credit Facility hereunder, and upon which all dividends or distributions (if any) shall be, prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date hereunder, payable solely in additional shares of such equity security; provided that all equity securities of Holdings issued in connection with the Equity Contributions shall not be deemed to be Permitted Cure Securities.

Permitted Investments” shall mean (a) Dollars and, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiaries, local currencies held by such Foreign Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business; (b) securities issued or unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; (c) securities issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having an investment grade rating generally obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be

 

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rating such obligations, then from another nationally recognized rating service); (d) commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes issued by or guaranteed by any Lender or any bank holding company owning any Lender; (e) commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes maturing no more than 12 months after the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating service); (f) time deposits with, or domestic and Eurodollar certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing no more than two years after the date of acquisition thereof issued by, any Lender or any other bank having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of domestic banks and $100,000,000 (or the dollar equivalent thereof) in the case of foreign banks; (g) repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the type described in clauses (b), (c) and (f) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (f) above or securities dealers of recognized national standing; (h) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating service); (i) shares of investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and invest solely in one or more of the types of securities described in clauses (a) through (h) above; and (j) in the case of investments by any Restricted Foreign Subsidiary or investments made in a country outside the United States of America, other customarily utilized high-quality investments in the country where such Restricted Foreign Subsidiary is located or in which such investment is made.

Permitted Liens” shall mean (a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or claims that are either (i) not yet due and payable and not subject to penalties for nonpayment or (ii) being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens in respect of property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors’ and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens, in each case so long as such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and do not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) Liens arising from judgments or decrees for the payment of money in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.10, (d) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar legislation and deposits securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capitalized Leases), government contracts, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit issued in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof and including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business, (e) ground leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located, (f) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects, exceptions or irregularities in title, encroachments, protrusions and other similar charges or encumbrances, in each case do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the Real Estate of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or interfere in any

 

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material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that were not incurred in connection with and do not secure any Indebtedness, and to the extent reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent, any exception on the title policies issued in connection with any Mortgaged Property, (g) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under any lease permitted by this Agreement, (h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods, (i) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit to the extent permitted under Section 9.1, (j) licenses of intellectual property granted in a manner consistent with past practice, (k) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings made in respect of operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (l) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to, or vested in, any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary course of conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Indebtedness (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”) any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to modify, extend, refinance, renew, replace or refund (collectively to “Refinance” or a “Refinancing” or “Refinanced”) such Refinanced Indebtedness (or previous refinancing thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that (A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to such Refinance except by an amount equal to the unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Refinancing plus an amount equal to any existing commitment unutilized and letters of credit undrawn thereunder and (B) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(a), 9.1(h), 9.1(j) or 9.1(w), the direct and contingent obligors with respect to such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not changed, (C) other than with respect to a Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(c), such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Refinanced Indebtedness, and (D) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(a)(ii), 9.1(h), 9.1(j) or 9.1(w), the terms and conditions of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Refinanced Indebtedness being Refinanced (including, if applicable, as to collateral and subordination, but excluding as to interest rates and redemption premiums); provided that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and

 

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conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings and the Borrower within such 10 Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

Permitted Sale Leaseback” shall mean any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 9.4(g).

Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other enterprise or any Governmental Authority.

PIK Interest Amount” shall mean the aggregate principal amount of all increases in the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) including any issuances of PIK Notes (as defined in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or any similar document) in connection with the payment by the Borrower to pay interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) in kind.

Plan” shall mean (a) any multiemployer, as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA, that (i) is maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate, (ii) was so maintained or contributed to and in respect of which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4212 (c) of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated or (b) any single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA that (i) is maintained for employees of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or (ii) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Term Loan Pledge Agreement, entered into by Holdings, the Borrower, the other pledgors party thereto and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2.

Post-Acquisition Period” shall mean, with respect to any Specified Transaction, the period beginning on the date such Specified Transaction is consummated and ending on the last day of the fourth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Specified Transaction is consummated.

Prepayment Event” shall mean any Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Recovery Prepayment Event, Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event or Permitted Sale Leaseback.

Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum published by the Wall Street Journal from time to time, as the prime lending rate.

Pro Forma Adjustment” shall mean, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Pro Forma Entity or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken, prior to or

 

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during such Post-Acquisition Period, for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable cost savings, or (b) any additional costs incurred prior to or during such Post-Acquisition Period in connection with the combination of the operations of such Pro Forma Entity with the operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (A) so long as such actions are taken prior to or during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred prior to or during such Post-Acquisition Period it may be assumed, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period, and (B) any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such Test Period.

Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate” shall mean any certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(i) or setting forth the information described in clause (iv) to Section 8.1(d).

Pro Forma Basis”, “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” shall mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test or covenant: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all Capital Stock in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of the term “Specified Transaction”, shall be included, (b) any retirement or repayment of Indebtedness and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above (but without duplication thereof), the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of the term “Pro Forma Adjustment”.

Pro Forma Entity” shall mean any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary.

Qualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

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Qualifying IPO” shall mean the issuance by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) of its common Capital Stock generating (individually or in the aggregate together with any prior initial public offering) gross proceeds exceeding $100,000,000, in an underwritten primary public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering).

Real Estate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.1(g).

Recovery Event” shall mean (a) any damage to, destruction of or other casualty or loss involving any property or asset or (b) any seizure, condemnation, confiscation or taking under the power of eminent domain of, or any requisition of title or use of or relating to, or any similar event in respect of, any property or asset.

Recovery Prepayment Event” shall mean the receipt of cash proceeds with respect to any settlement or payment in connection with any Recovery Event in respect of any property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the term “Recovery Prepayment Event” shall not include any Asset Sale Prepayment Event or any Permitted Sale Leaseback.

Reference Lender” shall mean Barclays Bank PLC.

Refinanced Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.1.

Refinance” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinancing” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(b)(v).

Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.

Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

Reinvestment Period” shall mean, with respect to any Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Permitted Sale Leaseback or Recovery Prepayment Event, the day which is twelve months after the receipt of cash proceeds from such Asset Sale Prepayment Event, Permitted Sale Leaseback or Recovery Prepayment Event.

 

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Reinvestment Deferred Amount” shall mean, with respect to any Prepayment Event (other than a Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event), the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and that the Borrower has neither reinvested (including by way of Permitted Acquisition, as the case may be) nor applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2(a)(i).

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors of such Person or such Person’s Affiliates and any Person that possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.

Repayment Amount” “shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(b).

Repayment Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.5(b).

Replacement Term Loans” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.1.

Reportable Event” shall mean an event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.

Required Lenders” shall mean at any time, Lenders holding at such time more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans then outstanding.

Restoration Certification” shall mean, with respect to any Recovery Prepayment Event, a certification made by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, to the Administrative Agent prior to the end of the Reinvestment Period certifying (a) that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary intends to use the proceeds received in connection with such Recovery Prepayment Event to repair, restore or replace the property or assets in respect of which such Recovery Prepayment Event occurred, (b) the approximate costs of completion of such repair, restoration or replacement and (c) that such repair, restoration or replacement will be completed within the later of (x) twelve months after the date on which cash proceeds with respect to such Recovery Prepayment Event were received and (y) 180 days after delivery of such Restoration Certification.

Restricted Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Foreign Subsidiary.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revolving Credit Agent” shall mean GECC (or any successor thereto) in its capacity as administrative agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Revolving Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among Holdings, the Borrower, the institutions party thereto as lenders, the Revolving Credit Agent, GECC and Barclays Capital the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, as the joint lead arrangers, Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners.

 

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Revolving Credit Loans” shall mean the “Revolving Credit Loans” as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Revolving Credit Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other credit documents referred to in the Revolving Credit Agreement (other than the Intercreditor Agreement).

Revolving Credit Obligations” shall mean the “Obligations” under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Sale Leaseback” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed of.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Section 8.1 Financials” shall mean the financial statements delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or 8.1(b) together with the accompanying officer’s certificate delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 8.1(d).

Secured Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any agreement relating to Cash Management Services that is entered into by and between Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and a Cash Management Bank.

Secured Hedging Agreement” shall mean any Hedging Agreement that is entered into by and between any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Parties” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) the Collateral Agent, (d) each Hedge Bank, (e) each Cash Management Bank, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Credit Party under the Credit Documents and (g) any successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Security Agreement” shall mean the Term Loan Security Agreement, entered into by the Borrower, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1.

 

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Security Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Mortgages and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 8.10, 8.11 or 8.14 or pursuant to any of the Security Documents to secure any of the Obligations.

Senior Subordinated Notes” shall mean those 13.5/14% senior subordinated notes due 2016 issued by the Borrower under the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000, including any “Exchange Note” issued in an “Exchange Offer” therefore (as such term is defined in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture).

Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture” shall mean the indenture for the Senior Subordinated Notes, dated February 13, 2008 among the Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

Senior Subordinated Notes Documents” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and the other credit documents referred to therein (including the related guarantee, the notes, the notes purchase agreement and the registration rights agreements).

Sold Entity or Business” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Solvent” shall mean, with respect to any Person, at any date, that (a) the sum of such Person’s debt (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair saleable value of such Person’s present assets, (b) such Person’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated on such date, (c) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to incur, or believe that it will incur, debts including current obligations beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise), and (d) such Person is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).

Specified Obligations” shall mean Obligations consisting of the principal of and interest on Loans.

Specified Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) at the last day of the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such date of determination were equal to or greater than 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, (b) any Restricted Subsidiary whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with

 

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GAAP or (c) each other Restricted Subsidiary that, when such Restricted Subsidiary’s total assets or gross revenues (when combined with the total assets or revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) are aggregated with each other Restricted Subsidiary (when combined with the total assets or revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) that is the subject of an Event of Default described in Section 10.5 would constitute a “Specified Subsidiary” under clause (a) or (b) above.

Specified Transaction” shall mean, with respect to any period, any Investment, sale, transfer or other disposition of assets, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Dividend, Subsidiary designation or other event that by the terms of the Credit Documents requires “Pro Forma Compliance” with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis”.

Sponsor” shall mean Hellman & Friedman LLC and/or its Affiliates.

Statutory Reserve Rate” shall mean for any day as applied to any Eurodollar Term Loan, a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages that are in effect on that day (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves), expressed as a decimal, as prescribed by the Board and to which the Administrative Agent is subject, for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Term Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean and include (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any limited liability company, partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest at the time. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean each Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Successor Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.3(a).

Swap Termination Value” shall mean, in respect of any one or more Hedging Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement

 

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relating to such Hedging Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedging Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Term Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(a).

Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, (a) in the case of each Lender that is a Lender on the Closing Date, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(a) as such Lender’s “Term Loan Commitment” and (b) in the case of any Lender that becomes a Lender after the Closing Date, the amount specified as such Lender’s “Term Loan Commitment” in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed a portion of the Total Commitment, in each case as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments as of the Closing Date is $800,000,000.

Test Period” shall mean, for any determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended and for which Section 8.1 Financials have been delivered to the Administrative Agent.

Total Commitment” shall mean the sum of the Term Loan Commitments of all the Lenders.

Transaction Expenses” shall mean any fees or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Merger, (b) the Equity Contribution, (c) the Refinancing, (d) the entering into the Credit Documents and the funding of the Term Loans, (e) the entering into the Revolving Credit Documents and the funding of the Revolving Credit Loans on the Closing Date, (f) the entering into the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents and the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture on the Closing Date and, as applicable, the exchange offer required to be consummated by the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, (g) the consummation of any other transactions connected with the foregoing and (h) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with any of the foregoing.

Transferee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(e).

Type” shall mean as to any Term Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Term Loan.

Unfunded Current Liability” of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any, by which the present value of the accrued benefits under the Plan as of the close of its most recent plan year, determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87 as in

 

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effect on the Closing Date, based upon the actuarial assumptions that would be used by the Plan’s actuary in a termination of the Plan, exceeds the Fair Market Value of the assets allocable thereto.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is formed or acquired after the Closing Date and is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.15 subsequent to the Closing Date, (b) any existing Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.15 subsequent to the Closing Date and (c) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, shares of such Person’s Capital Stock having the right to vote for the election of directors of such Person under ordinary circumstances.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Credit Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Credit Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein”, “hereto”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Credit Document shall refer to such Credit Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Credit Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including”.

 

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(g) Section headings herein and in the other Credit Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

1.3 Accounting Terms. (a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Historical Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

1.4 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained or complied with by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.5 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organizational Documents, agreements (including the Credit Documents) and other Contractual Obligations shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Credit Document; and (b) references to any Applicable Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.

1.6 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.7 Timing of Payment of Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in Section 2.9) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

1.8 Currency Equivalents Generally. For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 9.4, 9.5, 9.6 and 9.11 with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than Dollars (other than with respect to (a) any amount derived from the financial

 

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statements of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower and (b) any Indebtedness), such amount shall be deemed to equal the Dollar equivalent thereof based on the average Exchange Rate for such other currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination determined in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated EBITDA for the related period. For purposes of determining compliance with Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.5 with respect to any amount of Indebtedness in a currency other than Dollars, compliance will be determined at the date of incurrence thereof using the Dollar equivalent thereof at the Exchange Rate in effect at the date of such incurrence.

SECTION 2. Amount and Terms of Credit Facilities

2.1 Loans. (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Lender having a Term Loan Commitment severally agrees to make a loan or loans (each, a “Term Loan”) to the Borrower, which Term Loans (i) shall not exceed, for any such Lender, the Term Loan Commitment of such Lender, (ii) shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the Total Commitment, (iii) shall be made on the Closing Date, (iv) may at the option of the Borrower be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or Eurodollar Term Loans; provided that all such Term Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the same Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Term Loans of the same Type and (v) may be repaid or prepaid in accordance with the provisions hereof, but once repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. On the Maturity Date, all outstanding Term Loans shall be repaid in full. The obligations of each Lender hereunder shall be several and not joint.

(b) Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Term Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that (i) any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan and (ii) in exercising such option, such Lender shall use its reasonable efforts to minimize any increased costs to the Borrower resulting therefrom (which obligation of the Lender shall not require it to take, or refrain from taking, actions that it determines would result in increased costs for which it will not be compensated hereunder or that it determines would be otherwise disadvantageous to it and in the event of such request for costs for which compensation is provided under this Agreement, the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply).

2.2 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings. The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing of Term Loans shall be in a multiple of $1,000,000 and shall not be less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount with respect thereto. More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any date; provided that at no time shall there be outstanding more than 5 Borrowings of Eurodollar Term Loans under this Agreement.

2.3 Notice of Borrowing. (a) The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office (i) prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) at least three Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Term Loans if all or any of such Term Loans are to be initially Eurodollar Term Loans, and (ii) prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date of each Borrowing of Term Loans if all such Term Loans are to be ABR Loans. Such notice (a “Notice of Borrowing”) shall specify

 

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(i) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans to be made, (ii) the date of the Borrowing (which shall be the Closing Date) and (iii) whether the Term Loans shall consist of ABR Loans and/or Eurodollar Term Loans and, if the Term Loans are to include Eurodollar Term Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each proposed Borrowing of Term Loans, of such Lender’s proportionate share thereof and of the other matters covered by the related Notice of Borrowing.

(b) Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice it may give hereunder by telephone, the Administrative Agent may act prior to receipt of written confirmation without liability upon the basis of such telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower. In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Administrative Agent’s record of the terms of any such telephonic notice.

2.4 Disbursement of Funds. (a) No later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date specified in each Notice of Borrowing, each Lender will make available its pro rata portion, if any, of each Borrowing requested to be made on such date in the manner provided below.

(b) Each Lender shall make available all amounts it is to fund to the Borrower under any Borrowing in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office and the Administrative Agent will make available to the Borrower, by depositing to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing, the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any such Borrowing that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date of Borrowing, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender and the Administrative Agent has made available same to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to (i) if paid by such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) if paid by the Borrower, the then-applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance with Section 2.8, for the respective Loans.

 

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(c) Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder).

2.5 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Lenders, on the Maturity Date, all then outstanding Term Loans.

(b) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders of Term Loans, on each date set forth below (each, an “Repayment Date”), and in the amounts set forth below: (each, an “Repayment Amount”):

 

Repayment Date

   Repayment Amount

June 30, 2008

   $ 2,000,000

September 30, 2008

   $ 2,000,000

December 31, 2008

   $ 2,000,000

March 31, 2009

   $ 2,000,000

June 30, 2009

   $ 2,000,000

September 30, 2009

   $ 2,000,000

December 31, 2009

   $ 2,000,000

March 31, 2010

   $ 2,000,000

June 30, 2010

   $ 2,000,000

September 30, 2010

   $ 2,000,000

December 31, 2010

   $ 2,000,000

March 31, 2011

   $ 2,000,000

June 30, 2011

   $ 2,000,000

September 30, 2011

   $ 2,000,000

December 31, 2011

   $ 2,000,000

March 30, 2012

   $ 2,000,000

June 30, 2012

   $ 2,000,000

September 30, 2012

   $ 2,000,000

December 31, 2012

   $ 2,000,000

March 30, 2013

   $ 2,000,000

 

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Repayment Date

   Repayment Amount

June 30, 2013

   $ 2,000,000

September 30, 2013

   $ 2,000,000

December 31, 2013

   $ 2,000,000

Maturity Date

   $ 754,000,000

(c) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to the appropriate lending office of such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such lending office of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such lending office of such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(d) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 12.6(b), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type of each Loan made and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e) The entries made in the Register and accounts and subaccounts maintained pursuant to Sections 2.5(c) and 2.5(d) shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

2.6 Conversions and Continuations. (a) The Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to convert all or a portion equal to at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount of the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of one Type into a Borrowing or Borrowings of another Type and the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to continue the outstanding principal amount of any Eurodollar Term Loans as Eurodollar Term Loans for an additional Interest Period; provided that (i) no partial conversion of Eurodollar Term Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of Eurodollar Term Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (ii) ABR Loans may not be converted into Eurodollar Term Loans if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the conversion and the Administrative Agent has, or the Required Lenders have, determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion, (iii) Eurodollar Term Loans may not be continued as Eurodollar Term Loans for an additional Interest Period if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Administrative Agent has, or the Required Lenders have, determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation and (iv) Borrowings resulting from conversions pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be limited in number as provided in Section 2.2. Each such conversion or continuation

 

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shall be effected by the Borrower by giving the Administrative Agent at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) at least three Business Days’ (or one Business Day’s notice in the case of a conversion into ABR Loans) prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) (each, a “Notice of Conversion or Continuation”) specifying the Loans to be so converted or continued, the Type of Loans to be converted or continued into and, if such Loans are to be converted into or continued as Eurodollar Term Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. The Administrative Agent shall give each Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed conversion or continuation affecting any of its Loans.

(b) If any Event of Default is in existence at the time of any proposed continuation of any Eurodollar Term Loans and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, Eurodollar Term Loans shall be automatically converted on the last day of the current Interest Period into ABR Loans. If upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of Eurodollar Term Loans, the Borrower has failed to elect a new Interest Period to be applicable thereto as provided in Section 2.6(a), the Borrower, shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans into a Borrowing of ABR Loans, effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period.

2.7 Pro Rata Borrowings. Each Borrowing of Term Loans under this Agreement shall be granted by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Term Loan Commitments. It is understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder.

2.8 Interest. (a) The unpaid principal amount of each ABR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus the ABR in effect from time to time.

(b) The unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Term Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus the Eurodollar Rate in effect from time to time.

(c) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or any interest payable thereon or any fees or other amounts due hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) at a rate per annum that is (i) in the case of overdue principal, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto plus 2% or (ii) in the case of overdue interest, fees or other amounts due hereunder, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the rate described in Section 2.8(a) plus 2% from and including the date of such non-payment to but excluding the date on which such amount is paid in full. All such interest shall be payable on demand.

 

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(d) Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the date of any Borrowing to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof and shall be payable (i) in respect of each ABR Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, (ii) in respect of each Eurodollar Term Loan, on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each date occurring at three-month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) in respect of each Loan (except, other than in the case of prepayments, any ABR Loan), on any prepayment (on the amount prepaid), at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and, after such maturity, on demand.

(e) All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 4.5.

(f) The Administrative Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders thereof. Each such determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

(g) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.9(d), whenever any payment hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or commitment or letter of credit fee or commission, as the case may be.

2.9 Interest Periods. (a) At the time the Borrower gives a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation in respect of the making of, or conversion into or continuation as, a Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans (in the case of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto) or prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the third Business Day prior to the expiration of an Interest Period applicable to a Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans, the Borrower shall have the right to elect, by giving the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing), the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, which Interest Period shall, at the option of the Borrower, be a one, two, three or six month period (or if available to all relevant Lenders participating in the relevant Credit Facility, a nine or twelve month period or a period shorter than one month); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing parenthetical, the initial Interest Period beginning on the Closing Date may be for a period less than one month if agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above:

(b) the initial Interest Period for any Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of ABR Loans) and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(c) if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

 

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(d) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any Interest Period in respect of a Eurodollar Term Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day; and

(e) the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Term Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date of such Loan.

2.10 Increased Costs, Illegality, etc. (a) In the event that (x) in the case of clause (i) below, the Administrative Agent or (y) in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) below, any Lender shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

(i) on any date for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period that (x) deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising any Eurodollar Borrowing are not generally available in the relevant market or (y) by reason of any changes arising on or after the Closing Date affecting the interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of Eurodollar Rate; or

(ii) at any time, that such Lender shall incur increased costs or reductions in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to any Eurodollar Term Loans because of (x) any change since the Closing Date in any Applicable Law (or in the interpretation or administration thereof and including the introduction of any new Applicable Law), such as, for example, without limitation, a change in official reserve requirements, and/or (y) other circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market or the position of such Lender in such market; or

(iii) at any time, that the making or continuance of any Eurodollar Term Loan has become unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Applicable Law (or would conflict with any such Applicable Law not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or has become impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the date hereof that materially and adversely affects the interbank Eurodollar market;

then, and in any such event, such Lender (or the Administrative Agent, in the case of clause (i) above) shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice (if by telephone, confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, Eurodollar Term Loans shall no longer be available until such time as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Administrative Agent no longer exist (which notice the Administrative

 

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Agent agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation given by the Borrower with respect to Eurodollar Term Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender, promptly after receipt of written demand therefor such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its reasonable discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by such Lender shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) and (z) in the case of clause (iii) above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in Section 2.10(b) as promptly as possible and, in any event, within the time period required by Applicable Law.

(b) At any time that any Eurodollar Term Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iii), the Borrower may (and in the case of a Eurodollar Term Loan affected pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iii) shall) either (x) if the affected Eurodollar Term Loan is then being made pursuant to a Borrowing, cancel said Borrowing by giving the Administrative Agent telephonic notice (confirmed promptly in writing) thereof on the same date that the Borrower was notified by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iii)or (y) if the affected Eurodollar Term Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert each such Eurodollar Term Loan into an ABR Loan, if applicable; provided that if more than one Lender is affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated in the same manner pursuant to this Section 2.10(b).

(c) If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any Applicable Law regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by a Lender or its parent with any request or directive made or adopted after the date hereof regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, association, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or its parent’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Lender’s commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or its parent could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time, promptly after demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its parent for such reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Lender’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any such Applicable Law as in effect on the date hereof. Each Lender, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), will give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower (on its own behalf) which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such notice shall not, subject to Section 2.13, release or diminish any of the Borrower’s obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) upon receipt of such notice.

 

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(d) This Section 2.10 shall not apply to taxes to the extent duplicative of Section 4.4.

(e) The agreements in this Section 2.10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

2.11 Compensation. If (a) any payment of principal of a Eurodollar Term Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Term Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Section 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 4.1, 4.2 or 12.7, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 10 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of Eurodollar Term Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing, (c) any ABR Loan is not converted into a Eurodollar Term Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any Eurodollar Term Loan is not continued as a Eurodollar Term Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of a Eurodollar Term Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount and, absent clearly demonstrable error, the amount requested shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender within 10 Business Days of such request any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue, failure to prepay, reduction or failure to reduce, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or maintain such Eurodollar Term Loan.

2.12 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.10(a)(ii), 2.10(a)(iii), 2.10(b), or 4.4 with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event; provided that such designation is made on such terms that such Lender and its lending office suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such Section. Nothing in this Section 2.12 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the right of any Lender provided in Section 2.10 or 4.4.

2.13 Notice of Certain Costs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any notice required by Section 2.10, 2.11 or 4.4 is given by any Lender more than 180 days after such Lender has knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, tax or other additional amounts described in such Sections, such Lender shall not be entitled to compensation under Section 2.10, 2.11 or 4.4, as the case may be, for any such amounts incurred or accruing prior to the giving of such notice to the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 3. Fees; Commitment Terminations

3.1 Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Administrative Agent, the agency fees set forth in the Fee Letter at the times specified therein (the “Fees”).

3.2 Mandatory Termination of Commitments. The Total Commitment shall terminate on the earlier of (i) at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the End Date (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) and (ii) 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Closing Date.

SECTION 4. Payments

4.1 Voluntary Prepayments. (a) The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Term Loans without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 4.1(b)), in whole or in part from time to time on the following terms and conditions: (a) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of its intent to make such prepayment, the amount of such prepayment and in the case of Eurodollar Term Loans, the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made, which notice shall be given by the Borrower no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) (x) one Business Day prior to (in the case of ABR Loans) or (y) three Business Days prior to (in the case of Eurodollar Loans), the date of prepayment, (b) each partial prepayment of any Borrowing of Term Loans shall be in a multiple of $1,000,000 and in an aggregate principal amount of at least $5,000,000; provided that no partial prepayment of Eurodollar Term Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding Eurodollar Term Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount for Eurodollar Term Loans; (c) any prepayment of Eurodollar Term Loans pursuant to this Section 4.1 on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto shall be subject to compliance by the Borrower with the applicable provisions of Section 2.11. Each prepayment in respect of any tranche of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) shall be applied to reduce the Repayment Amount in such order as the Borrower may determine. All prepayments under this Section 4.1 shall also be subject to the provisions of Section 4.2(c). At the Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 4.1, such prepayment shall not be applied to any Term Loan of a Defaulting Lender.

(b) All voluntary prepayments of Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.1(a) made (i) on or after the Closing Date and on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date shall be accompanied by a prepayment fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of such prepayment and (ii) after the first anniversary of the Closing Date shall be without premium or penalty.

4.2 Mandatory Prepayments. (a) Term Loan Prepayments. (i) On each occasion that a Prepayment Event occurs, the Borrower shall, within one Business Day after the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds from a Debt Incurrence Prepayment Event and within five Business Days after the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds in connection with the occurrence of any other Prepayment Event, offer to prepay, in accordance with Sections 4.2(b), 4.2(c) and 4.2(d), a principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Prepayment Event.

 

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(ii) Not later than the date that is 10 Business Days following the date Section 8.1 Financials are required to be delivered under Section 8.1(a) (commencing with the Section 8.1 Financials to be delivered with respect to the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008), the Borrower shall offer to prepay, in accordance with Sections 4.2(b), 4.2(c) and 4.2(c), an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to (x) 75% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year minus (y) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans voluntarily prepaid pursuant to Section 4.1 and Revolving Credit Loans voluntarily prepaid pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement (to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the commitments thereunder pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement), during such fiscal year (excluding the aggregate principal amount of any such voluntary prepayments made with the proceeds of any incurrence of Indebtedness); provided that the percentage in this Section 4.2(a)(ii) shall be reduced to (x) 50% if the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio for the fiscal year ended prior to such prepayment date is no greater than 4.5 to 1.0 but equal to or greater than 3.5 to 1.0 and (y) 25% if the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio for the fiscal year ended prior to such prepayment date is no greater than 3.5 to 1.0.

(b) Application to Repayment Amounts. Each prepayment of Term Loans required by Sections 4.2(a)(i) and (ii) shall be applied to reduce the scheduled Repayment Amounts on a pro rata basis. With respect to each such prepayment, (i) the Borrower will, not later than the date specified in Section 4.2(a) for offering to make such prepayment, give the Administrative Agent telephonic notice (promptly confirmed in writing) requesting that the Administrative Agent provide notice of such prepayment to each Lender and the Administrative Agent will promptly provide such notice to each Lender, (ii) each Lender will have the right to refuse any such prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Borrower within eight Business Days after such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of such prepayment (and the Borrower shall not prepay any Term Loans until the date that is specified in clause (iv) below) (such refused amounts, the “First Refused Proceeds”), (iii) the First Refused Proceeds will be re-offered for prepayment to the Lenders not having refused a prepayment under clause 4.2(b)(ii) above by the Administrative Agent promptly providing notice of such re-offer to each such Lender, each such Lender will have the right to refuse any such re-offer of prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Borrower within five Business Days after such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of such re-offer of prepayment (and the Borrower shall not prepay any Term Loans until the date that is specified in clause (iv) below) (such refused amounts, the “Final Refused Proceeds”), (iv) the Borrower will make all such prepayments not so refused upon the earlier of (x) the fifteenth Business Day after the Lender received first notice at repayment from the Administrative Agent and (y) such time as the Borrower has received notice from any Lender that it consents to such prepayment, (v) thereafter, any remaining Final Refused Proceeds may be retained by the Borrower.

(c) Application to Term Loans. With respect to each prepayment of Term Loans elected by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.1 or required by Section 4.2(a), the Borrower may designate the Types of Loans that are to be prepaid and the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made; provided that the Borrower pays any amounts, if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to prepayments of Eurodollar Term Loans made on any date other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period. In the absence of a designation by the Borrower as described in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the above, make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.11.

 

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(d) Eurodollar Interest Periods. In lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 4.2 in respect of any Eurodollar Term Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, so long as no Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower at its option may deposit with the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the amount of the Eurodollar Term Loan to be prepaid and such Eurodollar Term Loan shall be repaid on the last day of the Interest Period therefor in the required amount. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a corporate time deposit account established on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, earning interest at the then-customary rate for accounts of such type. Such deposit shall constitute cash collateral for the Specified Obligations; provided that the Borrower may at any time direct that such deposit be applied to make the applicable payment required pursuant to this Section 4.2.

(e) Minimum Amount. No prepayment shall be required pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) unless and until the amount at any time of Net Cash Proceeds from Prepayment Events required to be offered at or prior to such time pursuant to such Section and not yet offered at or prior to such time to prepay Term Loans pursuant to such Section exceeds (i) $2,500,000 for any single Prepayment Event or series of related Prepayment Events and (ii) $7,500,000 in the aggregate for all such Prepayment Events, at which time the entire amount of such Net Cash Proceeds (not only the amount in excess of $2,500,000 or $7,500,000 as the case may be) will be applied as provided in Section 4.2(a)(i).

(f) Foreign Asset Sales. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.2, (i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any asset sale by a Restricted Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to an Asset Sale Prepayment Event (a “Foreign Asset Sale”), the Net Cash Proceeds of any Recovery Event from a Restricted Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Recovery Event”) or Excess Cash Flow, are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 4.2 but may be retained by the applicable Restricted Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Restricted Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all actions required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, such repatriation will be immediately effected and such repatriated Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 4.2 and (ii) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Asset Sale, any Foreign Recovery Event or Excess Cash Flow would have a material adverse tax cost consequence with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected may be retained by the applicable Restricted Foreign Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of this clause (ii), on or before the date on which any Net Cash Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to Section 4.2(a) (or

 

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such Excess Cash Flow would have so required if it were Net Cash Proceeds), (x) the Borrower applies an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments as if such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrower rather than such Restricted Foreign Subsidiary, less the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary) or (y) such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow are applied to the repayment of Indebtedness of a Restricted Foreign Subsidiary.

(g) All mandatory prepayments of Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 and all prepayments occurring as a result of an acceleration in accordance with the provisions of Section 10, made (i) on or after the Closing Date and on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date shall be accompanied by a prepayment fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of such prepayment and (ii) after the first anniversary of the Closing Date shall be without premium or penalty.

4.3 Method and Place of Payment. (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments under this Agreement shall be made by the Borrower, without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind, to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders entitled thereto, not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date when due and shall be made in immediately available funds in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office, it being understood that written or facsimile notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower’s account at the Administrative Agent’s Office shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such funds held in such account. The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 2:30 p.m. (New York time) on such day and, if not, on the next Business Day) like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or Fees ratably to the Lenders entitled thereto.

(b) For purposes of computing interest or fees, any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately prior to such extension.

4.4 Net Payments. (a) Subject to the following sentence, all payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any current or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding in the case of each Lender and each Agent, (A) overall net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of overall net income taxes) imposed on any Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection between such Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely

 

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from such Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Credit Document) and (B) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction where the Borrower is located. If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“Non-Excluded Taxes”) are required to be withheld from any amounts payable under this Agreement, the Borrower shall increase the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement. Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt (or other evidence acceptable to such Lender, acting reasonably) received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. The agreements in this Section 4.4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(b) In addition, each Credit Party shall pay any present or future stamp, documentary, excise, property or intangible taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made by such Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Documents or from the execution, delivery or registration or recordation of, performance under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) The Credit Parties shall indemnify each Lender and each Agent for and hold them harmless against the full amount of Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes, and for the full amount of Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes imposed or asserted (whether properly or not) by any jurisdiction on any additional amounts or indemnities payable under this Section 4.4, imposed on or paid by such Lender or such Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, additions to tax, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or such Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor.

(d) To the extent permitted by law or otherwise, each Non-U.S. Lender shall:

(i) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two originals of either (x) in the case of Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. Federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (together with a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is not a 10-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code) of the Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code)), or (y) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, in each case properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or reduced rate of, U.S. Federal withholding tax on payments by the Borrower under this Agreement; and

 

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(ii) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two further originals of any such form or certification (or any applicable successor form) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower;

unless in any such case any change in treaty, law or regulation has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required that renders any such form inapplicable or would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect to it.

(e) The Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Lender that is not organized under the laws of the United States of America, a state thereof or the District of Columbia (a “Non-U.S. Lender”), or to pay any additional amounts to any Non-U.S. Lender, in respect of U.S. Federal withholding tax pursuant to paragraph (a) above to the extent that (i) the obligation to withhold amounts with respect to U.S. Federal withholding tax existed on the date such Non-U.S. Lender became a party to this Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 4.4(e) shall not apply to the extent that (x) the indemnity payments or additional amounts any Lender would be entitled to receive (without regard to this clause (i)) do not exceed the indemnity payment or additional amounts that the person making the assignment, participation or transfer to such Lender (or Participant) would have been entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment, participation or transfer, or (y) such assignment, participation or transfer had been requested by the Borrower or (ii) the obligation to pay such additional amounts would not have arisen but for a failure by such Non-U.S. Lender or Non-U.S. Participant to comply with the provisions of Section 4.4(d), other than by reason of any change in treaty, law or regulation having effect after the date such representations or certifications were made.

(f) Each Lender that is organized in the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia shall (A) on or prior to the date such Lender becomes a Lender hereunder, (B) on or prior to the date on which any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete, (C) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form or certification previously delivered by it pursuant to this Section 4.4(f) and (D) from time to time if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a participant, the relevant Lender), provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or, in the case of a participant, the relevant Lender) with two duly completed and signed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (certifying that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from U.S. backup withholding tax) or any successor form.

(g) If any Lender or the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion that it has received a refund of a Non-Excluded Tax or Other Taxes for which a payment has been made by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, which refund in the good faith judgment of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, is attributable to such payment made by such Borrower, then such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Borrower for such amount (together with any interest received thereon) as such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, reasonably determines to be the proportion of the refund as will leave it, after such reimbursement, in no better or worse position than it would have been in if the payment had not been required; provided that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (with

 

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interest and penalties) in the event such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Neither any Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall be obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to the Borrower in connection with this Section 4.4(g) or any other provision of this Section 4.4; provided, further, that nothing in this Section 4.4 shall obligate any Lender (or Transferee) or the Administrative Agent to apply for any refund.

4.5 Computations of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest on Eurodollar Term Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. Interest on ABR Loans and interest on overdue interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed.

(b) Fees shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year for the actual days elapsed.

4.6 Limit on Rate of Interest. (a) No Payment shall exceed Lawful Rate. Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be obliged to pay any interest or other amounts under or in connection with this Agreement in excess of the amount or rate permitted under or consistent with any Applicable Law.

(b) Payment at Highest Lawful Rate. If the Borrower is not obliged to make a payment which it would otherwise be required to make, as a result of Section 4.6(a), the Borrower shall make such payment to the maximum extent permitted by or consistent with Applicable Law.

(c) Adjustment if any Payment exceeds Lawful Rate. If any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents would obligate the Borrower to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by any Applicable Law, then notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law (in the case of the Borrower), such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows:

(i) firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender under Section 2.8; and

(ii) thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if any Lender shall have received from the Borrower an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by any Applicable Law, then the Borrower shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent, to obtain reimbursement from such Lender in an amount equal to such excess, and pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by such Lender to the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 5. Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Event

The occurrence of the initial Credit Event is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

5.1 Credit Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(a) this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each of Holdings, the Borrower, each Agent and each Lender;

(b) the Guarantee, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each Person that is a Guarantor as of the Closing Date;

(c) the Security Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each other grantor party thereto as of the Closing Date.

(d) the Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each other pledgor party thereto as of the Closing Date; and

(e) the Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the Revolving Credit Documents and acknowledged by Holdings, the Borrowers and the other Guarantors.

5.2 Collateral. (a) All Capital Stock of the Borrower and all Capital Stock of each Subsidiary of the Borrower directly owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case as of the Closing Date, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement (except that such Credit Parties shall not be required to pledge any Excluded Capital Stock) and the Collateral Agent shall have received all certificates, if any, representing such securities pledged under the Pledge Agreement, accompanied by instruments of transfer and undated stock powers endorsed in blank.

(b) All Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary that is owing to any Credit Party that is a party to the Pledge Agreement as of the Closing Date shall, to the extent exceeding $2,500,000 (individually), be evidenced by one or more global promissory notes and shall have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and the Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank.

(c) All documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable personal property security financing statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any Collateral (other than Collateral consisting of the Capital Stock of the Borrower and the Capital Stock of any Domestic Subsidiary required to be pledged pursuant to Section 5.2(a)), the security interest in which may not be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement, if the perfection of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Collateral may not be accomplished on or prior to the Closing Date without undue burden or expense and without the taking of any action that goes beyond commercial reasonableness, then the delivery of documents and instruments for perfection of such security interest shall not constitute a condition precedent to the initial Credit Event to occur on the Closing Date. To the extent that any such security interest is not so perfected on or prior to the Closing Date, then Holdings and the Borrower agree to deliver or cause to be delivered such documents and instruments, and take or cause to be taken such other actions as may be required to perfect such security interests, on or prior to the date that is 60 days after the Closing Date or such longer period of time as may be agreed to by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion.

5.3 Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the following executed legal opinions:

(a) the legal opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special New York counsel to Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1;

(b) the legal opinion of Akerman Senterfitt, special Florida counsel to Holdings to certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2; and

(c) the legal opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP, local Texas counsel to certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-3.

5.4 Structure and Terms of the Transactions. (a) The Merger shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Event, in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any modifications, amendments or waivers thereto that are material and adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Joint Lead Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Administrative Agent shall have received certified copies of the Acquisition Agreement and all material certificates and other material documents delivered thereunder.

(b) The Equity Contribution shall have been made, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Event hereunder shall be made, in at least the amount set forth in the third recital to this Agreement, which to the extent constituting other than common stock shall be on terms and conditions and pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Joint Lead Arrangers to the extent material to the interests of the Lenders.

(c) The Borrower shall have received, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Event shall receive, $500,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes, which Senior Subordinated Notes shall have (i) a maturity date that is not earlier than the eighth anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) customary subordination provisions and (iii) covenants, events of default, guarantees and other terms which, taken as a whole, are not more restrictive to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those contained in this Agreement.

 

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(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a fully executed pay-off letter, confirming that the repayment in full of, and the termination of any commitments to make extensions of credit under, all of the outstanding Indebtedness listed on Schedule 5.4(d) and (ii) such UCC (or equivalent) termination statements, mortgage releases, releases of assignments of leases and rents, releases of security interests in intellectual property and other instruments from any person holding any Lien securing any such Indebtedness, in each case in proper form for recording or filing, as the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably requested to release and terminate of record the Liens securing such Indebtedness.

5.5 Closing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of each Person that is a Credit Party as of the Closing Date, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit H, with appropriate insertions, executed by the President or any Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Credit Party, and attaching the documents referred to in Sections 5.6 and 5.7.

5.6 Corporate Proceedings. The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the resolutions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the Board of Directors or other governing body, as applicable, of each Person that is a Credit Party as of the Closing Date (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing (a) if applicable, the consummation of the Merger, (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents (and any agreements relating thereto) to which it is a party and (c) in the case of the Borrower, the extensions of credit contemplated hereunder and under the Revolving Credit Documents.

5.7 Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received true and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of each Person that is a Credit Party as of the Closing Date.

5.8 Fees and Expenses. The fees in the amounts previously agreed in writing by the Agents to be received on the Closing Date and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel) for which invoices have been presented on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid in full.

5.9 Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with appropriate attachments and demonstrating that after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

5.10 Financial Statements. (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received: (i) the Historical Financial Statements and (ii) an unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at December 31, 2007, and a pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2007, in each case adjusted to give effect to the

 

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Merger, the related financings and the other Transactions as if such Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).

(b) The Borrower shall have delivered to the Joint Bookrunners, and the Joint Bookrunners shall have acknowledged receiving, the financial projections of the Borrower and its subsidiaries through the 2013 fiscal year.

5.11 Insurance Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of insurance certificates evidencing the insurance required to be maintained by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 8.3.

5.12 Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in reasonable detail in the Company SEC Documents (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) filed prior to the date of the Acquisition Agreement (other than disclosure referred to in the “Factors That May Affect Future Results,” “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” or “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of such Company SEC Documents) or in the Company Disclosure Letter (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement), since June 30, 2007, there shall not have been any changes, facts, events, developments or state of circumstances that have had or constitutes, individually or in the aggregate, any Company Material Adverse Effect (as such expression is defined in the Acquisition Agreement).

5.13 Closing EBITDA. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer confirming that Closing EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2007, shall equal at least $255,000,000, and showing in reasonable detail the support for such calculation.

5.14 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties made by the Company in the Acquisition Agreement relating to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses that are material to the interests of the Lenders shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct as of such earlier date) unless, as a result of any failure to be so true and correct, Holdings does not have the right to terminate its obligations under the Acquisition Agreement as a result of a breach of such representations.

SECTION 6. Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events

6.1 No Default; Representations and Warranties. The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date is subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent that at the time of each such Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (a) except in the case of the Credit Events to occur on the Closing Date, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (b) all representations and warranties made by any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and

 

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warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); provided that, in the case of the initial Credit Event to occur on the Closing Date, such representations and warranties shall be limited to the Specified Representations. For purposes of this Section 6.1, the Specified Representations shall mean the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 7.1(a), 7.2 (other than clause (b) of the last sentence thereof), 7.5, 7.7 and, subject to the last paragraph of Section 5.2, section 3.3 of the Security Agreement and section 5(f) of the Pledge Agreement. The acceptance of the benefits of each such Credit Event shall constitute a representation and warranty by each Credit Party to each of the Lenders that the conditions contained in this Section 6.1 have been met as of such date.

6.2 Notice of Borrowing. Prior to the making of each Term Loan, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.3.

SECTION 7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, and to make the Loans as provided for herein, each of Holdings and the Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to, and agreements with, the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans:

7.1 Corporate Status. Holdings, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged and (b) has duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

7.2 Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability. Each Credit Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and each such Credit Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is in compliance with all Applicable Laws and (b) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted except, in each case to the extent that failure to be in compliance therewith or to have all such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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7.3 No Violation. None of (a) the execution, delivery and performance by any Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof, (b) the consummation of the Merger or (c) the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby on the relevant dates therefor will (i) contravene any applicable provision of any material Applicable Law of any Governmental Authority, (ii) result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of any of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Liens created under the Credit Documents and the Revolving Credit Documents) pursuant to, the terms of any indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage or deed of trust or any other Contractual Obligation to which Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which they or any of their property or assets is bound, except to the extent that any such conflict, breach, contravention, default, creation or imposition could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries.

7.4 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings (including Environmental Claims) pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened with respect to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that (a) involve any of the Credit Documents or (b) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

7.5 Margin Regulations. Neither the making of any Loan hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.

7.6 Governmental Approvals. No order, consent, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any Governmental Authority is required to authorize or is required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery and performance of any Credit Document or (b) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Credit Document, except, in the case of either clause (a) or (b), (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) filings and recordings in respect of Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents.

7.7 Investment Company Act. None of the Credit Parties is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

7.8 True and Complete Disclosure. (a) None of the factual information and data (taken as a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by Holdings, the Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective authorized representatives in writing to any Agent or any Lender on or before the Closing Date (including (i) the Confidential Information Memorandum (including all information incorporated by reference therein) and (ii) all information contained in the Credit Documents) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein contained any untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make such

 

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information and data (taken as a whole) not materially misleading at such time (after giving effect to all supplements so furnished prior to such time) in light of the circumstances under which such information or data was furnished; it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section 7.8(a), such factual information and data shall not include projections (including financial estimates, forecasts and other forward-looking information), pro forma financial information or information of a general economic or general industry nature.

(b) The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the information and data referred to in Section 7.8(a) were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by Holdings and the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made; it being recognized by the Agents and the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and such differences may be material.

7.9 Financial Statements. The (a) unaudited historical consolidated financial information as set forth in the Confidential Information Memorandum and (b) the Historical Financial Statements, in each case present fairly in all material respects the financial position and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries at the respective dates of such information and for the respective periods covered thereby subject, in the case of the unaudited financial information, to changes resulting from audit, normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. The financial statements referred to in clause (b) of this Section 7.9 have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied except to the extent provided in the notes thereto.

7.10 Tax Returns and Payments, etc. Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by them and have paid all material taxes and assessments payable by them that have become due, other than those not yet delinquent or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established on the applicable financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have paid, or have provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) in accordance with GAAP for the payment of, all material Federal, state and foreign income taxes applicable for all prior fiscal years and for the current fiscal year to the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower, Holdings, nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has engaged in any “listed transactions” within the meaning of the Code.

7.11 Compliance with ERISA. Each Plan is in compliance with ERISA, the Code and any Applicable Law; no Reportable Event has occurred (or is reasonably likely to occur) with respect to any Plan; no Plan is insolvent or in reorganization (or is reasonably likely to be insolvent or in reorganization), and no written notice of any such insolvency or reorganization has been given to any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate; no Plan (other than a multiemployer plan) has an accumulated or waived funding deficiency (or is reasonably likely to have such a deficiency); none of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred (or is reasonably likely expected to incur) any liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of

 

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ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code or has been notified in writing that it will incur any liability under any of the foregoing Sections with respect to any Plan; no proceedings have been instituted (or are reasonably likely to be instituted) to terminate or to reorganize any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, and no written notice of any such proceedings has been given to any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate; and the conditions for imposition of a lien that could be imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate do not exist (or are not reasonably likely to exist) nor has Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate been notified in writing that such a lien will be imposed on the assets of any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate on account of any Plan, except to the extent that a breach of any of the representations, warranties or agreements in this Section 7.11 would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in an amount of liability that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or relates to any matter disclosed in the financial statements of the Borrower contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum. No Plan (other than a multiemployer plan) has an Unfunded Current Liability that would, individually or when taken together with any other liabilities referenced in this Section 7.11, be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to Plans that are multiemployer plans (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), the representations and warranties in this Section 7.11, other than any made with respect to (a) liability under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or (b) liability for termination or reorganization of such Plans under ERISA, are made to the best knowledge of the Borrower.

7.12 Subsidiaries. On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), Holdings does not have any Subsidiaries other than the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 7.12. Schedule 7.12 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, the name and the jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary and, as to each Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Credit Party and the designation of such Subsidiary as a Guarantor, a Restricted Subsidiary, an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a Specified Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary. The Borrower does not own or hold, directly or indirectly, any Capital Stock of any Person other than such Subsidiaries and Investments permitted by Section 9.5.

7.13 Intellectual Property. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid license or right to use, all patents, trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, copyrights and all applications therefor and licenses thereof, and all other intellectual property rights, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 9.2), that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such title, license or rights could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Borrower’s knowledge, no patent, patent application, trademark, trademark application, service mark, trade name, copyright, copyright application, Internet domain name, other intellectual property (excluding any copyright license, patent license, or trademark license), slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or component, or other material now employed by any of the Credit Parties infringes upon, misappropriates, or otherwise violates any rights owned by any other Person with regard to any Intellectual Property, and no material claim or litigation regarding the foregoing is pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened.

 

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7.14 Environmental Laws. (a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws (including having obtained and complied with all material permits required under Environmental Laws for their current operations); (ii) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, there are no facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the operations of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any currently or formerly owned, operated or leased Real Estate that would reasonably be expected to result in Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring liability under any Environmental Law; and (iii) none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has become subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened Environmental Claim or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any other liability under any Environmental Law.

(b) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has treated, stored, transported, released or disposed of Hazardous Materials at or from any currently or formerly owned, operated or leased Real Estate in a manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.15 Properties, Assets and Rights. (a) As of the Closing Date and as of the date of each Credit Event thereafter, each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interest in, or easements, licenses or other limited property interests in, all properties (other than Intellectual Property) that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to have such good title could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of such properties and assets is subject to any Lien, except for Liens permitted under Section 9.2 and minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with any Credit Party’s ability to conduct its business or to utilize such property for its intended purposes.

(b) Set forth on Schedule 7.15 hereto is a complete and accurate list of all real property owned in fee by the Credit Parties on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, showing as of the Closing Date the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state and record owner thereof.

(c) All permits required to have been issued or appropriate to enable all Real Estate of the Credit Parties to be lawfully occupied and used for all of the purposes for which they are currently occupied and used have been lawfully issued and are in full force and effect, other than those permits the failure of which to be issued or to so enable lawful occupation and use could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.16 Solvency. On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, the Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

7.17 Material Adverse Change. Since the Closing Date, there have been no events or developments that have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 8. Affirmative Covenants

Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until the Loans, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements and contingent indemnification obligations), are paid in full:

8.1 Information Covenants. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event on or before the date that is 90 days after the end of each such fiscal year (or, in the case of financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, on or before the date that is 120 days after the end of such fiscal year), the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and, if different, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statement of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year (or, in lieu of such audited financial statements of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a detailed reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on the other hand), all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, except with respect to such reconciliation, certified by independent registered public accountants of recognized national standing whose opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit or as to the status of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as a going concern, together in any event with a certificate of such accounting firm stating that in the course of its regular audit of the business of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, which audit was conducted in accordance with GAAP, such accounting firm has obtained no knowledge of any Event of Default relating to Section 9.11 that has occurred and is continuing or, if in the opinion of such accounting firm such an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 8.1(a) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) or (B) the Borrower’s or Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to Holdings (or a parent thereof), such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under the first sentence of this Section 8.1(a), such materials are accompanied by an opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing, which opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit or as to the status of Holdings (or such parent) and its consolidated Subsidiaries as a going concern.

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event on or before the date that is 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly accounting

 

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periods in each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, in the case of financial statements for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, on or before the date that is 60 days after the end of such fiscal quarter), the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and, if different, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such quarterly period and the related consolidated statement of operations for such quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period, and the related consolidated statement of cash flows for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period, and setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year or, in the case of such consolidated balance sheet, for the last day of the prior fiscal year (or in lieu of such audited financial statements of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a detailed reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on the other hand), all in reasonable detail and all of which shall be certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit, normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 8.1(b) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) or (B) the Borrower’s, or Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), to the extent such information relates to Holdings (or a parent thereof), such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

(c) Budget. Within 90 days after the commencement of each fiscal year of the Borrower (and for the first time with respect to the fiscal year of the Borrower starting on January 1, 2009), a detailed quarterly budget of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in reasonable detail for that fiscal year as customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use consistent in scope with the financial statements provided pursuant to Section 8.1(a) (but including, in any event, a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income) and setting forth the principal assumptions upon which such budget is based.

(d) Officer’s Certificates. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 8.1(a) and 8.1(b), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, which certificate shall set forth (i) the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries were in compliance with the provisions of Section 9.11 as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, (ii) a specification of any change in the identity of the Restricted Subsidiaries, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Specified Subsidiaries, the Immaterial Subsidiaries and the Foreign Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case

 

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may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Specified Subsidiaries, the Immaterial Subsidiaries and the Foreign Subsidiaries, respectively, provided to the Lenders on the Closing Date or the most recent fiscal year or period, as the case may be, (iii) the then applicable pricing level, (iv) the calculations and basis, in reasonable detail, of any “run rate” cost savings added back to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to the provisions of clause (a)(xi) of the definition thereof and (v) the amount of any Pro Forma Adjustment not previously set forth in a Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate or any change in the amount of a Pro Forma Adjustment set forth in any Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate previously provided and, in either case in reasonable detail, the calculations and basis therefor. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Section 8.1(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth (i) in reasonable detail the calculation of the Available Amount and the Available Equity Amount as at the end of the fiscal year to which such financial statements relate and (ii) the information required pursuant to Section 2 of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Closing Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 8.1(d), as the case may be.

(e) Management Discussion. Concurrently with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 8.1(a) and 8.1(b), management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries.

(f) Notice of Certain Events. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action Holdings or the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) any other event that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Environmental Matters. Promptly after obtaining knowledge of any one or more of the following environmental matters, unless such environmental matters would not, individually or when aggregated with all other such matters, be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(i) any pending or threatened Environmental Claim against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Real Estate;

(ii) any condition or occurrence on any Real Estate that (x) results in noncompliance by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with any applicable Environmental Law or (y) could reasonably be anticipated to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Real Estate;

(iii) any condition or occurrence on any Real Estate that could reasonably be anticipated to cause such Real Estate to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such Real Estate under any Environmental Law; and

 

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(iv) the taking of any removal or remedial action in response to the actual or alleged presence of any Hazardous Material on any Real Estate.

All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim, investigation, condition, occurrence or removal, remedial action and the response thereto. The term “Real Estate” shall mean land, buildings and improvements owned or leased by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, but excluding all operating fixtures and equipment, whether or not incorporated into improvements.

(h) Other Information. Promptly upon filing thereof, (i) copies of any filings (including on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K) or registration statements with, and reports to, the SEC or any analogous Governmental Authority in any relevant jurisdiction by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it becomes effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent for further delivery to the Lenders), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statements on Form S-8), (ii) copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports that Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall send to the holders of any publicly issued debt of Holdings, the Borrower and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in their capacity as such holders (in each case to the extent not theretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent for further delivery to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement) and (iii) with reasonable promptness, such other information (financial or otherwise) as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender may reasonably request in writing from time to time.

(i) Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate. Not later than any date on which financial statements are delivered with respect to any period in which a Pro Forma Adjustment is made, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth the amount of such Pro Forma Adjustment and, in reasonable detail, the calculations and basis therefor.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.1(e) and 8.1(h) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 12.2; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the certificates required by Section 8.1(d) to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

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8.2 Books, Records and Inspections. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties (to the extent it is within such Person’s control to permit such inspection), to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 8.2 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than once during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default at the Borrower’s expense; and provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants.

8.3 Maintenance of Insurance. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect, with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in businesses similar to those engaged by Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and will furnish to the Administrative Agent for further delivery to the Lenders, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.

8.4 Payment of Taxes. Holdings and the Borrower will pay and discharge, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which such payments become due, and all lawful material claims in respect of taxes imposed, assessed or levied that, if unpaid, could reasonably be expected to become a material Lien upon any properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim that is being diligently contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

 

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8.5 Consolidated Corporate Franchises. Holdings and the Borrower will do, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, corporate rights, privileges and authority, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Sections 9.3, 9.4 or 9.5.

8.6 Compliance with Statutes. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all Applicable Laws (including Environmental Laws and permits required thereunder), except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.7 ERISA. Promptly after Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following events that, individually or in the aggregate (including in the aggregate such events previously disclosed or exempt from disclosure hereunder, to the extent the liability therefor remains outstanding), would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, Holdings or the Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer or any other senior officer of Holdings or the Borrower setting forth details as to such occurrence and the action, if any, that Holdings, the Borrower, such Restricted Subsidiary or such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together with any notices (required, proposed or otherwise) given to or filed with or by Holdings, the Borrower, such Restricted Subsidiary, such ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, a Plan participant (other than notices relating to an individual participant’s benefits) or the Plan administrator with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred; that an accumulated funding deficiency has been incurred or an application is to be made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code with respect to a Plan; that a Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability has been or is to be terminated, reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); that a Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability that has or will result in a Lien under ERISA or the Code; that proceedings will be or have been instituted to terminate a Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability (including the giving of written notice thereof); that a proceeding has been instituted against Holdings, the Borrower, a Restricted Subsidiary thereof or an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 515 of ERISA to collect a delinquent contribution to a Plan; that the PBGC has notified Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate of its intention to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; that Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make a required installment or other payment pursuant to Section 412 of the Code with respect to a Plan; or that Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or will incur (or has been notified in writing that it will incur) any liability (including any contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code.

 

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8.8 Good Repair. Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, ensure that its properties and equipment used or useful in its business in whomsoever’s possession they may be to the extent that it is within the control of such party to cause same, are kept in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and that from time to time there are made in such properties and equipment all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto, to the extent and in the manner customary for companies in the industry in which the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries conduct business and consistent with third party leases, except in each case to the extent the failure to do so could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.9 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters. The Borrower will, for financial reporting purposes, cause (a) each of its, and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries’, fiscal years to end on December 31 of each year and (b) each of its, and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries’, fiscal quarters to end on dates consistent with such fiscal year-end and the Borrower’s past practice; provided, however, that the Borrower may, upon written notice to, and consent by, the Administrative Agent, change the financial reporting convention specified above to any other financial reporting convention reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary in order to reflect such change in financial reporting.

8.10 Additional Guarantors and Grantors. Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Guarantee or the Security Agreement, as applicable, Holdings and the Borrower will cause (i) any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case to execute a supplement to each of the Guarantee, the Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, substantially in the form of Annex B, Annex 1 or Annex II, as applicable, to the respective agreement in order to become a Guarantor under the Guarantee and a grantor under the Security Agreement.

8.11 Pledges of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Pledge Agreement, Holdings and the Borrower will pledge, and, if applicable, will cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.10) to pledge, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (i) all the Capital Stock (other than any Excluded Capital Stock) of each Subsidiary owned by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.10), in each case, formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date, pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Annex A thereto, (ii) all evidences of Indebtedness in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) received by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.10), in each case pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Annex A thereto, and (iii) any global promissory notes executed after the Closing Date evidencing Indebtedness in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries that is owing to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.10), in each case pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement in the form of Annex A thereto.

 

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(b) Each of Holdings and the Borrower agrees that all Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries that is owing to any Credit Party shall be evidenced by one or more global intercompany promissory notes in the form of Exhibit J.

8.12 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loans solely to fund, in part, the Merger Funds.

8.13 Changes in Business. The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from the business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the Closing Date and other business activities incidental or related to any of the foregoing.

8.14 Further Assurances. (a) Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the Security Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Agreement, any Mortgage and in Section 5.2, if any assets (including any owned real estate or improvements thereto (but not any leased real property) or any interest therein) with a book value or Fair Market Value in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) are acquired by the Borrower or any other Credit Party after the Closing Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien of the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof or assets subject to a Lien granted pursuant to Section 9.2(c)) that are of the nature secured by the Security Agreement or any Mortgage, as the case may be, the Borrower will notify the Collateral Agent (who shall thereafter notify the Lenders) thereof and will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the applicable Obligations and will take, and cause the other Credit Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect such Liens consistent with the applicable requirements of the Security Documents, including actions described in Section 8.14(a), all at the expense of the Credit Parties.

(c) Any Mortgage delivered to the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 8.14(b) shall be accompanied by (x) (i) a policy or policies of title insurance or a marked unconditional binder thereof issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of such Mortgage as a valid Lien (with the priority described therein) on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 9.2, together with such endorsements and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and which are available at commercially reasonable rates in the

 

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jurisdiction where the applicable Mortgaged Property is located; and (ii) unless the Collateral Agent shall have otherwise agreed, either (A) a survey for which all necessary fees (where applicable) have been paid (1) prepared by a surveyor reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (2) dated or re-certificated not earlier than three months prior to the date of such delivery, (3) certified to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the title insurance company issuing the title insurance policy for such Mortgaged Property pursuant to clause (i), which certification shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and (4) complying with the “Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys,” jointly established and adopted by ALTA, ACSM and NSPS in 1999 (except for such deviations as are acceptable to the Collateral Agent) or (B) coverage under the title insurance policy or policies referred to in clause (i) above that does not contain a general exception for survey matters and which contains survey-related endorsements reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, and (y) a local opinion of counsel to the Borrower with respect to the enforceability and perfection of the applicable Mortgages and any related fixture filings (or in the event a Subsidiary of the Borrower is the mortgagor, to such Subsidiary) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Collateral Agent and the Borrower reasonably determine that the cost of creating or perfecting any Lien on any property is excessive in relation to the benefits afforded to the Lenders thereby, then such property may be excluded from the Collateral for all purposes of the Credit Documents.

8.15 Designation of Subsidiaries. The board of directors of the Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) immediately before and after such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 (and, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such designation, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating such compliance), (c) the Borrower may not be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (d) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purposes of any Senior Subordinated Notes Document or the Revolving Credit Document or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the net book value of the Borrower’s (as applicable) investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

8.16 Interest Rate Protection. No later than the 90th day after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall enter into, and for a minimum of two years thereafter maintain, interest rate Hedging Agreements that result in no less than 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of (i) the Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding being effectively subject to a fixed or maximum interest rate.

 

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8.17 Maintenance of Ratings. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the credit ratings for the Credit Facility issued by S&P and Moody’s and the Borrower’s private corporate credit ratings issued by S&P and Moody’s to be maintained (but not to obtain or maintain a specific rating).

8.18 Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations shall constitute Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents.

8.19 Post-Closing Covenants. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, comply with the terms and conditions set forth on Schedule 8.19.

SECTION 9. Negative Covenants

Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until all Loans, together with interest, fees and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, as Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), are paid in full:

9.1 Limitation on Indebtedness. Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

(a) (i) Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents and (ii) Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Documents (subject to the limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(b) Indebtedness of (i) Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor owing to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing shall be evidenced by an intercompany note substantially in the form of Exhibit J, (ii) any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor owing to any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) to the extent permitted by Section 9.5, any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor owing to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

(c) Indebtedness in respect of any bankers’ acceptance, bank guarantees, letter of credit, warehouse receipt or similar facilities entered into in the ordinary course of business (including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims) but in any event, not in respect of Hedging Agreements;

(d) except as provided in clauses (h), (k), and (l) below, Guarantee Obligations incurred by (i) any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement and (ii) Holdings or the Borrower in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement;

 

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(e) Guarantee Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees;

(f) (i) Indebtedness (including Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness arising under Capitalized Leases) the proceeds of which are used to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, expansion or improvement of fixed or capital assets or otherwise incurred in respect of Capital Expenditures; provided that (A) such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within 270 days after the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, expansion or improvement, (B) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as if the incurrence of such Indebtedness had occurred on the first day of such Test Period and (C) such Indebtedness is not incurred to acquire Capital Stock of any Person and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(g) (i) Indebtedness arising under Capitalized Leases, other than Capitalized Leases in effect on the Closing Date (and set forth on Schedule 9.1) or Capitalized Leases entered into pursuant to Section 9.1(f), and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness provided that (A) any obligations existing on the Closing Date (x) that were not included on the balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as Capitalized Lease Obligations and (y) that are subsequently recharacterized as Capitalized Lease Obligations due to a change in accounting treatment shall not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations for the purpose of this Section 9.1(g) and (B) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding permitted under this Section 9.1(g), when combined with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under Sections 9.1(k) and 9.1(l), shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(h) (i) Closing Date Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(j)) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(i) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Agreements incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(j) (i) Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000,000 plus the PIK Interest Amount and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (including such PIK Interest Amount);

(k) (i) Indebtedness of a Person or Indebtedness attaching to assets of a Person that, in either case, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is a Restricted Subsidiary that survives a merger with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries) or Indebtedness attaching to assets that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Closing Date as the

 

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result of a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (x) such Indebtedness existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time such assets were acquired and, in each case, was not created in anticipation thereof, (y) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed in any respect by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any such Person that so becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is the survivor of a merger with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries) and (z)(A) the Capital Stock of such Person is pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 8.11 and (B) such Person executes a supplement to each of the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (or alternative guarantee and security arrangements in relation to the Obligations) to the extent required under Sections 8.10, 8.11 or 8.14(b), as applicable; provided that the assets covered by such pledges and security interests may, to the extent permitted by Section 9.2, equally and ratably secure such Indebtedness assumed with the Secured Parties subject to intercreditor arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); provided, further; that the requirements of this clause (z) shall not apply to any Indebtedness of the type that could have been incurred under Section 9.1(f); and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 9.1(k), when combined with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under Sections 9.1(g) and 9.1(l), shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(l) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (x) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed in any respect by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor except to the extent permitted under Section 9.5, and (y)(A) the Borrower or such other relevant Credit Party pledges the Capital Stock of any Person acquired in such Permitted Acquisition (the “acquired Person”) to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 8.11 and (B) such acquired Person executes a supplement to the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (or alternative guarantee and security arrangements in relation to the Obligations) to the extent required under Sections 8.10, 8.11 or 8.14(b), as applicable (provided that the assets covered by such pledges and security interests may, to the extent permitted by Section 9.2, equally and ratably secure such Indebtedness incurred with the Secured Parties subject to intercreditor arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 9.1(l), when combined with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under Sections 9.1(g) and 9.1(k) shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(m) (i) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms (which require that all such payments be made within 60 days after the incurrence of the related obligation) in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Agreements and (ii) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of intercompany obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of accounts payable incurred in connection with goods sold or services rendered in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money;

 

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(n) Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case entered into in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock permitted hereunder, other than Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Capital Stock for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (i)) and (ii) the maximum assumable liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds, including non-cash proceeds (the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value) actually received by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

(o) Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case entered into in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted under Section 9.5;

(p) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or Hedging Agreements;

(q) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (i) obligations to pay insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or Hedging Agreements;

(r) (i) unsecured Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation to their employees, consultants or independent contractors or other similar arrangements incurred by such Persons in connection with the Transactions and Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;

(s) unsecured Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by any Credit Party to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof to the extent such direct or indirect parent use the proceeds to finance the purchase or redemption (directly or indirectly) of Capital Stock of Holdings), or the Borrower permitted by Section 9.6;

 

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(t) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearing house arrangements, employees’ credit or purchase cards, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business provided that such Indebtedness (other than credit or purchase cards) is extinguished within 10 Business Days of its incurrence and such Indebtedness in respect of credit or purchase cards is extinguished within 60 days of its incurrence;

(u) additional Indebtedness and any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding at any time pursuant to this Section 9.1(u) shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any time; provided, further, that, if the most recent compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(d) demonstrates, on a Pro Forma Basis, a Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 4.00:1.00 or less as of the last day of the Test Period to which such compliance certificate relates, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur up to $25,000,000 of additional Indebtedness under this Section 9.1(u);

(v) (i) Indebtedness incurred in connection with any Permitted Sale Leaseback and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(w) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Additional Notes to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are offered to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i);

(x) Indebtedness of Restricted Foreign Subsidiaries (and if such Restricted Foreign Subsidiary is not a Subsidiary Guarantor without recourse against the Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantors, in each case except as permitted under Section 9.5) for working capital purposes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

(y) all customary premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in each of the Sections 9.1(a) through 9.1(x) above.

9.2 Limitation on Liens. Neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they permit any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible) of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

(a) Liens created pursuant to the Credit Documents to secure the Obligations or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage;

(b) Permitted Liens;

(c) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(f) or 9.1(g); provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 270 days after the acquisition, repair, replacement, construction, expansion or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property, except

 

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for accessions to such property, other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and the products thereof and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(d) Liens on property and assets existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 9.2 or, to the extent not listed in such Schedule, such property or assets have a Fair Market Value that does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate; provided that (i) such Lien does not extend to any other property or asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than after acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1 and proceeds and products thereof and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the Closing Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1;

(e) The modification, replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clauses (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (q), (u) and (v) of this Section 9.2 upon or in the same assets theretofore subject to such Lien (other than after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1 and proceeds and products thereof) or the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness as permitted by Section 9.1;

(f) Liens existing on the assets of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 8.15), or existing on assets acquired, pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment permitted under Section 9.5 to the extent the Liens on such assets secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(k); provided that such Liens attach at all times only to the same assets that such Liens (other than after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1 and proceeds and products thereof) attached to, and secure only the same Indebtedness or obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1) that such Liens secured, immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or such other Investment, as applicable;

(g) (i) Liens placed upon the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to secure Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(l) in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) Liens placed upon the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary to secure (A) a guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of any such Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary or (B) Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary, in either case incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(l) in connection with such Permitted Acquisition;

(h) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(ii) and any related obligations with respect to cash management and hedging arrangements contemplated thereby; provided that such Liens are subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

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(i) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary in favor of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor and Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor in favor of any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(j) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right to set off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(k) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 9.4, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, disposition, transfer or lease, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(l) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

(m) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Permitted Investments permitted under Section 9.5;

(n) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit, automatic clearing house or sweep accounts of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

(p) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(q) Liens in respect of Permitted Sale Leasebacks;

(r) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(s) agreements to subordinate any interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture;

(u) Liens with respect to property or assets of any Restricted Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Foreign Subsidiary permitted under Section 9.1(x); and

(v) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 9.2 so long as the aggregate outstanding amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $12,500,000; provided that, if the most recent compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(d) demonstrates, on a Pro Forma Basis, a Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 3.00:1.00 or less as of the last day of the Test Period to which such compliance certificate relates, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may secure up to $7,500,000 of additional obligations under this clause 9.2(v).

9.3 Limitation on Fundamental Changes. Except as expressly permitted by Sections 9.4 or 9.5, neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its business units, assets or other properties, except that:

(a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person (other than Holdings) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower; provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or, in the case of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Borrower, the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than the Borrower) shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Borrower or such Person, as the case may be, being herein referred to as the “Successor Borrower”), (ii) the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from such consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (iv) if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves the Borrower, the Successor Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11, as such covenant is recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period under such Section as if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by a supplement to the Guarantee confirmed

 

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that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (vi) each Subsidiary grantor and each Subsidiary pledgor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by a supplement to the Credit Documents that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (vii) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (viii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and any supplements to the Credit Documents preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents, (ix) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement and (x) if the merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation complies with all the conditions set forth in the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition”;

(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person (other than Holdings) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (B) the Borrower shall take all steps necessary to cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Guarantors, a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Guarantor) shall execute a supplement to the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and any applicable Mortgage in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in order for the surviving Person to become a Guarantor and pledgor, mortgagor and grantor of Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (iii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (iv) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11, as such covenant are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period under such Section as if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (v) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and such supplements to any Credit Document preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Agreement and (vi) if the merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation complies with all the conditions set forth in the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition”;

 

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(c) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower, a Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower;

(d) any Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that if such Subsidiary Guarantor is not the surviving entity, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall be deemed to be an “Investment” and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.5 and (iii) sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or any other Guarantor;

(e) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if (x) the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (y) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Sections 9.4 or 9.5, or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to, or otherwise owned or conducted by, another Guarantor after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution;

(f) the Merger may be consummated; and

(g) to the extent that no Default or Event of Default would result from the consummation of such disposition, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a disposition permitted pursuant to Section 9.4.

9.4 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets (including receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired (other than any such sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition resulting from a Recovery Event), or (ii) sell to any Person (other than the Borrower or a Guarantor) any shares owned by it of any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock, except that:

(a) Holdings (solely in the case of clause (iii)), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the following in the ordinary course of business: (i) obsolete, worn-out, used or surplus assets to the extent such assets are not necessary for the operation of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ business; (ii) inventory and goods held for sale or other immaterial assets; and (iii) cash and Permitted Investments;

(b) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may lease, sublease, license (or cross-license) (on a non-exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property or on an exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property if done in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or sublicense (or cross-sublicense) (on a non-exclusive basis with

 

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respect to intellectual property or on an exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property if done in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(c) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of other assets (other than accounts receivable except in connection with a Disposition to which such accounts receivable relate) (each a “Disposition”) for Fair Market Value; provided that (i) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this Section 9.4(c) for a purchase price in excess of $5,000,000, Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Permitted Investments; provided that, for purposes of determining what constitutes cash under this clause (i), (A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which the Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing and (B) any securities received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, (ii) any non-cash proceeds received in the form of Indebtedness or Capital Stock are pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 8.11, (iii) after giving effect to any such Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (iv) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Disposition (including the prepayment of Indebtedness with the proceeds of such Disposition), with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as if such Disposition had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (v) the aggregate amount of consideration received from all Dispositions under this Sections 9.4(c), when combined with the aggregate amount of Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated pursuant to Section 9.4(g), shall not exceed $300,000,000 for all transactions consummated after the Closing Date and (vi) to the extent applicable, the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans as required by Section 4.2(a)(i) (it being understood that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all Dispositions made pursuant to Section 9.4(c) and Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated pursuant to Section 9.4(g) from the Closing Date to the date of such disposition exceeds $150,000,000, all Net Cash Proceeds in excess of such amount shall be promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans and may not be reinvested in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries);

(d) (i) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell or discount without recourse accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and (ii) sell or transfer account receivables so long as the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are promptly applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i);

(e) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of property or assets to Holdings, the Borrower or to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor or the Borrower (i) the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor or (ii) to the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 9.5;

 

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(f) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer and otherwise dispose of property (including like-kind exchanges) to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(g) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into Sale Leasebacks, so long as, (i) after giving effect to any such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such transaction, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period under such Section as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (iii) to the extent applicable, the Net Cash Proceeds thereof to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i), (iv) the aggregate amount of all Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated under this Section 9.4(g), when combined with the aggregate amount of consideration received from all Dispositions made pursuant to Section 9.4(c), shall not exceed $300,000,000 for all transactions consummated after the Closing Date and (v) to the extent applicable, the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans as required by Section 4.2(a)(i) (it being understood that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all Dispositions made pursuant to Section 9.4(c) and Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated pursuant to Section 9.4(g) from the Closing Date to the date of such disposition exceeds $150,000,000, all Net Cash Proceeds in excess of such amount shall be offered to prepay the Term Loans and may not be reinvested in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries);

(h) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer and otherwise dispose of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(i) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may effect any transaction permitted by Sections 9.3, 9.5 or 9.6;

(j) Dispositions of inventory of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined by the management of the Borrower to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) Dispositions listed on Schedule 9.4;

(l) the unwinding of any Hedging Agreement;

(m) Dispositions of any asset between or among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries as a substantially concurrent interim Disposition in connection with a Disposition otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a) through (l) above; and

 

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(n) subject to the provisions of the definition of “Holdings”, Holdings may take any action which is necessary to achieve a substitution by a New Holdings of a Previous Holdings.

9.5 Limitation on Investments. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any advance, loan, extensions of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of or any assets of, or make any other investment in, any Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:

(a) extensions of trade credit, asset purchases (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials), the lease of any asset and the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Permitted Investments;

(c) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees and consultants of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) to finance the purchase of Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof); provided that the amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Capital Stock shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash as common equity, (ii) for reasonable and customary business related travel expenses, entertainment expenses, moving expenses and similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) for additional purposes not contemplated by subclause (i) or (ii) above; provided that the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding with respect to this clause 9.5(c)(iii) shall not exceed $10,000,000;

(d) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 9.5 and any modifications, replacements, extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof and (ii) Investments existing on the Closing Date of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, replacement, renewal, extension or reinvestment thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause 9.5(d) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investments existing on the Closing Date;

(e) Investments in Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 9.1(i);

(f) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers or customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers or suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(g) Investments to the extent that the payment for such Investments is made solely with the Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower;

 

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(h) Investments constituting non-cash proceeds of sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets to the extent permitted by Section 9.4;

(i) Investments in the Borrower or any Guarantor and Investments by any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor in the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

(j) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(k) the Borrower may make a loan to Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) that could otherwise be made as a Dividend permitted under Section 9.6;

(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(m) advances of payroll payments to employees, consultants or independent contractors or other advances of salaries or compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Guarantees by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Investments made to repurchase or retire Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower owned by any employee stock ownership plan or key employee stock ownership plan of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower;

(p) the Transactions;

(q) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions; provided that any portion of the Permitted Acquisition Consideration of such Permitted Acquisition made or provided by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any Subsidiary that shall not be, or after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition, shall not become a Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not cause the aggregate amount of all such Investments made pursuant to this Section 9.5(q) to exceed the sum of (i) $25,000,000, (ii) the Available Equity Amount at such time, (iii) the Available Amount at such time and (iv) to the extent not otherwise included in the determination of the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in cash in respect of any such Investment (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time such Investment was made);

(r) any additional Investments (including Investments in Minority Investments, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, Investments in joint ventures or similar entities that do not constitute Restricted Subsidiaries, Investments constituting Permitted

 

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Acquisitions and Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not, and do not become, Guarantors), as valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time each such Investment is made; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investment (as so valued) shall not cause the aggregate amount of all such Investments made pursuant to this Section 9.5(r) (as so valued) to exceed the sum of (i) $25,000,000, (ii) the Available Equity Amount at such time, (iii) the Available Amount at such time and (iv) to the extent not otherwise included in the determination of the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in respect of any such Investment (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time such Investment was made); provided, further, that intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, in connection with the cash management operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be included in calculating the limitation in this paragraph at any time;

(s) Investments arising as a result of Permitted Sale Leasebacks;

(t) Investments held by any Person acquired after the Closing Date or of any Person merged into the Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 9.3 after the Closing Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(u) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of consummating transactions permitted under Sections 9.4(g); and

(v) Investments consisting of Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Dividends permitted under Sections 9.1, 9.3, 9.4 and 9.6.

9.6 Limitation on Dividends. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will declare or pay any dividends (other than with respect to Holdings, dividends payable solely in the Capital Stock of Holdings, and with respect to the Borrower, dividends payable solely to Holdings in the Capital Stock of the Borrower) or return any capital to its equity holders or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its equity holders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration, any shares of any class of its Capital Stock or the Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of its Capital Stock), or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, or permit the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration (other than in connection with an Investment permitted by Section 9.5) any shares of any class of the Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Capital Stock of the Borrower, now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of the Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Capital Stock of the Borrower) (all of the foregoing “Dividends”); provided that:

(a) each of Holdings and the Borrower may (or may pay dividends to permit any direct or indirect parent thereof to) redeem in whole or in part any of its Capital Stock for another class of Capital Stock or rights to acquire its Capital Stock or with proceeds 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;

 

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(b) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, each of Holdings and the Borrower may redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase (and the Borrower may declare and pay Dividends to Holdings, the proceeds of which are used to so redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase) shares of its Capital Stock (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of such Capital Stock) (or to allow any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies to so redeem, retire, acquire or repurchase their Capital Stock) held by current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and its Subsidiaries, with the proceeds of Dividends from, seriatim, Holdings or the Borrower, upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee stock ownership or incentive plan, stock subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement; provided that, except with respect to non-discretionary repurchases, acquisitions, retirements or redemptions pursuant to the terms of any stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee stock ownership or incentive plan, stock subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreement or equity holders’ agreement, the aggregate amount of all cash paid in respect of all such shares of Capital Stock (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of such Capital Stock) so redeemed, acquired, retired or repurchased in any calendar year does not exceed the sum of (i) $7,500,000 (which shall increase to $15,000,000 subsequent to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO) plus (ii) all net cash proceeds obtained by Holdings or the Borrower during such calendar year from the sale of such Capital Stock to other present or former officers, consultants, employees and directors in connection with any permitted compensation and incentive arrangements plus (iii) all net cash proceeds obtained from any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year; notwithstanding the foregoing, 100% of the unused amount of payments in respect of this Section 9.6(b)(i) (before giving effect to any carry forward) may be carried forward to the immediately succeeding fiscal year (but not any other) and utilized to make payments pursuant to this Section 9.6(b) (any amount so carried forward shall be deemed to be used last in the subsequent fiscal year);

(c) Holdings and the Borrower may make Investments permitted by Section 9.5;

(d) to the extent constituting Dividends, Holdings and the Borrower may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 9.3, and the Borrower may pay Dividends to Holdings as and when necessary to enable Holdings to effect such Dividends;

 

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(e) Holdings and the Borrower may repurchase Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower, as applicable, upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants, and the Borrower may pay Dividends to Holdings as and when necessary to enable Holdings to effect such repurchases;

(f) in addition to the foregoing Dividends and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Holdings may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Available Equity Amount at the time such Dividend is paid and (ii) if the Borrower’s ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the immediately preceding Test Period is less than 3.00:1.00, after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Dividend, (A) $15,000,000 and (B) the Available Amount at the time such Dividend is paid; and the Borrower may pay Dividends to Holdings as and when necessary to effect such Dividends;

(g) the Borrower may make and pay Dividends to Holdings:

(i) the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or to make Dividends to allow any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) the tax liability to each relevant jurisdiction in respect of consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated returns for the relevant jurisdiction of Holdings (or such parent), but only to the extent of taxes that Borrower would have to pay if it filed a tax return on a standalone basis for itself and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay (or to make Dividends to allow any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) its operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year plus any actual, reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors or officers of Holdings (or any parent thereof);

(iii) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) corporate existence;

(iv) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to make Investments contemplated by Sections 9.5(c) and Dividends contemplated by Section 9.6(b));

(v) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay (or to make Dividends to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering, disposition or acquisition transaction permitted by this Agreement; and

(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers, employees and consultants of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(h) Holdings and the Borrower may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any Dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(i) Holdings and the Borrower may pay Dividends in an amount equal to withholding or similar taxes payable or expected to be payable by any present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or their respective Affiliates, estates or immediate family members) and any repurchases of Capital Stock in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options; provided in each case that payments made under this Section 9.6(i) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate; and

(j) Holdings and the Borrower may make payments described in Sections 9.12 (c), (e), (h), (i), (j), (l) and (q) (subject to the conditions set out therein).

9.7 Limitations on Debt Payments and Amendments. (a) Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not allow any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, prepay, repurchase, redeem or otherwise defease any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(j) (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest shall be permitted); provided, however, that so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may prepay, repurchase, redeem or defease any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(j) with (i) the proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or (ii) an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of (A) the Available Equity Amount at the time of such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance and (B) if, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance, the Borrower’s ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to the date of such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance, is less than 4.00:1.00, (x) $15,000,000 and (y) the Available Amount at the time of such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance.

(b) Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, waive, amend, modify, terminate or release the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents (or any document governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) to the extent that any such waiver amendment, modification, termination or release, taken as a whole, would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Borrower may make any “AHYDO” catch-up payments in respect of Indebtedness incurred under Section 9.1(j).

9.8 Limitations on Sale Leasebacks. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or effect any Sale Leasebacks, other than Permitted Sale Leasebacks.

9.9 Negative Pledge Clauses. Neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Credit Document) that limits the

 

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ability of Holdings, the Borrower or any Guarantor to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to the Obligations or under the Credit Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that (i)(x) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 9.9) are listed on Schedule 9.9 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness or other obligations, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness or obligation so long as such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 9.1, (iv) arise pursuant to agreements entered into with respect to any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition permitted by Section 9.4 and applicable solely to assets under such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted by Section 9.5 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1, but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1 to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) are imposed by Applicable Law; (xiii) exist under the Revolving Credit Documents or any documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness and (xiv) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by Subsidiaries of the Borrower, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligation.

9.10 Passive Holding Company. Holdings shall not conduct, transact or otherwise engage in any business or operations other than (i) the ownership and/or acquisition of the Capital Stock of the Borrower, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence, including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance, (iii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of Holdings and Borrower, (iv) the performance of its obligations under and in connection with the Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, any documentation governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Revolving Credit Documents or the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, the Acquisition Agreement, the other agreements contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby, (v) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or

 

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registration of its Capital Stock for sale or resale not prohibited by Section 9, including the costs, fees and expenses related thereto, (vi) any transaction that Holdings is permitted to enter into or consummate under this Section 9, including making any Dividend permitted by Section 9.6 or holding any cash received in connection with Dividends made by the Borrower in accordance with Section 9.6 pending application thereof by Holdings in the manner contemplated by Section 9.6, (vii) incurring fees, costs and expenses relating to overhead and general operating including professional fees for legal, tax and accounting issues and paying taxes, (viii) providing indemnification to officers and directors and as otherwise permitted in Section 9, (ix) activities incidental to the consummation of the Transactions and (x) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (i) to (ix) of this Section 9.10. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Holdings will not own or acquire any assets (other than shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower, cash and Permitted Investments) or incur any liabilities (other than liabilities under the Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, any documentation governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Revolving Credit Documents or the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, and other liabilities expressly permitted to be incurred by it by the terms hereof and liabilities imposed by law, including tax liabilities, and other liabilities incidental to its existence and business and activities permitted by this Agreement).

9.11 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio for any Test Period set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Test Period Ending

  

Ratio

March 31, 2008

   6.80 to 1.00

June 30, 2008

   6.80 to 1.00

September 30, 2008

   6.25 to 1.00

December 31, 2008

   6.25 to 1.00

March 31, 2009

   6.25 to 1.00

June 30, 2009

   6.25 to 1.00

September 30, 2009

   6.00 to 1.00

December 31, 2009

   5.75 to 1.00

March 31, 2010

   4.75 to 1.00

June 30, 2010

   4.75 to 1.00

September 30, 2010

   4.75 to 1.00

 

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Test Period Ending

  

Ratio

December 31, 2010

   4.75 to 1.00

March 31, 2011

   4.00 to 1.00

June 30, 2011

   4.00 to 1.00

September 30, 2011

   4.00 to 1.00

December 31, 2011

   4.00 to 1.00

March 31, 2012

   3.10 to 1.00

June 30, 2012

   3.10 to 1.00

September 30, 2012

   3.10 to 1.00

December 31, 2012

   3.10 to 1.00

March 31, 2013

   2.40 to 1.00

June 30, 2013

   2.40 to 1.00

September 30, 2013

   2.40 to 1.00

December 31, 2013

   2.40 to 1.00

(b) Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio for any Test Period set forth below to be lower than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Test Period Ending

  

Ratio

March 30, 2008

   1.55 to 1.00

June 30, 2008

   1.55 to 1.00

September 30, 2008

   1.60 to 1.00

December 31, 2008

   1.60 to 1.00

March 31, 2009

   1.65 to 1.00

June 30, 2009

   1.65 to 1.00

September 30, 2009

   1.75 to 1.00

December 31, 2009

   1.80 to 1.00

March 31, 2010

   2.10 to 1.00

June 30, 2010

   2.10 to 1.00

September 30, 2010

   2.10 to 1.00

December 31, 2010

   2.10 to 1.00

March 31, 2011

   2.50 to 1.00

June 30, 2011

   2.50 to 1.00

September 30, 2011

   2.50 to 1.00

December 31, 2011

   2.50 to 1.00

March 31, 2012

   3.20 to 1.00

June 30, 2012

   3.20 to 1.00

 

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Test Period Ending

  

Ratio

September 30, 2012

   3.20 to 1.00

December 31, 2012

   3.20 to 1.00

March 31, 2013

   4.15 to 1.00

June 30, 2013

   4.15 to 1.00

September 30, 2013

   4.15 to 1.00

December 31, 2013

   4.15 to 1.00

(c) Capital Expenditures.

(i) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Capital Expenditure except for Capital Expenditures not exceeding an amount equal to the sum of (x) in the aggregate for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during each fiscal year set forth below, the amount set forth opposite such fiscal year (such amount, the “Permitted Capital Expenditure Amount”), (y) the Available Equity Amount at such time and (z) the Available Amount at such time:

 

Fiscal Year Ending

  

Permitted Capital Expenditures Amount ($)

December 31, 2008

   44,000,000

December 31, 2009

   50,500,000

December 31, 2010

   51,000,000

December 31, 2011

   45,500,000

December 31, 2012

   46,300,000

December 31, 2013

   47,000,000

provided that (A) the amount of the Permitted Capital Expenditure Amount permitted to be made in respect of any fiscal year shall be increased after the consummation of any Permitted Acquisition in an amount equal to 5% of the pro forma aggregate consolidated revenues of the Acquired Entity or Business so acquired during the fiscal year or period of such Acquired Entity or Business beginning after such Permitted Acquisition and (B) the amount of the Permitted Capital Expenditure Amount permitted to be made in respect of any fiscal year shall be decreased after the consummation of any Disposition under Section 9.4(c) generating net cash proceeds in excess of $25,000,000 in an amount equal to 5% of the pro forma aggregate consolidated revenues of the Disposed Entity or Business so disposed during the fiscal year or period of such disposed entity or business beginning after such permitted disposal.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 9.11(c), to the extent that the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in any fiscal year pursuant to Section 9.11(c)(x) is less than the Permitted Capital Expenditure Amount permitted by Section 9.11(c)(x) with respect to such fiscal year,

 

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30% of the amount of such difference (the “Rollover Amount”) may be carried forward and used to make Capital Expenditures in the immediately succeeding fiscal year (but not any other) and utilized to make such Capital Expenditures in such immediately succeeding fiscal year (but not any other) in the event that the Permitted Capital Expenditure Amount permitted by Section 9.11(c)(x) for such immediately succeeding fiscal year has been entirely used.

Any provision of this Agreement that contains a requirement for the Borrower to be in compliance with the covenants contained in this Section 9.11 prior to the time that these covenants are otherwise applicable shall be deemed to require that the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio for the applicable Test Period will be 6.80 to 1.00 and that the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio for the applicable Test Period shall be 1.55 to 1.00.

9.12 Transactions with Affiliates. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower shall, nor shall they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Borrower except: (a) such transactions that are made on terms substantially as favorable to Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (b) if such transaction is among Credit Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction, (c) the payment of Transaction Expenses, (d) the issuance of Capital Stock of Holdings or the Borrower to the management of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions or pursuant to arrangements described in clause (m) below, (e) the payment of indemnities and reasonable expenses incurred by the Sponsor and its Affiliates in connection with any services provided to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (f) equity issuances, repurchases, retirements or other acquisitions or retirements of Capital Stock by Holdings or the Borrower permitted under Section 9.6, (g) loans, guarantees and other transactions by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under Section 9, (h) employment and severance arrangements and health, disability and similar insurance or benefit plans between Holdings(or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees (including management and employee benefit plans or agreements, subscription agreements or similar agreements pertaining to the repurchase of Capital Stock pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current or former employees, officers or directors and stock option or incentive plans and other compensation arrangements) in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower, (i) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, consultants, officers and employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (j) transactions pursuant to permitted agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 9.12 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse, taken as a whole, to the Lenders in any material respect, (k) Dividends, redemptions and repurchases permitted under Section 9.6, (l) customary payments (including reimbursement of fees and expenses) by Holdings, the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or

 

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placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, whether or not consummated), which payments (i) are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of Holdings or the Borrower, in good faith and (ii) do not exceed, in the aggregate, $1,500,000 in any calendar year of the Borrower, (m) any issuance of Capital Stock, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities, Capital Stock or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, (n) any purchase by Holdings of the Capital Stock of the Borrower, as the case may be; provided that, to the extent required by Section 8.11, any Capital Stock of the Borrower so purchased shall be pledged to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, (o) transactions with wholly owned Subsidiaries for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with past practice, (p) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice, and (q) payments by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among Holdings (and any such parent), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms.

SECTION 10. Events of Default

Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

10.1 Payments. The Borrower shall (a) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or (b) default, and such default shall continue for five or more days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or any fees or of any other amounts owing hereunder or under any other Credit Document (other than any amount referred to in clause 10.1(a)); or

10.2 Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or any certificate, statement, report or other document delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made; or

10.3 Covenants. Any Credit Party shall (a) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 8.1(f), 8.5 (with respect to the existence of the Borrower or Holdings only), 8.9, or 8.15 or Section 9 or (b) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in Section 10.1, Section 10.2 and clause (a) of this Section 10.3) contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after receipt of written notice by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

 

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10.4 Default Under Other Agreements. (a) Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness described in Section 10.1) in excess of $20,000,000, beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedging Agreements, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Agreements), the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (b) without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment (and, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedging Agreements, other than due to a termination event or equivalent event pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Agreements), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

10.5 Bankruptcy, etc. Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,”; or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary and the petition is not controverted within 10 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary and the petition is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code), receiver, receiver manager, trustee or similar person is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary commences any other proceeding or action under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary; or there is commenced against Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary suffers any appointment of any custodian, receiver, receiver manager, trustee or the like for it or any substantial part of its property to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any corporate action is taken by Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

10.6 ERISA. (a) Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standard required for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standard or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412 of the Code; any Plan is or shall have been terminated or is the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); an event shall have occurred or a condition shall exist in either

 

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case entitling the PBGC to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan (including the giving of written notice thereof) in a manner that results in a liability under Title IV of ERISA; any Plan shall have an accumulated funding deficiency (whether or not waived); any of Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is likely to incur a liability to or on account of a Plan under Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code (including the giving of written notice thereof); (b) there could result from any event or events set forth in clause (a) of this Section 10.6 the imposition of a lien, the granting of a security interest, or a liability, or the reasonable likelihood of incurring a lien, security interest or liability; and (c) such lien, security interest or liability will or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

10.7 Guarantee. The Guarantee or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect or any Guarantor thereunder or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee; or

10.8 Security Documents. Any Security Document or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof) or any grantor, pledgor or mortgagor thereunder or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any grantor’s, pledgor’s or mortgagor’s obligations under such Security Document; or

10.9 Subordination. The Obligations or the obligations of the Guarantors pursuant to the Guarantee shall cease to constitute senior indebtedness under the subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents or such subordination provisions shall be invalidated or otherwise cease to be legal, valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms; or

10.10 Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries involving a liability of $20,000,000 or more in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not paid or fully covered by insurance provided by a carrier not disputing coverage) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or

10.11 Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur;

then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default shall then be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower, declare the principal of and any accrued interest and fees in respect of all Loans and all Obligations owing hereunder and thereunder to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement; (provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 10.5 with respect to the Borrower shall occur no written notice by the Administrative Agent shall be required and all amounts in respect of all Loans and all Obligations shall be automatically become forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower).

 

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10.12 Borrower’s Right to Cure.

(a) Financial Performance Covenants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10, in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenants, until the expiration of the 10th day subsequent to the date the certificate calculating the Financial Performance Covenants is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(d), Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Securities for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to (or in the case of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings receive equity interests in Holdings for its cash contributions to) the capital of Holdings (collectively, the “Cure Right”), and upon contribution by Holdings of such cash to the Borrower (the “Cure Amount”) pursuant to the exercise by the Borrower of such Cure Right, the Financial Performance Covenants shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

(i) Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased, solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Performance Covenants and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

(ii) if, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenants, the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenants as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the Financial Performance Covenants that had occurred shall be deemed cured for purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Limitation on Exercise of Cure Right. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four fiscal-quarter period there shall be at least three fiscal quarters during which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the Financial Performance Covenants and (iii) all Cure Amounts shall be disregarded for purposes of determining any baskets, the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount with respect to the covenants contained in the Credit Documents.

SECTION 11. The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

11.1 Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints GECC as Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any

 

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fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. The Joint Lead Arrangers, each in its capacity as such, shall not have any obligations, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement but shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 11. Each Lender hereby appoints GECC (together with any successor Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 11.11) as the Collateral Agent hereunder and authorizes the Collateral Agent to (i) take such action on its behalf and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies and perform the duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent under such Credit Documents and (iii) exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

11.2 Limited Duties. Under the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent (i) is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except to the limited extent provided in Section 2.5(d)), with duties that are entirely administrative in nature, notwithstanding the use of the defined term “Administrative Agent”, the terms “agent”, “administrative agent” and “collateral agent” and similar terms in any Credit Document to refer to the Administrative Agent, which terms are used for title purposes only, (ii) is not assuming any obligation under any Credit Document other than as expressly set forth therein or any role as agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender or any other Secured Party and (iii) shall have no implied functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or other liabilities under any Credit Document, and each Lender hereby waives and agrees not to assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on the roles, duties and legal relationships expressly disclaimed in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

11.3 Binding Effect. Each Lender agrees that (i) any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if expressly required hereby, a greater proportion of the Lenders) in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents, (ii) any action taken by the Administrative Agent in reliance upon the instructions of Required Lenders (or, where so required, such greater proportion) and (iii) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, where so required, such greater proportion) of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Secured Parties.

11.4 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

11.5 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document (except for its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrower, any Guarantor, any other Credit Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any

 

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other Credit Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or for any failure of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Credit Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower.

11.6 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex, electronic mail message or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

11.7 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders and the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders (except to the extent that this Agreement requires that such action be taken only with the approval of the Required Lenders or each of the Lenders, as applicable).

11.8 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Credit Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each

 

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Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Guarantor and any other Credit Party and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Guarantor and any other Credit Party. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, assets, operations, properties, financial condition, prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Credit Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Lender also acknowledges that the lien and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and the existence of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent thereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and any Security Document, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender.

11.9 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective portions of the Total Commitment in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with their respective portions of the Total Commitment in effect immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (including at any time following the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section 11.9 shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

11.10 GECC in its Individual Capacity. GECC and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the

 

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Borrower, any Guarantor and any other Credit Party as though GECC were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents. With respect to the Loans made by it, GECC shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include GECC in its individual capacity.

11.11 Successor Agent. The Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent may resign as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, upon 20 days’ prior written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, then (a) the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders within 30 days, or (b) the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, selected from among the Lenders. In either case, the successor agent shall be approved by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 10.1 or 10.5 shall have occurred and be continuing), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and the term “Administrative Agent” and/or “Collateral Agent”, as the case may be, shall mean such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative Agent’s and/or Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, or any of the parties to this Agreement or any Lenders or other holders of the Loans. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s and/or the Collateral Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, the provisions of this Section 11 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

11.12 Withholding Tax. To the extent the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that it is required by any Applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses. The agreements in this Section 11.12 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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11.13 Duties as Collateral Agent and as paying agent. Without limiting the generality of Section 11.1 above, the Administrative Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority (to the exclusion of the Lenders), and is hereby authorized, to (i) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for the Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with the Credit Documents (including in any proceeding described in Section 10.5 or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding), and each Person making any payment in connection with any Credit Document to any Secured Party is hereby authorized to make such payment to the Administrative Agent, (ii) file and prove claims and file other documents necessary or desirable to allow the claims of the Secured Parties with respect to any Obligation in any proceeding described in Section 10.5 or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding (but not to vote, consent or otherwise act on behalf of such Secured Party), (iii) act as collateral agent for each Secured Party for purposes of the perfection of all Liens created by such agreements and all other purposes stated therein, (iv) manage, supervise and otherwise deal with the Collateral, (v) take such other action as is necessary or desirable to maintain the perfection and priority of the Liens created or purported to be created by the Credit Documents, (vi) except as may be otherwise specified in any Credit Document, exercise all remedies given to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, whether under the Credit Documents, applicable requirements of law or otherwise and (vii) execute any amendment, consent or waiver under the Credit Documents on behalf of any Lender that has consented in writing to such amendment, consent or waiver; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent hereby appoints, authorizes and directs each Lender to act as collateral sub-agent for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for purposes of the perfection of all Liens with respect to the Collateral, including any deposit account maintained by a Credit Party with, and cash and Permitted Investments held by such Lender and may further authorize and direct the Lenders to take further actions as collateral sub-agents for purposes of enforcing such Liens or otherwise to transfer the Collateral subject thereto to the Administrative Agent, and each Lender hereby agrees to take such further actions to the extent, and only to the extent, so authorized and directed.

11.14 Authorization to Release Liens and Guarantees. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby irrevocably authorized by each of the Lenders to effect any release or subordination of Liens or the Guarantees contemplated by Section 12.17 without further action or consent by the Lenders.

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous

12.1 Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement nor any other Credit Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.1. The Required Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall, from time to time, (a) enter into with the relevant Credit Party or Credit Parties written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Credit Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Credit Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any Default or Event of

 

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Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification shall directly (i) reduce or forgive any portion of any Loan or extend the final scheduled maturity date of any Loan or reduce the stated interest rate applicable to the Loans (it being understood that any change to the definition of (x) Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio, (y) Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio or (z) in the component definitions of either thereof shall not constitute a reduction in the rate and provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the “default rate” or amend Section 2.8(c)), or reduce or forgive any portion, or extend the date for the payment, of any interest or fee payable hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates and other than as a result of a waiver or amendment of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans (which shall not constitute an extension, forgiveness or postponement of any date for payment of principal, interest or fees)), or increase the aggregate amount of any Commitment of any Lender, or decrease or forgive any Repayment Amount, or amend or modify any provisions of Section 12.8(a) or any other provision that provides for the pro rata nature of disbursements by or payments to Lenders, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 12.1 or reduce the percentages specified in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 9.3), in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 11 without the written consent of the then-current Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, or (iv) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors under the Guarantee (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantee), or release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents, in each case without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (v) amend Section 2.9 so as to permit Interest Period intervals greater than six months if not available to all applicable Lenders, in each case without the written consent of each applicable Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, Holdings and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with the Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and other definitions related to such new class.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, Holdings, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing of all outstanding Term Loans (“Refinanced Term Loans”) with a replacement term loan tranche (“Replacement Term Loans”) hereunder; provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Refinanced Term Loans, (b) the Applicable Margin for such Replacement Term Loans shall not be higher than the Applicable Margin for such Refinanced Term Loans, (c) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Replacement Term Loans shall not be shorter than the

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinanced Term Loans at the time of such refinancing (except to the extent of nominal amortization for periods where amortization has been eliminated as a result of prepayment of the applicable Term Loans) and (d) all other terms applicable to such Replacement Term Loans shall be substantially identical to, or less favorable to the Lenders providing such Replacement Term Loans than those applicable to such Refinanced Term Loans, except to the extent necessary to provide for covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the latest final maturity of the Term Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 12.1, Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the input or consent of the other Lenders, effect changes to Exhibit C as may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Collateral Agent.

12.2 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies

(a) General. All notices, demands, requests, directions and other communications required or expressly authorized to be made by this Agreement shall, whether or not specified to be in writing but unless otherwise expressly specified to be given by any other means, be given in writing and (i) addressed to (A) the party to be notified and sent to the address or facsimile number indicated in Schedule 12.2, or (B) otherwise to the party to be notified at its address specified on the signature page of any applicable Assignment and Acceptance Agreement, (ii) posted to Intralinks® (to the extent such system is available and set up by or at the direction of the Administrative Agent prior to posting) in an appropriate location by uploading such notice, demand, request, direction or other communication to www.intralinks.com, faxing it to 866-545-6600 with an appropriate bar-coded fax coversheet or using such other means of posting to Intralinks® as may be available and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent prior to such posting, (iii) posted to any other E-System set up by or at the direction of the Administrative Agent in an appropriate location or (iv) addressed to such other address as shall be notified in writing to Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Transmission by electronic mail (including E-Fax, even if transmitted to the fax numbers set forth in clause (i) above) shall not be sufficient or effective to transmit any such notice under this clause (a) unless such transmission is an available means to post to any E-System.

(b) Effectiveness. All communications described in clause (a) above and all other notices, demands, requests and other communications made in connection with this Agreement shall be effective and be deemed to have been received (i) if delivered by hand, upon personal delivery, (ii) if delivered by overnight courier service, one Business Day after delivery to such courier service, (iii) if delivered by mail, when deposited in the mails, (iv) if delivered by facsimile (other than to post to an E-System pursuant to clause (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) above), upon sender’s receipt of confirmation of proper transmission, and (v) if delivered by posting to any E-System, on the later of the date of such posting in an appropriate location and the date access to such posting is given to the recipient thereof in accordance with the standard procedures applicable to such E-System. Failure or delay in delivering copies of any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication to any Person (other than Borrower or the Administrative Agent) designated in Schedule 12.2 to receive copies shall in no way adversely affect the effectiveness of such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication. The giving of any notice required hereunder may be waived in writing by the party entitled to receive such notice.

 

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(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

12.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

12.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Credit Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder.

12.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower agrees, (i) to pay or reimburse the Agents for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and one counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction approved by the Borrower, (ii) to pay or reimburse each Lender, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and, to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction, (iii) to pay, indemnify, and hold harmless each Lender and the Administrative Agent from any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise, property, intangible, mortgage recording and other similar taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents, (iv) to pay, indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Related Parties (the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all other

 

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liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, including reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Party affected by such conflict has retained its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Party), and to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for all Indemnified Parties, arising out of, or with respect to the Transactions or to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents or the use of the proceeds thereof, including any of the foregoing relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law or any actual or alleged presence of Hazardous Materials applicable to the operations of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Real Estate (all the foregoing in this clause (iv), collectively, the “indemnified liabilities”); provided that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party with respect to indemnified liabilities arising from (A) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or its Related Parties, (B) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnified Party or its Related Parties under the Credit Documents or (C) disputes between or among the Indemnified Parties. All amounts payable under this Section 12.5 shall be paid within 5 Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expense in reasonable detail. The agreements in this Section 12.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(b) No Credit Party nor any Indemnified Party shall have any liability for any punitive, indirect or consequential damages resulting from this Agreement or any other Credit Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). No Indemnified Party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent that such damages have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of any Indemnified Party or any of its Related Parties.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but only to the extent representing reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses, the expenses, costs, charges and fees described above may include: fees, costs and expenses of accountants, environmental advisors, appraisers, investment bankers, management and other consultants and paralegals (if any such accountants, environmental advisors, appraisers, investment bankers and management and other consultants have been retained with the prior written consent of the Borrower); photocopying and duplication expenses; long distance telephone charges; air express charges; and telegram or telecopy charges.

12.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) except as set forth in Section 9.3(a), the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may

 

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assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in Section 12.6(c)) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnified Parties) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph 12.6(b)(ii), any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; it being understood that, without limitation, the Borrower shall have the right to withhold its consent to any assignment if, in order for such assignment to comply with Applicable Law, the Borrower would be required to obtain the consent of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority) of:

(A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender (unless increased costs would result therefrom, except if an Event of Default under Section 10.1 or Section 10.5 has occurred and is continuing), an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under Section 10.1 or Section 10.5 has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of (i) an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (ii) an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Term Loans or (iii) an assignment by any Commitment Party, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than in the case of a Term Loan Commitment or Term Loans, $1,000,000, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 10.1 or Section 10.5 has occurred and is continuing; and provided, further, that contemporaneous assignments to a single assignee made by affiliated Lenders or related Approved Funds or by a single assignor to related Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of meeting the minimum assignment amount requirements stated above;

 

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(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance; and

(C) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the tax form required by Section 4.4 and an administrative questionnaire in a form approved by the Administrative Agent in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Credit Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and Applicable Laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

For the purpose of this Section 12.6(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank or commercial loans and similar extensions of credit and that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 12.6(b)(vi), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 4.4 and 12.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.6(c).

(iv) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (A) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Term Loan Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Loans, in each case without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, (B) except as set forth in (A) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of

 

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any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (C) such assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (D) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 7.9 or delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (E) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (F) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (G) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(v) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans (and interest thereon) owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). Further, the Register shall contain the name and address of the Administrative Agent and the lending office through which each such Person acts under this Agreement. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register, as in effect at the close of business on the preceding Business Day, shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(vi) Upon its receipt of and, if required, consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed administrative questionnaire and the tax form required by Section 4.4 (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 12.6(b)(i), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless and until it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of

 

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such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 12.1 that affects such Participant. Subject to Section 12.6(c)(ii), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 4.4 and 12.5 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 12.6(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.8(b) as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 12.8(a) as though it were a Lender.

(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.10, 2.11 or 4.4 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. Each Lender having sold a participation in any of its Obligations, acting as agent of the Borrower solely for this purpose and solely for tax purposes, shall establish and maintain at its address a record of ownership, in which such Lender shall register by book entry (A) the name and address of each such participant (and each change thereto, whether by assignment or otherwise) and (B) the rights, interest or obligation of each such participant in any Obligation, in any Commitment and in any right to receive any payment hereunder.

(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. In order to facilitate such pledge or assignment, the Borrower hereby agrees that, upon request of any Lender at any time and from time to time after the Borrower has made its initial borrowing hereunder, the Borrower shall provide to such Lender, at the Borrower’s own expense, a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit I, evidencing the Term Loans owing to such Lender.

(e) Subject to Section 12.16, the Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant, secured creditor of such Lender or assignee (each, a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Affiliates prior to becoming a party to this Agreement.

 

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12.7 Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances. (a) The Borrower, at its sole expense, shall be permitted to replace any Lender (or any Participant) that (i) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.10, 2.11 or 4.4, (ii) is affected in the manner described in Section 2.10(a)(iii) and as a result thereof any of the actions described in such Section is required to be taken or (iii) becomes a Defaulting Lender, with a replacement bank or other financial institution; provided that (A) such replacement does not conflict with any Applicable Law, (B) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (C) the Borrower shall repay (or the replacement bank or institution shall purchase, at par) all Loans and other amounts (other than any disputed amounts) pursuant to Section 2.10, 2.11 or 4.4, as the case may be, owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of replacement, (D) the replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender, and the terms and conditions of such replacement, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (E) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.6 and (F) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender or that the replaced Lender shall have against the Borrower and the other parties for indemnity, contribution, payment of disputed and other unpaid amounts and otherwise.

(b) If any Lender (such Lender a “Non-Consenting Lender”) has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination, which pursuant to the terms of Section 12.1 requires the consent of all of the Lenders affected and with respect to which the Required Lenders shall have granted their consent, then provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent), at its own cost and expense, to replace such Non-Consenting Lender by requiring such Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans and Commitments to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that: (i) all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender being replaced shall be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment, (ii) the replacement Lender shall purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (iii) the replacement Lender shall consent to the proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination and (iv) all Lenders (except all Non-Consenting Lenders which are simultaneously replaced) have consented to such proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination. In connection with any such assignment, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, such Non-Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 12.6.

12.8 Adjustments; Set-off. (a) If any Lender (a “benefited Lender”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 10.5, or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans or interest thereon, such benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loans, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that

 

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if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower, as the case may be. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

12.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tiff”)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

12.10 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

12.11 Integration. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents represent the agreement of Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

12.12 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

12.13 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

 

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(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the applicable party at its respective address set forth in Section 12.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 12.13 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

12.14 Acknowledgments. Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to Holdings or the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, and the relationship between Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand, and Holdings or the Borrower, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among Holdings, the Borrower and the Lenders.

12.15 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

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12.16 Confidentiality. Each Agent, and each Lender shall hold all non-public information furnished by or on behalf of Holdings and the Borrower and their Subsidiaries in connection with such Lender’s evaluation of whether to become a Lender hereunder or obtained by such Lender or such Agent pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement (“Confidential Information”) confidential in accordance with its customary procedure for handling confidential information of this nature and (in the case of a Lender that is a bank) in accordance with safe and sound banking practices and in any event may make disclosure as required or requested by any governmental agency or representative thereof or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority or representative thereof) or pursuant to legal process or to such Lender’s or such Agent’s trustees, attorneys, professional advisors or independent auditors or Affiliates, in each case who need to know such information in connection with the administration of the Credit Documents and are informed of the confidential nature of such information or with the consent of the Borrower or to the extent such Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than as a breach of this Section 12.16; provided that unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender, each Agent shall notify the Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition of such Lender or such Agent by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information; and provided, further, that in no event shall any Lender or any Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower. Each Lender and each Agent agrees that it will not provide to prospective Transferees, pledgees referred to in Section 12.6(d) or to prospective direct or indirect contractual counterparties under Hedging Agreements to be entered into in connection with Loans made hereunder any of the Confidential Information unless such Person is advised of and agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 12.16.

12.17 Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Subordination of Liens. (a) The Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, as set forth in clause (b) below, (ii) upon the sale, transfer or other disposition of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other sale, transfer or other disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person other than another Credit Party, to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to a Credit Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 12.1), (v) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee (in accordance with the second succeeding sentence) and (vi) as required to effect any sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Credit Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Credit Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral

 

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except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents. Additionally, the Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Guarantors shall be released from the Guarantees upon consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary, or in the case of a Previous Holdings in the conditions set forth in the definition of “Holdings”. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Credit Document relating to any such Collateral or Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be repeated.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Credit Document, when all Obligations (other than (i) Hedging Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedging Agreements, (ii) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (iii) any contingent or indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid in full, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to release all obligations under any Credit Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any (i) Hedging Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedging Agreements, (ii) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (iii) any contingent or indemnification obligations not then due. Any such release of Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrowers or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrowers or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, upon request of the Borrower in connection with any Liens permitted by the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to subordinate the Lien on any Collateral to any Lien permitted under Section 9.2.

12.18 USA PATRIOT ACT. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT ACT”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT ACT.

12.19 Legend. THE TERM LOANS MAY BE ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT “OID” FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF OID, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY OF THESE TERM LOANS MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITING TO THE BORROWER AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.2.

 

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[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

127


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC. (which on the

Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. with GOODMAN

GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the

Borrower),

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]


CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]


The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Credit Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to the Credit Agreement as a Borrower thereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION.,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and a Lender,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Bookrunner and a Lender

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]


CALYON BANK NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Bookrunner and a Lender,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Joint Book Runner and a Lender,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Term Loan Credit Agreement]

EX-10.2 7 dex102.htm REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of February 13, 2008

among

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Holdings

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

(with GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the Borrower)

The Several Lenders

from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Letter of Credit Issuer,

BARCLAYS CAPITAL,

and

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

as Joint Lead Arrangers,

and

BARCLAYS CAPITAL,

CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH,

and

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Joint Bookrunners,

 

 

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
Section 1.    Definitions    2
1.1        Defined Terms    2
1.2        Other Interpretive Provisions    51
1.3        Accounting Terms    51
1.4        Rounding    52
1.5        References to Agreements, Laws, Etc    52
1.6        Times of Day    52
1.7        Timing of Payment of Performance    52
1.8        Currency Equivalents Generally    52
1.9        UCC Terms    53
Section 2.    Amount and Terms of Revolving Credit Facility    53
2.1        Loans    53
2.2        Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings    55
2.3        Notice of Borrowing    55
2.4        Disbursement of Funds    56
2.5        Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt    57
2.6        Conversions and Continuations    58
2.7        Pro Rata Borrowings    59
2.8        Interest    59
2.9        Interest Periods    60
2.10      Increased Costs, Illegality, etc    60
2.11      Compensation    62
2.12      Change of Lending Office    63
2.13      Notice of Certain Costs    63
2.14      Reserves, etc    63
Section 3.    Letters of Credit    64
3.1        Issuance of Letters of Credit    64
3.2        Letter of Credit Requests    64
3.3        Letter of Credit Participations    65
3.4        Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings    67
3.5        Increased Costs    68
3.6        New or Successor Letter of Credit Issuer    68
3.7        Cash Collateral    69
3.8        Applicability of ISP and UCP    70
3.9        Conflict with Issuer Documents    70
3.10      Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries    70
Section 4.    Fees; Commitment Reductions and Terminations    70
4.1        Fees    70
4.2        Voluntary Reduction of Commitments    71
4.3        Mandatory Termination of Commitments    72


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Section 5.    Payments    72
5.1        Voluntary Prepayments    72
5.2        Mandatory Prepayments    72
5.3        Method and Place of Payment    74
5.4        Net Payments    74
5.5        Computations of Interest and Fees    77
5.6        Limit on Rate of Interest    77
Section 6.    Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Event    77
6.1        Credit Documents    77
6.2        Collateral    78
6.3        Legal Opinions    79
6.4        Structure and Terms of the Transactions    79
6.5        Closing Certificates    80
6.6        Corporate Proceedings    80
6.7        Corporate Documents    80
6.8        Fees and Expenses    80
6.9        Solvency Certificate    80
6.10      Financial Statements    80
6.11      Insurance Certificates    81
6.12      Company Material Adverse Effect    81
6.13      Closing EBITDA    81
6.14      Representations and Warranties    81
Section 7.    Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events    81
7.1        No Default; Representations and Warranties    81
7.2        Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request    82
Section 8.    Representations, Warranties and Agreements    82
8.1        Corporate Status    82
8.2        Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability    82
8.3        No Violation    83
8.4        Litigation    83
8.5        Margin Regulations    83
8.6        Governmental Approvals    83
8.7        Investment Company Act    83
8.8        True and Complete Disclosure    83
8.9        Financial Statements    84
8.10      Tax Returns and Payments, etc    84
8.11      Compliance with ERISA    84
8.12      Subsidiaries    85
8.13      Intellectual Property    85
8.14      Environmental Laws    86
8.15      Properties, Assets and Rights    86
8.16      Solvency    86
8.17      Material Adverse Change    86

 

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Section 9.    Affirmative Covenants    87
9.1        Information Covenants    87
9.2        Books, Records and Inspections    92
9.3        Maintenance of Insurance    93
9.4        Payment of Taxes    93
9.5        Consolidated Corporate Franchises    94
9.6        Compliance with Statutes    94
9.7        ERISA    94
9.8        Good Repair    94
9.9        End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters    95
9.10      Additional Guarantors and Grantors    95
9.11      Pledges of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness    95
9.12      Use of Proceeds    96
9.13      Changes in Business    96
9.14      Further Assurances    96
9.15      Designation of Subsidiaries    97
9.16      Interest Rate Protection    97
9.17      Senior Indebtedness    98
9.18      Cash Management    98
9.19      Post-Closing Covenants    99
Section 10.    Negative Covenants    99
10.1      Limitation on Indebtedness    100
10.2      Limitation on Liens    104
10.3      Limitation on Fundamental Changes    107
10.4      Limitation on Sale of Assets    109
10.5      Limitation on Investments    111
10.6      Limitation on Dividends    114
10.7      Limitations on Debt Payments and Amendments    117
10.8      Limitations on Sale Leasebacks    117
10.9      Negative Pledge Clauses    117
10.10    Passive Holding Company    118
10.11    Financial Covenant    119
10.12    Transactions with Affiliates    119
Section 11.    Events of Default    120
11.1      Payments    120
11.2      Representations, etc    120
11.3      Covenants    120
11.4      Default Under Other Agreements    121
11.5      Bankruptcy, etc    121
11.6      ERISA    122
11.7      Guarantee    122
11.8      Security Documents    122
11.9      Subordination    122
11.10    Judgments    122

 

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11.11    Change of Control    122
11.12    Borrower’s Right to Cure    123
Section 12.    The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent    124
12.1      Appointment    124
12.2      Limited Duties    124
12.3      Binding Effect    124
12.4      Delegation of Duties    125
12.5      Exculpatory Provisions    125
12.6      Reliance by Administrative Agent    125
12.7      Notice of Default    125
12.8      Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders    126
12.9      Indemnification    126
12.10    GECC in its Individual Capacity    127
12.11    Successor Agent    127
12.12    Withholding Tax    128
12.13    Duties as Collateral Agent and as paying agent    128
12.14    Authorization to Release Liens and Guarantees    128
Section 13.    Miscellaneous    129
13.1      Amendments and Waivers    129
13.2      Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies    130
13.3      No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies    131
13.4      Survival of Representations and Warranties    131
13.5      Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification    131
13.6      Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments    133
13.7      Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances    137
13.8      Adjustments; Set-off    138
13.9      Counterparts    138
13.10    Severability    138
13.11    Integration    138
13.12    GOVERNING LAW    139
13.13    Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers    139
13.14    Acknowledgments    139
13.15    WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL    140
13.16    Confidentiality    140
13.17    Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Subordination of Liens    140
13.18    USA PATRIOT ACT    142

 

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SCHEDULES   
Schedule 1.1(a)    Commitments and Addresses of Lenders
Schedule 1.1(b)    Mortgaged Property
Schedule 6.4(d)    Indebtedness to be refinanced on the Closing Date
Schedule 8.12    Subsidiaries
Schedule 8.15    Owned Real Property
Schedule 9.19    Post-Closing Covenants
Schedule 10.1    Indebtedness
Schedule 10.2    Liens
Schedule 10.4    Dispositions
Schedule 10.5    Investments
Schedule 10.9    Negative Pledge Clauses
Schedule 10.12    Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 13.2    Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS   
Exhibit A    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B    Form of Guarantee
Exhibit C    Form of Mortgage
Exhibit D    Form of Perfection Certificate
Exhibit E-1    Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit E-2    Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit F-1    Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit F-2    Form of Letter of Credit Request
Exhibit G-1    Form of Legal Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Exhibit G-2    Form of Legal Opinion of Akerman Senterfitt
Exhibit G-3    Form of Legal Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP
Exhibit H    Form of Closing Certificate
Exhibit I    Form of Promissory Note (Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans)
Exhibit J    Form of Intercompany Note
Exhibit K    Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008, among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”, which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Company surviving such merger as the borrower) (the “Borrower”), the lending institutions from time to time parties hereto (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as joint bookrunners (the “Joint Bookrunners”), GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION (“GECC”), as the Administrative, Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used and not defined in the preamble and these recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, in accordance with the terms thereof, with the Company surviving such merger (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, in order to fund, in part, the Merger Funds (as defined below), the Investors will directly or indirectly make cash equity contributions (the “Equity Contribution”) to Merger Sub (through Holdings) in an aggregate amount equal to, when combined with the fair market value of the equity of management and existing shareholders of the Company rolled over or invested in connection with the Transactions, at least 40% of the total sources required to consummate the Merger (the “Merger Consideration”), to refinance, repurchase, redeem and/or repay the Existing Notes and certain other existing indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Refinancing”), and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions (such fees and expenses, together with the Merger Consideration and the Refinancing payment, the “Merger Funds”), excluding cash-on-hand at the Company used to fund a portion of the Merger Funds;

WHEREAS, in order to fund, in part, the Merger Funds, the Borrower will borrow up to (x) $800,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Term Loans pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (y) $105,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Agreement (plus any Existing Notes Additional Redemption Amount as the case may be) and (z) $500,000,000 in the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture;

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the Borrower and Holdings have requested that the Lenders, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer make available Revolving Credit Loans, Letters of Credit and/or Swingline Loans for the purposes specified in this Agreement in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”);


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WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing and as an inducement for the Lenders to extend the credit contemplated hereunder, the Borrower has agreed to secure all of its Obligations by granting to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a first priority lien on its assets (except for Liens permitted pursuant to Section 10.2 and as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement), including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock (other than Excluded Capital Stock) of each of its Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing and as an inducement for the Lenders to extend the credit contemplated hereunder, the Guarantors have agreed to guarantee the Obligations and to secure their respective guarantees by granting to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a first priority lien on their respective assets (except for Liens permitted pursuant to Section 10.2 and as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement), including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock (other than Excluded Capital Stock) of each of their respective Subsidiaries.

AGREEMENT:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions

1.1 Defined Terms (a) As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1 unless the context otherwise requires:

ABR” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus  1/2 of 1%. If the Administrative Agent is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate due to its inability to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the definition thereof, after notice is provided to the Borrower, the ABR shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

ABR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest at the rate provided in Section 2.8(a) and, in any event, shall include all Swingline Loans.

Account Debtor” shall mean an “account debtor” as defined in Article 9 of the UCC or any Person who may become obligated to any Credit Party under, with respect to, or on account of, an Account, chattel paper or general intangibles of such Credit Party (including a payment intangible) or any guarantor of performance of an Account.

Accounts” shall mean all “accounts,” as such term is defined in the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party, including (a) all accounts receivable, other receivables, book debts and other forms of obligations (other than forms of obligations evidenced by Chattel Paper or Instruments), (including any such obligations that may be characterized as an account or contract right under the UCC), (b) all of each Credit Party’s rights in, to and under all

 

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purchase orders or receipts for merchandise, goods or services, (c) all of each Credit Party’s rights to any goods represented by any of the foregoing (including unpaid sellers’ rights of rescission, replevin, reclamation and stoppage in transit and rights to returned, reclaimed or repossessed goods), (d) all rights to payment due to any Credit Party for property sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise disposed of, for a policy of insurance issued or to be issued, for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred, for energy provided or to be provided, for the use or hire of a vessel under a charter or other contract, arising out of the use of a credit card or charge card, or for services rendered or to be rendered by such Credit Party or in connection with any other transaction (whether or not yet earned by performance on the part of such Credit Party), (e) all healthcare insurance receivables, and (f) all collateral security of any kind, now or hereafter in existence, given by any Account Debtor or other Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

Acquired EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Pro Forma Entity for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” were references to such Pro Forma Entity and its subsidiaries which will become Restricted Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity.

Acquired Entity or Business” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Acquisition Agreement” shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007, among, inter alia the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc. and Merger Sub, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto.

Activation Notice” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18(b)(i).

Adjusted Total Commitment” shall mean, at any time, the Total Commitment less the aggregate Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders.

Administrative Agent” shall mean GECC, or any successor to GECC appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.11, together with its affiliates, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

Administrative Agent’s Office” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 299 Park Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York NY, 10171 or such other office as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. The term “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Agents” shall mean the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Agreement” shall mean this Revolving Credit Agreement.

Applicable Laws” shall mean, as to any Person, any law (including common law), statute, regulation, ordinance, rule, order, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding on such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

Applicable Margin” shall mean a percentage per annum equal to (A) for Eurodollar Loans, 2.00%, (B) for ABR Loans (including Swingline Loans), 1.00%, (C) with respect to Letter of Credit fees, 2.00%, and (D) for commitment fee payable pursuant to Section 4.1(a), 0.50% (to be lowered to 0.375% at such time, and for so long as, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio set forth on the most recent officers’ certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.1(d) is lower than 3.50 to 1.00; it being specified that any increase or decrease in the commitment fee resulting from a change in the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date Section 9.1 Financials are delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b); provided that at the option of the Required Lenders, the highest level of commitment fee shall apply (i) as of the first Business Day after the date on which Section 9.1 Financials were required to have been delivered but have not been delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Financials Section 9.1 Financials are so delivered (and thereafter the commitment fee otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply), and (ii) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent has notified that the highest commitment fees applies, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default shall cease to be continuing (and thereafter the commitment fee otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply)).

Approved Fund” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(b).

Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Attributable Indebtedness” shall mean, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Authorized Officer” shall mean the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, with respect to certain limited liability companies or partnerships that do not have officers, any manager, managing member or general partner thereof, any other senior officer of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Credit Party designated as such in writing to the

 

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Administrative Agent by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Credit Party, as applicable, and, with respect to any document (other than the solvency certificate) delivered on the Closing Date, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of any Credit Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Credit Party and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(b).

Available Amount” shall mean, at any time (the “Available Amount Reference Time”), an amount equal at such time to the sum of, without duplication:

(a) the amount (which amount shall not be less than zero) equal to 50% of the Cumulative Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time (other than the portion of any such dividends and other distributions that is used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay taxes);

(c) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of all cash repayments of principal received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time in respect of loans made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

(d) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income or applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the aggregate amount of all net cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of its ownership interest in any Minority Investment or Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; and

(e) to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of any Final Refused Proceeds (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) retained by the Borrower during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time,

minus the sum of, without duplication and without taking into account the actual usage of the Available Amount being made at the applicable Available Amount Reference Time:

(i) the aggregate amount of any Investments made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (iii) of the proviso to Section 10.5(q) and clause (iii) of the proviso to Section 10.5(r) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time;

 

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(ii) the aggregate amount of any Dividends made by Holdings pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of Section 10.6(f) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time; and

(iii) the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (B)(y) of the proviso to Section 10.7(a)(ii) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time; and

(iv) the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.11(c)(i)(z) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Amount Reference Time.

Available Amount Reference Time” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Available Amount”.

Available Equity Amount” shall mean, at any time (the “Available Equity Amount Reference Time”), an amount equal to, without duplication, (a) the amount of any capital contributions or other equity issuances (other than the Equity Contribution, issuances of Permitted Cure Securities or any other capital contribution or equity issuance to the extent utilized in connection with other transactions permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 or Section 10.6) received as cash equity by the Borrower (through Holdings) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Equity Amount Reference Time, but excluding all proceeds from the issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) the aggregate amount of any Investments made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (ii) of the proviso to Section 10.5(q) and clause (ii) of the proviso to Section 10.5(r) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time;

(ii) the aggregate amount of any Dividends made by Holdings pursuant to clause (i) of Section 10.6(f) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time;

(iii) the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (A) of the proviso to Section 10.7(a)(ii) after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time; and

(iv) the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.11(c)(i)(y) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time.

 

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Available Equity Amount Reference Time” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Available Equity Amount”.

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Blocked Accounts” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18(a).

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrowing” shall mean and include (a) the incurrence of one Type of Revolving Credit Loan on a given date (or resulting from conversions of Revolving Credit Loans on a given date) having, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the same Interest Period (provided that ABR Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.10(b) shall be considered part of any related Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans) and (b) the incurrence of Swingline Loans from the Swingline Lender on a given date.

Borrowing Base” shall mean, as of any date, an amount equal to the sum at such time of (without duplication):

(a) 85% multiplied by the book value of Credit Parties’ Eligible Accounts at such time; and

(b) 85% multiplied by the Net Orderly Liquidation Value Percentage multiplied by the Credit Parties’ Eligible Inventory,

in each case, less, any Reserve established or modified from time to time by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in their exercise of their Permitted Discretion in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.14.

The Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate theretofore delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent with such adjustments as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent deem appropriate in their Permitted Discretion to assure that the Borrowing Base is calculated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Borrowing Base Certificate” shall mean a certificate, executed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower, substantially in the form of (or in such other form as may be mutually agreed upon by Borrower, Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent), and containing the information prescribed by, Exhibit K, delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent setting forth Borrower’s calculation of the Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 9.1(k).

 

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Business Day” shall mean (a) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day that shall be in The City of New York a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law or other governmental actions to close and (b) if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Loans, any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Canadian Dollars” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of Canada.

Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of, without duplication, (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) all Capitalized Software Expenditures during such period, and (c) all fixed asset additions financed through Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and recorded on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP during such period; provided that the term “Capital Expenditures” shall not include (i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed from insurance proceeds or compensation awards paid on account of a Recovery Event, (ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time, (iii) the purchase of plant, property or equipment to the extent financed with the proceeds of sales, transfers or other dispositions that are not required to be applied to prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (iv) expenditures that constitute any part of Consolidated Lease Expense, (v) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period, it being understood, however, that only the amount of expenditures actually provided or incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such period and not the amount required to be provided or incurred in any future period shall constitute “Capital Expenditures” in the applicable period), (vi) the book value of any asset owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a capital expenditure during such period as a result of such Person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that (x) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period in which such expenditure actually is made and (y) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, (vii) any expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions and expenditures made in connection with the Transactions or (viii) any capitalized interest expense reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or capitalized as Capitalized Software Expenditures for such period.

Capital Stock” shall mean any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

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Capitalized Lease Obligations” shall mean, as applied to any Person, all obligations under Capitalized Leases of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case taken at the amount thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Leases” shall mean, as applied to any Person, all leases of property that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases of such Person.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Collateral Account” shall mean a deposit account or securities account in the name of the Borrower and under the sole control (as defined in the applicable UCC) of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Cash Collaterize” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.7.

Cash Dominion Event” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events: (i) the Excess Availability is less than 10% of the Total Commitment for a period of five consecutive Business Days, (ii) an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 11.1, 11.3 (but only to the extent such Event of Default was caused by a breach of Section 10 or Section 9.1(a), (b) or (k) and the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders have reasonably determined (by written notice to the Borrower) to effect a Cash Dominion Event as a result of such breach) or 11.5 shall occur and be continuing; provided that, to the extent that the Cash Dominion Event has occurred due to clause (i) of this definition, if Excess Availability shall be equal to or greater than 10% of the Total Commitments for at least 30 consecutive days, the Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed to be over. At any time that a Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed to be over or otherwise cease to exist, the Collateral Agent shall take such actions, including delivering such notices and directions to depositary institutions at which Blocked Accounts are established, to terminate the cash sweeps and other transfers existing pursuant to Section 9.18(c) as a result of any Activation Notice or other notices or directions given by Collateral Agent during the existence of such Cash Dominion Event.

Cash Management Systems” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18(b).

Cash Management Bank” shall mean any Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it provides any Cash Management Services or that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at any time after it has provided any Cash Management Services, including each Person deemed to be “Cash Management Bank” pursuant to the definition of the term “Cash Management Bank” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement or in the documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness.

 

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Cash Management Obligations” shall mean obligations owed by Holdings, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in connection with, or in respect of, any Cash Management Services.

Cash Management Services” shall mean treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, including non-card e-payables services, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, automated clearing house fund transfer services and other cash management services.

Change” shall have the meaning provided for in Section 2.14

Change of Control” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if (a) (i) at any time prior to a Qualifying IPO, the Sponsor and the Management Investors shall at any time not own, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, at least 35% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings and/or (ii) at any time after a Qualifying IPO, any person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person, entity or “group” and its Subsidiaries and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than the Sponsor and the Management Investors, shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act) of the greater of (A) 35% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings and (B) the percentage of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by the Sponsor and the Management Investors, unless in the case of either clause (i) or (ii) above, the Sponsor and the Management Investors have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings; provided that, for the purpose of this clause (a), the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of the Management Investors shall be deemed not to exceed 10% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings; and/or (b) at any time Continuing Managers shall not constitute at least majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings; and/or (c) any Person other than Holdings shall acquire direct ownership, beneficially or of record, of any Voting Stock of the Borrower; and/or (d) a “Change of Control” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement or in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or however defined in the documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any of such Indebtedness) shall have occurred.

Closing Date” shall mean the date of the initial Credit Event hereunder.

Closing Date Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness described on Schedule 10.1.

Closing EBITDA” shall mean “EBITDA” as defined in the indenture governing the notes identified in clause (i) of the definition of “Existing Notes” modified as follows: (a) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges under clause (4) of such definition shall only be permitted to be added back up to an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2007 and (b) EBITDA for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007, respectively, shall be deemed to be $32,700,000 and $88,300,000, respectively.

 

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Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder. Section references to the Code are to the Code, as in effect at the date of this Agreement, and any subsequent provisions of the Code, amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

Collateral” shall have the meaning provided to such term in each of the Security Documents.

Collateral Access Agreement” shall mean a landlord waiver, bailee letter or any other agreement reasonably requested by and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

Collateral Agent” shall mean GECC, or any successor thereto appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.11, together with its affiliates, as the collateral agent for the Secured Parties.

Collection Account” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18(b)(i).

Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Swingline Commitment.

Commitment Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(a).

Company” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Concentration Account” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18(b)(i).

Concentration Account Bank” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18(b)(i).

Confidential Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.16.

Confidential Information Memorandum” shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum of the Borrower dated January 2008, delivered to prospective lenders in connection with this Agreement.

Consolidated EBITDA” shall mean, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities,

 

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(ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes paid or accrued during such period,

(iii) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets established through purchase accounting and amortization of deferred financing fees or costs),

(iv) Non-Cash Charges,

(v) net after tax extraordinary losses in accordance with GAAP,

(vi) net after tax non-recurring charges (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, transition costs and costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities,

(vii) restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring costs related to acquisitions after the Closing Date); provided that such restructuring charges, accruals and reserves shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for any Test Period,

(viii) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period to Consolidated Net Income),

(ix) (A) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) the Sponsor and (B) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted in this Agreement,

(x) losses on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business),

(xi) the amount of “run rate” cost savings projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken within 18 months after the Closing Date (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated EBITDA until fully realized (but in any event for no longer than 30 months following the Closing Date if such cost savings have not be realized by that time) and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that (A) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (B) no cost savings shall be added pursuant to this clause (xi) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings that are included in clauses (vi) and (vii) above or in the definition of the term “Pro Forma Adjustment” and (C) the aggregate amount of cost savings added pursuant to this clause (xi) shall not exceed $10,000,000 for any Test Period (it being understood and agreed that “run rate” shall mean the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken),

 

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(xii) the amount of any net losses from discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP,

(xiii) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-”Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”,

(xiv) any loss relating to amounts paid in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income for such period, and

(xv) any gain relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (b)(v) and (b)(vi) below;

less

(b) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) extraordinary gains and unusual or non-recurring gains,

(ii) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period),

(iii) gains on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business),

(iv) the amount of any net income from discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP,

(v) any non-cash gain attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such gain has not been realized) or other derivative instruments pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133-”Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”,

 

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(vi) any gain relating to amounts received in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any Hedging Obligation (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in the such period,

(vii) any loss relating to Hedging Obligations (including Hedging Obligations entered into for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in the price or availability of any commodity) associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (a)(xiii) and (a)(xiv) above; and

(viii) the amount of any minority interest income consisting of Subsidiary loss attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period to Consolidated Net Income),

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income,

(i) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Agreements for currency exchange risk),

(ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of (but not including the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired) (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired, including pursuant to the Transactions, and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), in each case based on the Acquired EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis and (B) an adjustment in respect of each Pro Forma Entity equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) as specified in the Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent (for further delivery to the Lenders); and

(iii) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified, a “Sold Entity or Business”), and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary”), in each case based on the Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer, disposition, closure, classification or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein and subject to adjustment as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the immediately preceding proviso with respect to acquisitions and dispositions occurring following the Closing Date and adjustments as provided under clause (a)(xi) above, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $32,200,000, $87,500,000 and $95,000,000, respectively, for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007.

Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such date of determination minus, without duplication, (ii) Capital Expenditures incurred during such Test Period (other than Capital Expenditures financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness), minus, (iii) the portion of taxes attributable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries based on income for such Test Period actually paid in cash or accrued during such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such Test Period; provided that, for purposes of calculating the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be (A) with respect to all amounts of Consolidated Interest Expense, other than amounts relating to the Credit Documents, an amount equal to actual Consolidated Interest Expense from the Closing Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is 365 and the denominator of which is the number of days from the Closing Date through the date of determination and (B) with respect to all amounts of Consolidated Interest Expense relating to the Credit Documents, calculated as if the average amount utilized and accruing Consolidated Interest Expense thereunder during any fiscal quarter prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, is $105,000,000 in respect of Revolving Credit Loans and $33,000,000 in respect of Letters of Credit Outstanding. In the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility that has not been permanently repaid) subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio is being calculated, but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio shall be calculated giving Pro Forma Effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, redemption, retirement or extinguishing of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period.

Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall mean for any period, the sum, determined on a consolidated basis and, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) any scheduled payment of principal of Consolidated Total Debt during such period, (iii) all cash Dividends paid by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on any series of preferred Capital Stock or Disqualified Capital Stock during such period.

 

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Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, the cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases), net of cash interest income, of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Hedging Agreements, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, pay-in-kind interest expense and any other amounts of non-cash interest (including as a result of the effects of purchase accounting), (ii) the accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities during such period, (iii) any interest in respect of items excluded from Indebtedness in the proviso to the definition thereof, (iv) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, (v) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of Hedging Agreements for interest rates, and (vi) all non-recurring cash interest expense consisting of liquidated damages for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations and financing fees, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Lease Expense” shall mean, for any period, all rental expenses of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period under operating leases for real or personal property (including in connection with Permitted Sale Leasebacks), but excluding real estate taxes, insurance costs and common area maintenance charges and net of sublease income; provided that Consolidated Lease Expense shall not include (a) obligations under vehicle leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, (b) all such rental expenses associated with assets acquired pursuant to the Transactions and pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to the extent that such rental expenses relate to operating leases (i) in effect at the time of (and immediately prior to) such acquisition and (ii) related to periods prior to such acquisition, (c) Capitalized Lease Obligations, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (d) the effects from applying purchase accounting.

Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding, without duplication, (a) extraordinary items for such period (including expenditures incurred to settle environmental liabilities), (b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (c) in the case of any period that includes a period ending prior to or during the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2008, Transaction Expenses, (d) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, (e) any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Agreements or other derivative instruments (other than commodity Hedging Agreements), (f) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

 

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(g) stock-based award compensation expenses and (h) any income (loss) from investments recorded using the equity method. There shall be included in Consolidated Net Income, without duplication, the amount of any cash tax benefits related to the tax amortization of intangible assets in such period. There shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the effects from applying purchase accounting, including applying purchase accounting to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of the Transactions, any acquisition consummated prior to the Closing Date and any permitted acquisitions or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof.

Consolidated Total Assets” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the total amount of all assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date.

Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of (i) indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments, minus (b) (i) the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments (in each case, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens and other non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 10.2, Liens permitted under Sections 10.2(a), 10.2(h), 10.2(j), 10.2(m) and Liens permitted under clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 10.2(n)), excluding cash and Permitted Investments which are listed as “restricted”, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date less (ii) the aggregate amount of Reinvestment Deferred Amounts in excess of $50,000,000 at the date of determination.

Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of the relevant Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

Continuing Manager” shall mean, at any date, an individual (a) who is a member of the Board of Directors of Holdings on the Closing Date, (b) who, as at such date, has been a member of such Board of Directors for at least the 12 preceding months, (c) who has been nominated or designated to be a member of such Board of Directors, directly or indirectly, by the Sponsor or Persons nominated or designated by the Sponsor or (d) who has been nominated to be a member of such Board of Directors by a majority of the other Continuing Managers then in office.

Contractual Obligation” shall mean, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound other than the Obligations.

 

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Control Agreement” shall mean a Deposit Account Control Agreement or a Securities Account Control Agreement.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Credit Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement, each Letter of Credit and any promissory notes issued by the Borrower hereunder.

Credit Event” shall mean and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit (including an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit).

Credit Party” shall mean each of Holdings, the Borrower, the Guarantors and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a party to a Credit Document.

Cumulative Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, as at any date of determination, Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on January 1, 2008 and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which Section 9.1 Financials have been delivered.

Cure Amount” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.12(a).

Cure Right” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.12(a).

Default” shall mean any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” shall mean any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Revolving Credit Loans, Letter of Credit Participations or participations in Swingline Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured, (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or (d) has notified the Borrower and/or the Administrative Agent in writing of any of the foregoing (including any written notification of its intent not to comply with its obligations under Section 2).

Deposit Account Control Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” shall mean the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection

 

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with a Disposition pursuant to Section 10.4(c) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the Fair Market Value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within 180 days following the consummation of the applicable Disposition).

Disposed EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” (and in the component financial definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business.

Disposition” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.4(c).

Disqualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Capital Stock into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or (b) is redeemable or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), in whole or in part, or (c) provides for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash, in each case prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the latest Maturity Date of any Credit Facility hereunder; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Distributor Accounts” shall mean Accounts (i) arising from delivery of products in the ordinary course of business, (ii) which are billed pursuant to a customer agreement which provides for monthly billing, (iii) which are billed not more than 40 days after the date of sale of product and (iv) for which the Borrower shall provide, from time to time at the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, a summary setting forth the invoicing of the consigned distributors.

Dividends” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.6.

 

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Dollars” and “$” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the Applicable Laws of the United States, any state or territory thereof, or the District of Columbia.

E-Fax” shall mean any system used to receive or transmit faxes electronically.

Eligible Accounts” shall mean at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of all Accounts of the Credit Parties that are not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (w) below. Eligible Accounts shall not include, without duplication, any Account of any Credit Party:

(a) that does not arise from the sale of goods or the performance of services by such Credit Party in the ordinary course of its business;

(b) (i) upon which such Credit Party’s right to receive payment is not absolute or is contingent upon the fulfillment of any condition whatsoever or (ii) as to which such Credit Party is not able to bring suit or otherwise enforce its remedies against the Account Debtor through judicial process, or (iii) if the Account represents a progress billing consisting of an invoice for goods sold or used or services rendered pursuant to a contract under which the Account Debtor’s obligation to pay that invoice is subject to such Credit Party’s completion of further performance under such contract or is subject to the equitable lien of a surety bond issuer;

(c) with respect to which the Account Debtor is a creditor of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party, has or has asserted any defense, counterclaim, right of setoff or has disputed its obligation to pay all or any portion of the Account, to the extent of such defense, claim, counterclaim, right of setoff or dispute, unless (i) the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, has established an appropriate Reserve and determines to include such Account as Eligible Account or (ii) such account Debtor has entered into an agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to waive such rights;

(d) that comprises service charges or finance charges;

(e) that is not a true and correct statement of bona fide indebtedness incurred in the amount of the Account for merchandise sold to or services rendered and accepted by the applicable Account Debtor;

(f) (i) with respect to Other Accounts, with respect to which an invoice, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in form and substance (or otherwise in the form required by any Account Party), has not been sent to the applicable Account Debtor or (ii) with respect to Distributor Accounts, with respect to which an invoice, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in form and substance (or otherwise in the form required by any Account Party), has not been sent to the applicable Account Debtor within 40 days following the date of sale of product;

 

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(g) that (i) is not owned by such Credit Party or (ii) as to which the Collateral Agent’s Lien thereon, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, is not a first priority perfected Lien or is subject to any Lien of any other Person, other than (A) Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties or Term Loan Liens or (B) Permitted Liens for which the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, has established an appropriate Reserve and determines to include such Account as Eligible Account;

(h) that arises from a sale to any director, officer, other employee or Affiliate of any Credit Party;

(i) that is the obligation of an Account Debtor that is the United States government or a political subdivision thereof, or any state, county or municipality or department, agency or instrumentality thereof unless such Credit Party has complied with respect to such obligation with the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, or any applicable state, county or municipal law restricting the assignment thereof with respect to such obligation, in each case to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction;

(j) that is the obligation of an Account Debtor located in a foreign country other than Canada unless payment thereof is assured by a letter of credit or other credit support assigned and delivered to the Administrative Agent, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to form, amount and issuer;

(k) to the extent such Credit Party is liable for goods sold or services rendered by the applicable Account Debtor to such Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof but only to the extent of the potential offset;

(l) that arises with respect to goods that are delivered on a bill and hold, cash on delivery basis or placed on consignment (other than Distributor Accounts), guaranteed sale or other terms by reason of which the payment by the Account Debtor is or may be conditional;

(m) that is in default; provided, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, an Account shall be deemed in default upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the Account Debtor obligated upon such Account suspends business, makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or fails to pay its debts generally as they come due; or

(ii) a petition is filed by or against any Account Debtor obligated upon such Account under any bankruptcy law or any other federal, state or foreign (including any provincial) receivership, insolvency relief or other law or laws for the relief of debtors;

(n) that is the obligation of an Account Debtor if 50% or more of the Dollar amount of all Accounts owing by that Account Debtor are ineligible under the other criteria set forth in this definition;

(o) as to which any of the representations or warranties in the Credit Documents with respect to such Account are untrue;

 

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(p) to the extent such Account is evidenced by a judgment, Instrument or Chattel Paper (other than Instruments or Chattel Paper that have been delivered to the Collateral Agent under the Security Agreement);

(q) Accounts, the collection of which the Administrative Agent believes in its Permitted Discretion to be doubtful by reason of the Account Debtor’s perceived inability to pay;

(r) which is not paid within the earlier of 60 days following its due date or 90 days following its original invoice date, or which has been written off the books of the Borrower or otherwise designated as uncollectible (in determining the aggregate amount from the same Account Debtor that is unpaid hereunder there shall be excluded the amount of any net credit balances relating to Accounts due from an Account Debtor which is not paid within the earlier of 60 days following its due date or 90 days following its original invoice date);

(s) with respect to which the Account Debtor is located in a state, province or jurisdiction (e.g., New Jersey, Minnesota and West Virginia) that requires, as a condition to access to the courts of such jurisdiction, that a creditor qualify to transact business, file a business activities report or other report or form, or take one or more other actions, unless the applicable Credit Party has so qualified, filed such reports or forms, or taken such actions (and, in each case, paid any required fees or other charges). The foregoing shall not apply to the extent that the applicable Credit Party may qualify subsequently as a foreign entity authorized to transact business in such state or jurisdiction and gain access to such courts, without incurring any cost or penalty viewed by the Administrative Agent to be material in amount, and such later qualification cures any access to such courts to enforce payment of such Account (including, for greater certainty, the requirement for a creditor to extra-provincially register in a province or territory of Canada for such purposes);

(t) to the extent such Account was created as a new receivable for the unpaid portion of an outstanding Account (including chargebacks, debit memos or other adjustments for unauthorized deductions);

(u) that does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Applicable Laws and regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign, including the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Board;

(v) to the extent that such Account, together with all other Accounts owing to such Account Debtor and its Affiliates as of any date of determination exceed 10% of all Eligible Accounts (or 20% with respect to Accounts owed by Johnstone Supply and its Affiliates or any higher percentage agreed to by the Administrative Agent, but in any event not exceeding 25% of all Eligible Accounts); or

(w) that is payable in any currency other than Dollars or Canadian Dollars; provided that the aggregate amount of all Eligible Accounts denominated in Canadian Dollars shall not exceed more than 10% of all Eligible Accounts at any time.

Subject to Sections 2.14 and 13.1(c) and the definition of Borrowing Base, the Administrative Agent may modify the foregoing in its Permitted Discretion.

 

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Eligible Inventory” shall mean Inventory of the Credit Parties that is not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (p) below. Eligible Inventory shall not include, without duplication, any Inventory of any Credit Party that:

(a) (i) is not owned by the Credit Parties or (ii) is not subject to a first priority lien in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties and is free and clear of all Liens (including the rights of a purchaser that has made progress payments and the rights of a surety that has issued a bond to assure such Credit Parties’ performance with respect to that Inventory) except for (A) the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, and Term Loan Liens and (B) Permitted Liens for which the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, has established an appropriate Reserve and determines to include such Account as Eligible Inventory;

(b) (i) is not located on premises owned, leased or rented by the Credit Parties or (ii) is stored at a leased location, unless the Administrative Agent has given its prior consent thereto or unless (A) the lessor has delivered to the Collateral Agent a Collateral Access Agreement or (B) a Reserve (and, without duplication, Landlord Lien Reserve) for rent, charges and other amounts due or to become due with respect to such locations has been established by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its Permitted Discretion, (iii) is stored with a bailee or third party warehouseman unless (A) such warehouseman or bailee has delivered to the Collateral Agent a Collateral Access Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require or is evidenced by a Document which has been delivered to the Administrative Agent or (B) an appropriate Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its Permitted Discretion, or (iv) is located at an owned location subject to a mortgage in favor of a lender other than the Collateral Agent (and the collateral agent under the Term Loan Credit Documents), unless a reasonably satisfactory mortgagee waiver has been delivered to the Administrative Agent, or (v) is located at any site if the aggregate book value of Inventory at any such location is less than $100,000;

(c) is placed on consignment or is in transit, except for Inventory in transit between domestic locations of Credit Parties as to which the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been perfected at origin and destination;

(d) is covered by a negotiable document of title, unless such document has been delivered to the Administrative Agent with all necessary endorsements, free and clear of all Liens except those in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties;

(e) consists of display items or packing or shipping materials, manufacturing supplies, work in process Inventory or replacement parts;

(f) consists of goods which have been returned by the buyer other than goods that are undamaged and are able to be resold in the ordinary course of business;

(g) is not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course of Credit Parties’ business;

 

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(h) breaches any of the representations or warranties pertaining to Inventory set forth in the Credit Documents;

(i) consists of any costs associated with “freight in” charges;

(j) consists of Hazardous Materials or goods that can be transported or sold only with licenses that are not readily available;

(k) is not located in the United States or Canada;

(l) is obsolete or unmarketable, defective or unfit for sale or which does not conform in all material respects to all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Credit Party;

(m) is not covered by casualty insurance which complies with the requirements of Section 9.3;

(n) which contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to a Credit Party unless the Administrative Agent is satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory without (i) infringing the rights of such licensor in any material respect, (ii) violating any material contract with such licensor or (iii) incurring any material liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement; or

(o) such portion of Eligible Inventory that is applicable to intercompany profits or capitalized variances.

Subject to Sections 2.14 and 13.1(c) and the definition of Borrowing Base, the Administrative Agent may modify the foregoing in its Permitted Discretion.

Environmental Claims” shall mean any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) in the ordinary course of such Person’s business or (b) as required in connection with a financing transaction or an acquisition or disposition of real estate) or proceedings relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law (hereinafter, “Claims”), including (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from the release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment.

Environmental Law” shall mean any applicable Federal, state, foreign or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code and rule of common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, in each case relating to the protection of the environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to substances that are harmful or deleterious to the environment, of human health or safety.

 

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Equity Contribution” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time. Section references to ERISA are to ERISA as in effect at the date of this Agreement and any subsequent provisions of ERISA amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that together with Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

Eurodollar Loan” shall mean any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

Eurodollar Base Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Loan, the greater of ((i) the rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for the applicable Interest Period appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day in such Interest Period and (ii) 3.25% per annum. In the event that the rate referred to in clause (i) above does not appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page at such time, the “Eurodollar Base Rate” shall be determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available service for displaying the offered rate for deposit in Dollars in the London interbank market as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower or, in the absence of such agreement, the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for the purposes of this paragraph shall instead be the rate per annum notified to the Administrative Agent by the Reference Lender as the rate at which the Reference Lender is offered Dollar deposits at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period in the interbank Eurodollar market where the Eurodollar and foreign currency and exchange operations in respect of its Eurodollar Loans are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of its Eurodollar Loan to be outstanding during such Interest Period availability, such other method to determine such offered rate as may be selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

Eurodollar Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Interest Period and for any Eurodollar Loan, an interest rate per annum determined as the ratio of (a) the Eurodollar Base Rate with respect to such Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan to (b) the Statutory Reserve Requirements with respect to such Interest Period and for such Eurodollar Loan.

E-System” shall mean any electronic system, including Intralinks® and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent, any of its Related Parties, or any of such Person’s respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

 

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Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.

Excess Availability” shall mean, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the Maximum Amount less the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders and Swingline Loans then outstanding.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Rate” shall mean on any day with respect to any currency (other than Dollars), the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into any other currency (including Dollars), as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day on the Reuters World Currency Page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 11:00 a.m., local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant currency for delivery two Business Days later.

Excluded Capital Stock” shall mean (a) any Capital Stock with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Borrower and the Collateral Agent), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of pledging such Capital Stock shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (b) solely in the case of any pledge of Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary to secure the Obligations, any Capital Stock that is Voting Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such class, (c) any Capital Stock to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Applicable Law or Contractual Obligation, (d) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary), (e) the Capital Stock of any Immaterial Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (f) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (g) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Capital Stock would result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower and (h) such Capital Stock as has been identified on or prior to the Closing Date in writing to the Administrative Agent by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower and agreed to by the Administrative Agent.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary on any date such Subsidiary would otherwise be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the requirements of Section 9.10 (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary), (b) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by Applicable Law or Contractual Obligation existing on the Closing Date from guaranteeing the Obligations at the

 

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time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (and for so long as such restrictions or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect), (c) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (d) any Immaterial Subsidiary (provided that the Borrower shall not be permitted to exclude Immaterial Subsidiaries from guaranteeing the Obligations to the extent that (i) the aggregate amount of gross revenue for all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries) excluded by clause this clause (d) exceeds 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent Test Period ended prior to the date of determination or (ii) the aggregate amount of total assets for all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries) excluded by this clause (d) exceeds 2% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of the most recent Test Period ended prior to the date of determination), (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Borrower and the Collateral Agent), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing a guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (f) each Foreign Subsidiary and Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) each other Domestic Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition and financed with secured Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(k) or 10.1(l) and permitted by the proviso to subclause (z) or (y), respectively, of either of such Sections and each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees such Indebtedness to the extent that, and for so long as, the financing documentation relating to such Permitted Acquisition to which such Restricted Subsidiary is a party prohibits such Restricted Subsidiary from guaranteeing the Obligations, (h) any Subsidiary to the extent that the guarantee of the Obligations would result in adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower and (i) AsureCare Corp., a Florida corporation.

Existing Notes” shall mean collectively, (i) the existing fixed rate notes 7 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc. and (ii) the outstanding Senior Floating Rate Notes of Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.

Existing Notes Additional Redemption Amount” shall mean Revolving Credit Loans up to $25,000,000 which may be borrowed on the Closing Date exclusively to fund the Existing Notes Over-Funding Amount.

Existing Notes Over-Funding Amount” shall mean the difference between the calculation of the amount of the redemption deposit required under the indenture governing the Existing Notes calculated on the Closing Date using a discount rate of zero and the actual redemption amount determined on the date of redemption of the Existing Notes using the market discount rate at the time of such redemption.

Fair Market Value” shall mean with respect to any asset or group of assets on any date of determination, the value of the consideration obtainable in a sale of such asset at such date of determination assuming a sale by a willing seller to a willing purchaser dealing at arm’s length and arranged in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time having regard to the nature and characteristics of such asset, as reasonably determined by the Borrower.

 

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Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letter” shall mean the letter dated the date hereof addressed to Borrower from the Joint Bookrunners and accepted by Borrower on the date hereof, with respect to certain fees to be paid from time to time to the Administrative Agent.

Fees” shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to, or referred to in, Section 4.1.

Financial Covenant” shall mean the covenant of the Borrower set forth in Section 10.11.

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fronting Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b).

Funded Debt” shall mean all indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States, any foreign country or any multinational authority, or any state or political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including the PBGC and other quasi-governmental entities established to perform such functions.

 

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Guarantee” shall mean the Revolving Guarantee, made by each Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Guarantee Obligations” shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Indebtedness or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Indebtedness of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Indebtedness or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

Guarantors” shall mean (a) Holdings (b) each Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) on the Closing Date and (c) each Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) that becomes a party to the Guarantee after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.10.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing regulated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas; (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”, or “pollutants”, or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law; and (c) any other chemical, material or substance, which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Environmental Law.

Hedging Agreement” shall mean (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing),

 

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whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements.

Historical Financial Statements” shall mean (a) the audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the three most recently completed fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007 and each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of 2007) ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date and (c) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of the Company for each fiscal month after September 30, 2007 (other than any month with respect to which quarterly financial statements are delivered pursuant to the foregoing) ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date, which financial statements described in clauses (a) through (c) shall have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Holdings” shall mean CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC, a Delaware Corporation or, after the Closing Date, any other Person (the “New Holdings”) that is a Subsidiary of CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC, (or the previous New Holdings as the case may be) (the “Previous Holdings”); provided that (a) such New Holdings owns 100% of Voting Stock of the Borrower, (b) the New Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Previous Holdings under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (c) such substitution concurrently occurs under Term Loan Credit Documents, (d) the New Holdings shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such substitution and any supplements to the Credit Documents preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents, (e) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such substitution does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (f) all assets of the Previous Holdings are contributed or otherwise transferred to such New Holdings and (g) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such substitution and such substitution does not result in any Default or Event of Default or material tax liability; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Previous Holdings shall be automatically released of all its obligations under the Credit Documents and any reference to “Holdings” in the Credit Documents shall be meant to refer to the “New Holdings”.

Immaterial Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) at the last day of the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such determination date were less than 1% of the

 

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Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, and (b) whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) for such Test Period were less than 1% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Indebtedness” shall mean, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money and all indebtedness of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net Hedging Obligations of such Person;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) current trade liabilities (but not any refinancings, extensions, renewals, or replacements thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business and maturing within 365 days after the incurrence thereof except if such trade liabilities bear interest and (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness; and

(g) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing;

provided that Indebtedness shall not include (i) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business and (ii) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warrants or other unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated

 

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Total Debt and (B) in the case of Holdings, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. The amount of any net Hedging Obligations on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the Fair Market Value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(a).

Initial Financial Statement Delivery Date” shall mean the date on which Section 9.1 Financials are delivered to the Administrative Agent under Section 9.1 for the first full fiscal quarter commencing after the Closing Date.

Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and between the Collateral Agent and GECC, as collateral agent under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and acknowledged by Holdings, the Borrower and the other Guarantors.

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Credit Loan, the interest period applicable thereto, as determined pursuant to Section 2.9.

Inventory” shall mean any “inventory,” as such term is defined in the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party, wherever located, and in any event including inventory, merchandise, goods and other personal property that are held by or on behalf of any Credit Party for sale or lease or are furnished or are to be furnished under a contract of service, or that constitute raw materials, work in process, finished goods, returned goods, supplies or materials of any kind, nature or description used or consumed or to be used or consumed in such Credit Party’s business or in the processing, production, packaging, promotion, delivery or shipping of the same, including all supplies and embedded software.

Inventory Appraisal” shall mean (a) on the Closing Date, the appraisal prepared by Great American Group dated January 22, 2008 and (b) thereafter, the most recent inventory appraisal conducted by an independent appraiser firm pursuant to Section 9.2(b).

Investment” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5.

Investors” shall mean the Sponsor, certain other investors arranged by and/or designated by the Sponsor and identified to the Joint Bookrunners prior to the Closing Date and the Management Investors.

ISP” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Issuer Documents” shall mean with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Request, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) or in favor of the Letter of Credit Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

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Joint Lead Arrangers” shall mean Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC and GECC.

Joint Bookrunners” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Landlord Lien” shall mean any Lien of a landlord on any Credit Party’s property, granted by statute.

Landlord Lien Reserve” shall mean an amount equal to up to 3 months’ rent for all of the Credit Parties’ leased locations where Eligible Inventory is located in each Landlord Lien State, other than leased locations with respect to which the Administrative Agent shall have received a landlord’s waiver of subordination of lien in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Landlord Lien State” shall mean (i) each of Washington, Virginia and Pennsylvania and (ii) such other state(s) that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines after the Closing Date and notifies the Borrower thereof, that, as a result of a change in law (or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority) occurring after the Closing Date a landlord’s claim for rent has priority by operation of law over the Lien of the Collateral Agent in any of the Collateral consisting of Eligible Inventory.

Lender” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

Letter of Credit” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(a).

Letter of Credit Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, at any time, the sum of (a) the amount of any Unpaid Drawings in respect of which such Lender has made (or is required to have made) Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 3.4(a) at such time and (b) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time (excluding the portion thereof consisting of Unpaid Drawings in respect of which the Lenders have made (or are required to have made) Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 3.4(a)).

Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(c).

Letter of Credit Issuer” shall mean GECC and any one or more Persons who shall become a Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to Section 3.6. Any Letter of Credit Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Letter of Credit Issuer, and in each such case the term “Letter of Credit Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. In the event that there is more than one Letter of Credit Issuer at any time, references herein and in the other Credit Documents to the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to refer to the Letter of Credit Issuer in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Letter of Credit Issuers, as the context requires.

 

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Letter of Credit Maturity Date” shall mean, the date that is 3 Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

Letter of Credit Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.3(a).

Letter of Credit Participation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.3(a).

Letter of Credit Request” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(a).

Letter of Credit Sub-Limit” shall mean $50,000,000, as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 4.2.

Letters of Credit Outstanding” shall mean, at any time, the sum of, without duplication, (a) the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of all Unpaid Drawings in respect of all Letters of Credit.

Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment, lien (statutory or other) or similar encumbrance, and any easement, right-of-way, license, restriction (including zoning restrictions), defect, exception or irregularity in title or similar change or encumbrance (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to be a Lien.

Loan” shall mean any Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Loan made by any Lender hereunder.

Management Investors” shall mean the management officers, directors and employees of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries who become investors in Holdings, any of its direct or indirect parent entities or in the Borrower.

Mandatory Borrowing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(c)(ii).

Master Agreement” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Hedging Agreement.

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean an effect that results in or causes, or could reasonably be expected to result in or cause, a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the legality, validity or enforceability of any Credit Document, (c) the ability of the Credit Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective obligations under the Credit Documents or (d) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

Maturity Date” shall mean the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the Letter of Credit Maturity Date or the Swingline Maturity Date, as applicable.

Maximum Amount” shall mean the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base in effect from time to time and (ii) the Total Commitments then in effect.

 

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Merger” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Merger Consideration” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Merger Funds” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Merger Sub” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Minimum Borrowing Amount” shall mean (a) with respect to a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, $1,000,000, and (b) with respect to a Borrowing of Swingline Loans, $100,000.

Minority Investment” shall mean any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns Capital Stock.

Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Mortgage” shall mean a mortgage or a deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed or other security document entered into by the owner of a Mortgaged Property and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property, substantially in the form of Exhibit C (with such changes thereto as may be necessary to account for local law matters) or otherwise in such form as agreed between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent or, in the case of any Mortgaged Property located outside the United States of America, in such form as agreed between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent.

Mortgage Supporting Documents” shall mean the documents which are to be delivered under Section 9.14(c) with respect to any Mortgage for any Mortgaged Property.

Mortgaged Property” shall mean, initially, each parcel of real estate and improvements thereto owned by a Credit Party and identified on Schedule 1.1(b), and each other parcel of real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is required to be granted pursuant to Section 9.14(b).

Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean “Net Cash Proceeds” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Net Orderly Liquidation Value Percentage” shall mean, the value of Eligible Inventory that is estimated to be recoverable in an orderly liquidation thereof, net of all costs of liquidation thereof, based upon the most recent Inventory Appraisal conducted in accordance with this Agreement and expressed as a percentage of cost of such Eligible Inventory.

Non-Cash Charges” shall mean (a) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and investments in debt and equity securities pursuant to GAAP, (b) all losses from investments recorded using the equity method, (c) all Non-Cash Compensation Expenses, (d) the non-cash impact of

 

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purchase accounting, and (e) other non-cash charges (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period).

Non-Cash Compensation Expense” shall mean any non-cash expenses and costs that result from the issuance of stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements.

Non-Cash Compensation Liabilities” shall mean any liabilities recorded in connection with stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements.

Non-Consenting Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.7(b).

Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean and include each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Excluded Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(a).

Non-Extension Notice Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(b).

Non-U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(e).

Notice of Borrowing” shall mean a request of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3 and substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1 or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably).

Notice of Conversion or Continuation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6.

Obligations” shall mean the collective reference to (a) the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest at the applicable rate provided in this Agreement (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral, and (iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower or any other Credit Party to any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (b) the due and punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the covenants, agreements, and liabilities of each other Credit Party under or pursuant to this Agreement or the

 

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other Credit Documents, and (d) the due and punctual payment and performance of all Cash Management Obligations under each Secured Cash Management Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any Secured Cash Management Agreement shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents and the Guarantee only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and guaranteed and (ii) any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement and the other Credit Document shall not require the consent of the holders of the Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements.

Organizational Documents” shall mean, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and, if applicable, any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Accounts” shall mean all Accounts other than Distributor Accounts.

Other Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(b).

Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(c)(i).

PATRIOT ACT” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.18.

PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.

Perfection Certificate” shall mean a certificate of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition, by merger or otherwise, by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of assets (including any assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division) or Capital Stock, so long as (a) such acquisition and all transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with all Applicable Laws; (b) if such acquisition involves the acquisition of a Subsidiary, such acquisition shall result in the issuer of such Capital Stock becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and a Guarantor to the extent required by Section 9.10; (c) such acquisition shall result in the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, being granted a security interest in any Capital Stock or any assets so acquired to the extent required by Sections 9.10, 9.11 and/or 9.14(b); (d) after giving effect to such acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (e) after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 9.13; (f) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such acquisition (including any Indebtedness assumed or permitted to exist or incurred

 

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pursuant to Sections 10.1(k) and 10.1(l), respectively, and any related Pro Forma Adjustment), with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such Test Period; and (g) the Permitted Acquisition Consideration paid in connection with such Permitted Acquisition when combined with the Permitted Acquisition Consideration of the prior Permitted Acquisitions consummated after the Closing Date shall not exceed the sum of (i) 10% of Consolidated Total Assets (determined as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period prior to such Permitted Acquisition), plus (ii) the Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

Permitted Acquisition Consideration” shall mean in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, the aggregate amount (as valued at the Fair Market Value of such Permitted Acquisition at the time such Permitted Acquisition is made) of, without duplication: (i) the purchase consideration paid or payable in cash for such Permitted Acquisition, whether payable at or prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or deferred for payment at any future time, whether or not any such future payment is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, and including any and all payments representing the purchase price and any assumptions of Indebtedness and/or Guarantee Obligations, “earn-outs” and other agreements to make any payment the amount of which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of any person or business; (ii) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with such Permitted Acquisition; provided in each case, that any such future payment that is subject to a contingency shall be considered Permitted Acquisition Consideration only to the extent of the reserve, if any, required under GAAP (as determined at the time of the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition) to be established in respect thereof by Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Permitted Additional Notes” shall mean unsecured senior, senior subordinated or subordinated notes issued by the Borrower; provided that (a) the terms of such notes do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest Maturity Date of any Credit Facility hereunder, other than, subject to the prior repayment of or the prior offer to repay the Obligations hereunder, customary offers to purchase upon a change of control, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event and customary acceleration rights upon an event of default, (b) the covenants, events of default, Subsidiary guarantees and other terms for such notes (provided that such notes shall have interest rates and redemption premiums determined by Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, to be market rates and premiums at the time of issuance of such notes), taken as a whole, are determined by Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, to be market terms on the date of issuance and in any event are not more restrictive on Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or materially less favorable to the Lenders, than the terms of this Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date) and do not require the maintenance or achievement of any financial performance standards other than as a condition to taking specified actions; provided that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, has determined in good faith that such terms and

 

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conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings and the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees), (c) if such notes are senior subordinated or subordinated notes, the terms of such notes provide for customary subordination of such notes to the Obligations and (d) no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor) is an obligor under such notes.

Permitted Cure Security” shall mean an equity security of Holdings or the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) having no mandatory redemption, repurchase or similar requirements prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date of any Credit Facility hereunder, and upon which all dividends or distributions (if any) shall be, prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date hereunder, payable solely in additional shares of such equity security; provided that all equity securities of Holdings issued in connection with the Equity Contributions shall not be deemed to be Permitted Cure Securities.

Permitted Discretion” shall mean, as applicable, the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s commercially reasonable judgment, exercised in good faith in accordance with customary business practices for similar asset-based lending transactions, as to any factor, event, condition or other circumstance which the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, reasonably determines: (a) will or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the quantity, quality, mix or value of the Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory (including any Applicable Law that may inhibit collection of an Account), the enforceability or priority of the Collateral Agent’s Liens thereon or the amount which the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory or (b) that any collateral report or financial information delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties or any Person on behalf of thereof is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect or (c) creates a Default or an Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may consider, without duplication, factors already included in or tested by the definition of Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory, and any other criteria including: (i) changes after the Closing Date in any concentration of risk with respect to Eligible Accounts and (ii) any other factors arising after the Closing Date that affect or that could reasonably be expected to affect the credit risk of lending to the Borrower on the security of the Collateral.

Permitted Investments” shall mean (a) Dollars and, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiaries, local currencies held by such Foreign Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business; (b) securities issued or unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; (c) securities issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having an investment grade rating generally obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be

 

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rating such obligations, then from another nationally recognized rating service); (d) commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes issued by or guaranteed by any Lender or any bank holding company owning any Lender; (e) commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes maturing no more than 12 months after the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating service); (f) time deposits with, or domestic and Eurodollar certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing no more than two years after the date of acquisition thereof issued by, any Lender or any other bank having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of domestic banks and $100,000,000 (or the dollar equivalent thereof) in the case of foreign banks; (g) repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the type described in clauses (b), (c) and (f) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (f) above or securities dealers of recognized national standing; (h) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating service); (i) shares of investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and invest solely in one or more of the types of securities described in clauses (a) through (h) above; and (j) in the case of investments by any Restricted Foreign Subsidiary or investments made in a country outside the United States of America, other customarily utilized high-quality investments in the country where such Restricted Foreign Subsidiary is located or in which such investment is made.

Permitted Liens” shall mean (a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or claims that are either (i) not yet due and payable and not subject to penalties for nonpayment or (ii) being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens in respect of property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors’ and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens, in each case so long as such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and do not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) Liens arising from judgments or decrees for the payment of money in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.10, (d) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar legislation and deposits securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capitalized Leases), government contracts, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit issued in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof and including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business, (e) ground leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located, (f) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects, exceptions or irregularities in title, encroachments, protrusions and other similar charges or encumbrances, in each case do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the Real Estate of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or interfere in any

 

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material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that were not incurred in connection with and do not secure any Indebtedness, and to the extent reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent, any exception on the title policies issued in connection with any Mortgaged Property, (g) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under any lease permitted by this Agreement, (h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods, (i) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit to the extent permitted under Section 10.1, (j) licenses of intellectual property granted in a manner consistent with past practice, (k) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings made in respect of operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (l) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to, or vested in, any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary course of conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Permitted Overadvance” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(d).

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Indebtedness (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”) any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to modify, extend, refinance, renew, replace or refund (collectively to “Refinance” or a “Refinancing” or “Refinanced”) such Refinanced Indebtedness (or previous refinancing thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that (A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to such Refinance except by an amount equal to the unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Refinancing plus an amount equal to any existing commitment unutilized and letters of credit undrawn thereunder and (B) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1(a)(ii), 10.1(h), 10.1(j) or 10.1(w), the direct and contingent obligors with respect to such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not changed, (C) other than with respect to a Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.1(c), such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Refinanced Indebtedness and (D) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1(a)(ii), 10.1(h), 10.1(j) or 10.1(w), the terms and conditions of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Refinanced Indebtedness being Refinanced (including, if applicable, as to collateral and subordination, but excluding as to interest rates and redemption premiums); provided that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Holdings or the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating

 

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thereto, stating that Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings and the Borrower within such 10 Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

Permitted Sale Leaseback” shall mean any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 10.4(g).

Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other enterprise or any Governmental Authority.

PIK Interest Amount” shall mean the aggregate principal amount of all increases in the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) including any issuances of PIK Notes (as defined in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or any similar document) in connection with the payment by the Borrower to pay interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) in kind.

Plan” shall mean (a) any multiemployer, as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA, that (i) is maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate, (ii) was so maintained or contributed to and in respect of which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4212 (c) of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated or (b) any single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA that (i) is maintained for employees of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or (ii) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Revolving Pledge Agreement, entered into by Holdings, the Borrower, the other pledgors party thereto and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2.

Post-Acquisition Period” shall mean, with respect to any Specified Transaction, the period beginning on the date such Specified Transaction is consummated and ending on the last day of the fourth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Specified Transaction is consummated.

Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum published by the Wall Street Journal from time to time, as the prime lending rate.

Pro Forma Adjustment” shall mean, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Pro Forma Entity or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken, prior to or

 

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during such Post-Acquisition Period, for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable cost savings, or (b) any additional costs incurred prior to or during such Post-Acquisition Period in connection with the combination of the operations of such Pro Forma Entity with the operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (A) so long as such actions are taken prior to or during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred prior to or during such Post-Acquisition Period it may be assumed, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period, and (B) any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such Test Period.

Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate” shall mean any certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(i) or setting forth the information described in clause (iv) to Section 9.1(d).

Pro Forma Basis”, “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” shall mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test or covenant: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all Capital Stock in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of the term “Specified Transaction”, shall be included, (b) any retirement or repayment of Indebtedness and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above (but without duplication thereof), the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of the term “Pro Forma Adjustment”.

Pro Forma Entity” shall mean any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary.

Pro Rata Share” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the sum of the Revolving Credit Commitments (or, if such

 

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Revolving Credit Commitments are terminated, the Revolving Credit Exposure therein) of such Lender then in effect by (b) the sum of the Revolving Credit Commitments (or, if such Commitments are terminated, the Revolving Credit Exposure therein) of all Lenders then in effect; provided, however, that, if there are no Revolving Credit Commitments and no Revolving Credit Exposure, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share most recently in effect, after giving effect to any subsequent assignment and any subsequent non-pro rata payments of any Lender pursuant to Section 13.7.

Qualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.

Qualifying IPO” shall mean the issuance by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) of its common Capital Stock generating (individually or in the aggregate together with any prior initial public offering) gross proceeds exceeding $100,000,000, in an underwritten primary public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering).

Real Estate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.1(g).

Recovery Event” shall mean (a) any damage to, destruction of or other casualty or loss involving any property or asset or (b) any seizure, condemnation, confiscation or taking under the power of eminent domain of, or any requisition of title or use of or relating to, or any similar event in respect of, any property or asset.

Reference Lender” shall mean Barclays Bank PLC.

Refinance” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinancing” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(b)(v).

Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.

Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

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Reinvestment Deferred Amount” shall “Reinvestment Deferred Amount” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors of such Person or such Person’s Affiliates and any Person that possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.

Reportable Event” shall mean an event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.

Required Lenders” shall mean, at any date, Non-Defaulting Lenders having at such time in excess of 50% of (a) the Adjusted Total Commitment or (b) if the Total Commitment has been terminated or for the purposes of acceleration pursuant to Section 11, the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and Letters of Credit Outstanding in the aggregate at such date.

Reserves” shall mean, reserves deemed necessary in its Permitted Discretion by the Administrative Agent (a) on the Closing Date as set forth in the Borrowing Base delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date and (b) thereafter, from time to time, established against the gross amount of Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory in accordance with Section 2.14. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Reserves established to ensure the payment of accrued and unpaid interest pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a reasonable exercise of the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion.

Restricted Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean each Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Foreign Subsidiary.

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revolving Credit Commitment” shall mean, (a) with respect to each Lender that is a Lender on the Closing Date, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(a) as such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Commitment” and (b) in the case of any Lender that becomes a Lender after the date hereof, the amount specified as such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Commitment” in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed a portion of the Total Commitment, in each case as such Revolving Credit Commitment maybe reduced or increased from time to time as permitted hereunder. The aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments as of the date hereof is $300,000,000.

Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage” shall mean at any time, for each Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment by (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that at any time when the Total Commitment shall have been terminated, each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage shall be its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage as in effect immediately prior to such termination.

 

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Revolving Credit Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender then outstanding and (b) such Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure at such time.

Revolving Credit Facility” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(a).

Revolving Credit Maturity Date” shall mean the date that is five years after the Closing Date, or, if such date is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day.

S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Sale Leaseback” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed of.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Section 9.1 Financials” shall mean the financial statements delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 9.1(a) or 9.1(b) together with the accompanying officer’s certificate delivered, or required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 9.1(d).

Secured Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any agreement relating to Cash Management Services that is entered into by and between Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and a Cash Management Bank.

Secured Parties” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Lenders, (b) the Letter of Credit Issuers, (c) the Swingline Lender (d) the Administrative Agent, (e) the Collateral Agent, (f) each Cash Management Bank, (g) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Credit Party under the Credit Documents and (h) any successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Securities Account Control Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Security Agreement” shall mean the Revolving Security Agreement, entered into by the Borrower, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1.

 

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Security Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Mortgages and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 9.10, 9.11 or 9.14 or pursuant to any of the Security Documents to secure any of the Obligations.

Senior Subordinated Notes” shall mean those 13.5/14% senior subordinated notes due 2016 issued by the Borrower under the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000, including any “Exchange Note” issued in an “Exchange Offer” therefore (as such term is defined in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture).

Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture” shall mean the indenture for the Senior Subordinated Notes, dated February 13, 2008 among the Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

Senior Subordinated Notes Documents” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and the other credit documents referred to therein (including the related guarantee, the notes, the notes purchase agreement and the registration rights agreements).

Sold Entity or Business” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Solvent” shall mean, with respect to any Person, at any date, that (a) the sum of such Person’s debt (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair saleable value of such Person’s present assets, (b) such Person’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated on such date, (c) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to incur, or believe that it will incur, debts including current obligations beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise), and (d) such Person is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).

Specified Obligations” shall mean Obligations consisting of (a) the principal of and interest on Loans and (b) reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit.

Specified Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date of determination, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) at the last day of the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such date of determination were equal to or greater than 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, (b) any Restricted Subsidiary whose gross revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with

 

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GAAP or (c) each other Restricted Subsidiary that, when such Restricted Subsidiary’s total assets or gross revenues (when combined with the total assets or revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) are aggregated with each other Restricted Subsidiary (when combined with the total assets or revenues of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations) that is the subject of an Event of Default described in Section 11.5 would constitute a “Specified Subsidiary” under clause (a) or (b) above.

Specified Transaction” shall mean, with respect to any period, any Investment, sale, transfer or other disposition of assets, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Dividend, Subsidiary designation or other event that by the terms of the Credit Documents requires “Pro Forma Compliance” with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis”.

Sponsor” shall mean Hellman & Friedman LLC and/or its Affiliates.

Stated Amount” of any Letter of Credit shall mean the maximum amount from time to time available to be drawn thereunder, determined without regard to whether any conditions to drawing could then be met.

Statutory Reserve Rate” shall mean for any day as applied to any Eurodollar Loan, a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages that are in effect on that day (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves), expressed as a decimal, as prescribed by the Board and to which the Administrative Agent is subject, for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean and include (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any limited liability company, partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest at the time. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable.

Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean each Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

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Successor Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.3(a).

Supermajority Lenders” shall mean, at any date, Non-Defaulting Lenders having at such time in excess of 75% of (a) the Adjusted Total Commitment or (b) if the Total Commitment has been terminated or for the purposes of acceleration pursuant to Section 11, the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and Letters of Credit Outstanding in the aggregate at such date.

Swap Termination Value” shall mean, in respect of any one or more Hedging Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedging Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swingline Commitment” shall mean $30,000,000.

Swingline Lender” shall mean GECC in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder, or such other financial institution who, after the date hereof, shall agree to act in the capacity of lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(c)(i).

Swingline Maturity Date” shall mean, with respect to any Swingline Loan, the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

Term Loan” shall mean a Term Loan as applicable, as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Term Loan Liens” shall mean Liens securing the Obligations outstanding under, and as defined in, the Term Loan Credit Documents.

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall mean the credit agreement dated on or about the date hereof amongst Holdings, the Borrower, the institutions party thereto as lenders, the Term Loan Credit Agent, Barclays Capital the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC and Calyon New York Branch as joint lead arrangers, Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch and GECC as joint book-runners.

Term Loan Credit Documents” shall mean the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the other credit documents referred to in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (other than the Intercreditor Agreement).

Test Period” shall mean, for any determination under this Agreement, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended and for which Section 9.1 Financials have been delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Total Commitment” shall mean the sum of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Lenders.

Total Revolving Credit Outstandings” shall mean, at any date, the sum of all Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposure at such date plus all Swingline Loans then outstanding.

Transaction Expenses” shall mean any fees or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Merger, (b) the Equity Contribution, (c) the Refinancing, (d) the entering into the Term Loan Credit Documents and the funding of the Term Loans, (e) the entering into the Revolving Credit Documents and the funding of the Revolving Credit Loans on the Closing Date, (f) the entering into the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents and the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture on the Closing Date and, as applicable, the exchange offer required to be consummated by the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, (g) the consummation of any other transactions connected with the foregoing and (h) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with any of the foregoing.

Transferee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(e).

Type” shall mean as to any Revolving Credit Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may, from time to time, be enacted and in effect in the State of New York; provided, that to the extent that the UCC is used to define any term herein or in any Credit Document and such term is defined differently in different Articles or Divisions of the UCC, the definition of such term contained in Article or Division 9 shall govern; provided further, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Collateral Agent’s or any Lender’s Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority or remedies and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.

Unfunded Current Liability” of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any, by which the present value of the accrued benefits under the Plan as of the close of its most recent plan year, determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87 as in effect on the Closing Date, based upon the actuarial assumptions that would be used by the Plan’s actuary in a termination of the Plan, exceeds the Fair Market Value of the assets allocable thereto.

Unpaid Drawing” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(a).

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is formed or acquired after the Closing Date and is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the

 

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Borrower pursuant to Section 9.15 subsequent to the Closing Date, (b) any existing Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower pursuant to Section 9.15 subsequent to the Closing Date and (c) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, shares of such Person’s Capital Stock having the right to vote for the election of directors of such Person under ordinary circumstances.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Credit Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Credit Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein”, “hereto”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Credit Document shall refer to such Credit Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Credit Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including”.

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Credit Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

1.3 Accounting Terms. (a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this

 

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Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Historical Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and the Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio (to the extent necessary) shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

1.4 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained or complied with by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.5 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organizational Documents, agreements (including the Credit Documents) and other Contractual Obligations shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Credit Document; and (b) references to any Applicable Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.

1.6 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.7 Timing of Payment of Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in Section 2.9) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

1.8 Currency Equivalents Generally. For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.11 with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than Dollars (other than with respect to (a) any amount derived from the financial statements of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower and (b) any Indebtedness), such amount shall be deemed to equal the Dollar equivalent thereof based on the average Exchange Rate for such other currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination determined in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated EBITDA for the related period. For purposes of determining compliance with Sections 10.1, 10.2 and 10.5, with respect to any amount of Indebtedness in a currency other than Dollars, compliance will be determined at the date of incurrence thereof using the Dollar equivalent thereof at the Exchange Rate in effect at the date of such incurrence.

 

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1.9 UCC Terms. The following terms have the meanings given to them in the applicable UCC: “chattel paper”, “commodity account”, “commodity contract”, “commodity intermediary”, “deposit account”, “entitlement holder”, “entitlement order”, “equipment”, “financial asset”, “general intangible”, “goods”, “instruments”, “inventory”, “securities account”, “securities intermediary” and “security entitlement”.

SECTION 2. Amount and Terms of Revolving Credit Facility

2.1 Loans. (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make a loan or loans (each, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) to the Borrower, which Revolving Credit Loans (i) shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender (after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof), (ii) shall not, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, at any time result in the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings at such time exceed the Maximum Amount then in effect, (iii) shall be made at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (iv) may, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans; provided that all Revolving Credit Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the same Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and (v) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof. On the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans shall be repaid in full. The obligations of each Lender hereunder shall be several and not joint.

(b) Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that (i) any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan and (ii) in exercising such option, such Lender shall use its reasonable efforts to minimize any increased costs to the Borrower resulting therefrom (which obligation of the Lender shall not require it to take, or refrain from taking, actions that it determines would result in increased costs for which it will not be compensated hereunder or that it determines would be otherwise disadvantageous to it and in the event of such request for costs for which compensation is provided under this Agreement, the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply).

(c) (i) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Swingline Lender in its individual capacity agrees, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the Swingline Maturity Date, to make a loan or loans (each, a “Swingline Loan”) to the Borrower, which Swingline Loans (A) shall be ABR Loans, (B) shall have the benefit of the provisions of Section 2.1(c)(ii), (C) shall not exceed at any time outstanding the Swingline Commitment, (D) shall not exceed, for any such Lender, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender, (E) shall not, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result at any time in Total Revolving Credit Outstandings at such time exceeding the Maximum Amount then in effect, and (G) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof. On the Swingline Maturity Date, all

 

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outstanding Swingline Loans shall be repaid in full. The Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan after receiving a written notice from the Borrower or the Required Lenders stating that a Default or an Event of Default exists and is continuing until such time as the Swingline Lender shall have received written notice of (x) rescission of all such notices from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or (y) the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 or that such Default or Event of Default is no longer continuing.

(ii) On any Business Day, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion, give notice to the Lenders, with a copy to the Borrower, that all then-outstanding Swingline Loans shall be funded with a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, in which case Revolving Credit Loans constituting ABR Loans (each such Borrowing, a “Mandatory Borrowing”) shall be made on the same Business Day (provided that such notice is given to the Lenders by the Swingline Lender before 1:00 p.m. (New York Time), or otherwise, on the next Business Day) by all Lenders pro rata based on each such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, and the proceeds thereof shall be applied directly to the Swingline Lender to repay the Swingline Lender for such outstanding Swingline Loans. Each Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Revolving Credit Loans upon one Business Day’s notice pursuant to each Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the preceding sentence and on the date specified to it in writing by the Swingline Lender notwithstanding (i) that the amount of the Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for each Borrowing specified in Section 2.2, (ii) whether any conditions specified in Section 7 are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iv) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing or (v) any reduction in the Total Commitment after any such Swingline Loans were made. In the event that, in the sole judgment of the Swingline Lender, any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code in respect of the Borrower), each Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase from the Swingline Lender (without recourse or warranty) such participation of the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause each such Lender to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages; provided that all principal and interest payable on such Swingline Loans shall be for the account of the Swingline Lender until the date the respective participation is purchased and, to the extent attributable to the purchased participation, shall be payable to the Lender purchasing same from and after such date of purchase.

(d) Permitted Overadvances. Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) at the request of the Borrower, in its discretion Administrative Agent may (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower on behalf of Lenders in amounts that cause the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings to exceed the Borrowing Base (any such excess Revolving Credit Advances are herein referred to collectively as “Permitted Overadvances”); provided that (A) no such event or occurrence shall cause or constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s, the Swingline Lender’s or the Lenders’ right to refuse to make any further Permitted Overadvances, Swingline Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, issue any Letter of Credit or incur any Letter of Credit Exposure, as the case may be, at any time that an Permitted Overadvance exists, and (B) no Permitted Overadvance shall result in a Default or Event of Default due to the Borrower’s failure to comply with Section 5.2(b) for so

 

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long as the Administrative Agent permits such Permitted Overadvance to remain outstanding, but solely with respect to the amount of such Permitted Overadvance. In addition, Permitted Overadvances may be made even if the conditions to lending set forth in Section 7 have not been met. All Permitted Overadvances shall constitute ABR Loans, shall bear interest at a rate equal to 2% per annum in excess of the sum of the ABR plus the Applicable Margin and shall be payable on the earlier of demand or the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. No Permitted Overadvance may remain outstanding for more than 45 days without the consent of the Required Lenders. The authority of the Administrative Agent to make Permitted Overadvances is limited to 5% of the Borrowing Base as determined on the date of such proposed Permitted Overadvance at any time, shall not cause the Revolving Credit Loan to exceed the Total Commitments, and may be revoked prospectively by a written notice to the Administrative Agent signed by the Required Lenders.

(e) Refinancing Permitted Overadvances. The Administrative Agent may at any time forward a demand to each Lender that each Lender pay to the Administrative Agent, for its account, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all or a portion of the outstanding Permitted Overadvances. Each Lender shall pay such Pro Rata Share to the Administrative Agent. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such payment (other than during the continuation of any Event of Default under Section 11.5), such Lender shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan to the Borrower, which, upon receipt of such payment by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall be deemed to have used in whole to refinance such Permitted Overadvance. In addition, regardless of whether any such demand is made, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under Section 11.5, each Lender shall be deemed to have acquired, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in each Permitted Overadvance in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Permitted Overadvance. If any payment made by any Lender as a result of any such demand is not deemed a Revolving Credit Loan, such payment shall be deemed a funding by such Lender of such participation. Such participation shall not be otherwise required to be funded. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from any Lender pursuant to this Section 2.1(e) with respect to any portion of any Permitted Overadvance, the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay over to such Lender all payments of principal (to the extent received after such payment by such Lender) and interest (to the extent accrued with respect to periods after such payment) received by the Administrative Agent with respect to such portion.

2.2 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings. The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be in a multiple of $1,000,000 and Swingline Loans shall be in a multiple of $100,000 and in each case shall not be less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount with respect thereto (except that (i) Mandatory Borrowings shall be made in the amounts required by Section 2.1(c) and (ii) Minimum Borrowing Amount shall not apply while a Cash Dominion Event is continuing). More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any date; provided that at no time shall there be outstanding more than 10 Borrowings of Eurodollar Loans under this Agreement.

2.3 Notice of Borrowing

(a) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Revolving Credit Loans hereunder (other than Mandatory Borrowings or borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings under

 

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Letters of Credit), it shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office, (i) prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) at least three Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, and (ii) prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) at least one Business Day’s prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans that are to be ABR Loans. Such notice (together with each notice of a Borrowing of Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(b), a “Notice of Borrowing”), except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 2.10, shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing, (ii) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) whether the respective Borrowing shall consist of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans and, if Eurodollar Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each proposed Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, of such Lender’s proportionate share thereof and of the other matters covered by the related Notice of Borrowing.

(b) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Swingline Loans hereunder, it shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Swingline Loans prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York time) or such later time as may be agreed by the Swingline Lender on the date of such Borrowing. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Swingline Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing and (ii) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day). The Administrative Agent shall promptly give the Swingline Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each proposed Borrowing of Swingline Loans and of the other matters covered by the related Notice of Borrowing.

(c) Mandatory Borrowings shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 2.1(c)(ii), with the Borrower irrevocably agreeing, by its incurrence of any Swingline Loan, to the making of Mandatory Borrowings as set forth in such Section.

(d) Borrowings of Revolving Credit Loans to reimburse Unpaid Drawings under Letters of Credit shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 3.4(a).

(e) Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice it may give hereunder by telephone, the Administrative Agent may act prior to receipt of written confirmation without liability upon the basis of such telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower. In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Administrative Agent’s record of the terms of any such telephonic notice.

2.4 Disbursement of Funds. (a) No later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date specified in each Notice of Borrowing (including Mandatory Borrowings), each Lender will make available its pro rata portion, if any, of each Borrowing requested to be made on such date in the manner provided below; provided that all Swingline Loans shall be made available in the full amount thereof by the Swingline Lender no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date requested.

 

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(b) Each Lender shall make available all amounts it is to fund to the Borrower under any Borrowing in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office and the Administrative Agent will (except in the case of Mandatory Borrowings and Borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings under Letters of Credit) make available to the Borrower, by depositing to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing, the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any such Borrowing that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date of Borrowing, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender and the Administrative Agent has made available same to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to (i) if paid by such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) if paid by the Borrower, the then-applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance with Section 2.8, for the respective Loans.

(c) Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder).

2.5 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Lenders, (i) on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, all then outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) on the Swingline Maturity Date, all then outstanding Swingline Loans.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to the appropriate lending office of such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such lending office of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such lending office of such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 13.6(b), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, whether such Loan is a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swingline Loan, the Type of each Loan made

 

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and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender or the Swingline Lender and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the Register and accounts and subaccounts maintained pursuant to Sections 2.5(b) and 2.5(c) shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

2.6 Conversions and Continuations. (a) The Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to convert all or a portion equal to at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount of the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans of one Type into a Borrowing or Borrowings of another Type and the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to continue the outstanding principal amount of any Eurodollar Loans for an additional Interest Period; provided that (i) no partial conversion of Eurodollar Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (ii) ABR Loans may not be converted into Eurodollar Loans if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the conversion and the Administrative Agent has, or the Required Lenders have, determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion, (iii) Eurodollar Loans may not be continued as Eurodollar Loans for an additional Interest Period if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Administrative Agent has, or the Required Lenders have, determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation and (iv) Borrowings resulting from conversions pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be limited in number as provided in Section 2.2. Each such conversion or continuation shall be effected by the Borrower by giving the Administrative Agent at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) at least three Business Days’ (or one Business Day’s notice in the case of a conversion into ABR Loans) prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) (each, a “Notice of Conversion or Continuation”) specifying the Loans to be so converted or continued, the Type of Loans to be converted or continued into and, if such Loans are to be converted into or continued as Eurodollar Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto. The Administrative Agent shall give each Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed conversion or continuation affecting any of its Loans.

(b) If any Event of Default is in existence at the time of any proposed continuation of any Eurodollar Loans and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted on the last day of the current Interest Period into ABR Loans. If upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of Eurodollar Loans, the Borrower has failed to elect a new Interest Period to be applicable thereto as provided in Section 2.6(a), the Borrower, shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans into a Borrowing of ABR Loans, effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period.

 

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2.7 Pro Rata Borrowings. Each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement shall be granted by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Revolving Credit Commitments. It is understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder.

2.8 Interest. (a) The unpaid principal amount of each ABR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus the ABR in effect from time to time.

(b) The unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus the Eurodollar Rate in effect from time to time.

(c) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or any interest payable thereon or any fees or other amounts due hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) at a rate per annum that is (i) in the case of overdue principal, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto plus 2% or (ii) in the case of overdue interest, fees or other amounts due hereunder, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the rate described in Section 2.8(a) plus 2% from and including the date of such non-payment to but excluding the date on which such amount is paid in full. All such interest shall be payable on demand.

(d) Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the date of any Borrowing to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof and shall be payable (i) in respect of each ABR Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December , (ii) in respect of each Eurodollar Loan, on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each date occurring at three-month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) in respect of each Loan (except, other than in the case of prepayments, any ABR Loan), on any prepayment (on the amount prepaid), at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and, after such maturity, on demand.

(e) All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 5.5.

(f) The Administrative Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders thereof. Each such determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

 

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(g) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.9(d), whenever any payment hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or commitment or letter of credit fee or commission, as the case may be.

2.9 Interest Periods. (a) At the time the Borrower gives a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation in respect of the making of, or conversion into or continuation as, a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans (in the case of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto) or prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the third Business Day prior to the expiration of an Interest Period applicable to a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, the Borrower shall have the right to elect, by giving the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing), the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, which Interest Period shall, at the option of the Borrower, be a one, two, three or six month period (or if available to all relevant Lenders participating in the relevant Revolving Credit Facility, a nine or twelve month period or a period shorter than one month); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing parenthetical, the initial Interest Period beginning on the Closing Date may be for a period less than one month if agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above:

(b) the initial Interest Period for any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of ABR Loans) and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(c) if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

(d) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any Interest Period in respect of a Eurodollar Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day; and

(e) the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the applicable Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

2.10 Increased Costs, Illegality, etc. (a) In the event that (x) in the case of clause (i) below, the Administrative Agent or (y) in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) below, any Lender shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

(i) on any date for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period that (x) deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising any Eurodollar Borrowing are not generally available in the relevant market or (y) by reason of any changes arising on or after the Closing Date affecting the interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of Eurodollar Rate; or

 

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(ii) at any time, that such Lender shall incur increased costs or reductions in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to any Eurodollar Loans because of (x) any change since the Closing Date in any Applicable Law (or in the interpretation or administration thereof and including the introduction of any new Applicable Law), such as, for example, without limitation, a change in official reserve requirements, and/or (y) other circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market or the position of such Lender in such market; or

(iii) at any time, that the making or continuance of any Eurodollar Loan has become unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Applicable Law (or would conflict with any such Applicable Law not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or has become impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the date hereof that materially and adversely affects the interbank Eurodollar market;

then, and in any such event, such Lender (or the Administrative Agent, in the case of clause (i) above) shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice (if by telephone, confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, Eurodollar Loans shall no longer be available until such time as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Administrative Agent no longer exist (which notice the Administrative Agent agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation given by the Borrower with respect to Eurodollar Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender, promptly after receipt of written demand therefor such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its reasonable discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by such Lender shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) and (z) in the case of clause (iii) above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in Section 2.10(b) as promptly as possible and, in any event, within the time period required by Applicable Law.

(b) At any time that any Eurodollar Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iii), the Borrower may (and in the case of a Eurodollar Loan affected pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iii) shall) either (x) if the affected Eurodollar Loan is then being made pursuant to a Borrowing, cancel said Borrowing by giving the Administrative Agent

 

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telephonic notice (confirmed promptly in writing) thereof on the same date that the Borrower was notified by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iii)or (y) if the affected Eurodollar Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert each such Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, if applicable; provided that if more than one Lender is affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated in the same manner pursuant to this Section 2.10(b).

(c) If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any Applicable Law regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by a Lender or its parent with any request or directive made or adopted after the date hereof regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, association, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or its parent’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Lender’s commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or its parent could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time, promptly after demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its parent for such reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Lender’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any such Applicable Law as in effect on the date hereof. Each Lender, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), will give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower (on its own behalf) which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such notice shall not, subject to Section 2.13, release or diminish any of the Borrower’s obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) upon receipt of such notice.

(d) This Section 2.10 shall not apply to taxes to the extent duplicative of Section 5.4.

(e) The agreements in this Section 2.10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

2.11 Compensation. If (a) any payment of principal of a Eurodollar Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Section 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 5.1, 5.2 or 13.7, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 11 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing, (c) any ABR Loan is not converted into a Eurodollar Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any Eurodollar Loan is not continued as a Eurodollar Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of a Eurodollar Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in

 

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reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount and, absent clearly demonstrable error, the amount requested shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender within 10 Business Days of such request any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue, failure to prepay, reduction or failure to reduce, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or maintain such Eurodollar Loan.

2.12 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.10(a)(ii), 2.10(a)(iii), 2.10(b), 3.5 or 5.4 with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event; provided that such designation is made on such terms that such Lender and its lending office suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such Section. Nothing in this Section 2.12 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the right of any Lender provided in Section 2.10 or 5.4.

2.13 Notice of Certain Costs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any notice required by Section 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4 is given by any Lender more than 180 days after such Lender has knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, tax or other additional amounts described in such Sections, such Lender shall not be entitled to compensation under Section 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4, as the case may be, for any such amounts incurred or accruing prior to the giving of such notice to the Borrower.

2.14 Reserves, etc. (a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may at any time and from time to time in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion (a) establish and increase or decrease Reserves and (b) adjust or modify any of the applicable eligibility criteria, establish new eligibility or ineligibility criteria and reduce advance rates (or increase advance rates up to (i) the levels in effect on the Closing Date or (ii) if following the Closing Date, the levels in effect on the Closing Date have been amended in accordance with Section 13.1(c), the levels after giving effect to such amendments) with respect to Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory (such change in Reserves, eligibility criteria and/or advance rates a “Change”); provided that (i) the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall have provided the Borrower at least three Business Days’ prior written notice of any such establishment, increase, decrease or adjustment and (ii) that circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies arising prior to the Closing Date and disclosed to the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date shall not be the basis for any establishment or modification of Reserves, eligibility criteria or advance rates unless (A) in the case of Reserves and eligibility criteria, such Reserves or eligibility criteria relate to taxes or (B) such circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies shall have changed since the Closing Date. The amount of any Reserve established by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition, other circumstance or new fact that is the basis for the Reserve.

 

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(b) Upon the notification of any Change, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall be available to discuss such Change, and the Credit Parties may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition, circumstance or new fact that is the basis for such Change no longer exists. In no event shall such notice and opportunity limit the right of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to make a Change, unless the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall have determined in its Permitted Discretion that the event, condition, other circumstance or new fact that is the basis for such Change no longer exits or has otherwise been adequately addressed by the Credit Parties.

SECTION 3. Letters of Credit

3.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit. (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the Letter of Credit Issuer agrees to issue (or cause its Affiliate or other financial institution with which the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have entered into an agreement regarding the issuance of letters of credit hereunder, to issue on its behalf), upon the request of and for the account of, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary a standby letter of credit or standby letters of credit (each, a “Letter of Credit”) in such form as may be approved by the Letter of Credit Issuer in its reasonable discretion; provided that the Borrower shall be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Restricted Subsidiary.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time, would exceed the Letter of Credit Sub-Limit then in effect, (ii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letters of Credit Outstanding and the Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans outstanding at such time, would exceed the Maximum Amount then in effect, (iii) each Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date occurring no later than the earlier of (x) one year after the date of issuance thereof, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer or as provided for in Section 3.2(b), and (y) the Letter of Credit Maturity Date, (iv) each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars, (v) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if it would be illegal under any Applicable Law for the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to have a Letter of Credit issued in its favor, and (vi) no Letter of Credit shall be issued after the Letter of Credit Issuer has received a written notice from the Borrower or the Required Lenders stating that a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until such time as the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a written notice of (x) rescission of such notice from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or (y) the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 or that such Default or Event of Default is no longer continuing.

3.2 Letter of Credit Requests. (a) Whenever the Borrower desires that a Letter of Credit be issued, it shall give the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer at least two (or such lesser number as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the

 

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Letter of Credit Issuer) Business Days’ written notice thereof. Each notice shall be executed by the Borrower and shall be in the form of Exhibit F-2 (each, a “Letter of Credit Request”). The Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit copies of each Letter of Credit Request to each Lender.

(b) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Request, the Letter of Credit Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the Letter of Credit Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the Letter of Credit Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the Letter of Credit Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Maturity Date; provided, however, that the Letter of Credit Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the Letter of Credit Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Sections 3.1 or 7.1 or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is three Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 7 are not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the Letter of Credit Issuer not to permit such extension.

(c) The making of each Letter of Credit Request or the extension or amendment of any Letter of Credit, shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the Letter of Credit may be issued in accordance with, and will not violate the requirements of, Section 3.1.

3.3 Letter of Credit Participations. (a) Immediately upon the issuance by the Letter of Credit Issuer of any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each other Lender (each such other Lender, in its capacity under this Section 3.3(a), a “Letter of Credit Participant”), and each such Letter of Credit Participant shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from the Letter of Credit Issuer, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation (each, a “Letter of Credit Participation”), to the extent of such Letter of Credit Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, in such Letter of Credit, each substitute letter of credit, each drawing made thereunder and the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with respect thereto, and any security therefor or guaranty pertaining thereto (although Letter of Credit Fees will be paid directly to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Letter of Credit Participants as provided in Section 4.1(c) and the Letter of Credit Participants shall have no right to receive any portion of any Fronting Fees).

 

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(b) In determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have no obligation relative to the Letter of Credit Participants other than to confirm that any documents required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they appear to comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit. Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Letter of Credit Issuer under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall not create for the Letter of Credit Issuer any resulting liability.

(c) Whenever the Letter of Credit Issuer receives a payment in respect of an unpaid reimbursement obligation as to which the Administrative Agent has received for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer any payments from the Letter of Credit Participants, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to each Letter of Credit Participant that has paid its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such reimbursement obligation, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, an amount equal to such Letter of Credit Participant’s share (based upon the proportionate aggregate amount originally funded or deposited by such Letter of Credit Participant to the aggregate amount funded or deposited by all Letter of Credit Participants) of the principal amount of such reimbursement obligation and interest thereon accruing after the purchase of the respective Letter of Credit Participations.

(d) The obligations of the Letter of Credit Participants to purchase Letter of Credit Participations from the Letter of Credit Issuer and make payments to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit shall be irrevocable and not subject to counterclaim, set-off or other defense or any other qualification or exception whatsoever and shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement under all circumstances, including under any of the following circumstances:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents;

(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit, any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, any Lender or other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transactions (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower and the beneficiary named in any such Letter of Credit);

(iii) any draft, certificate or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

(iv) the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or observance of any of the terms of any of the Credit Documents; or

(v) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

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provided, however, that no Letter of Credit Participant shall be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of any unreimbursed amount arising from any wrongful payment made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under a Letter of Credit as a result of acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Letter of Credit Issuer.

3.4 Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings. (a) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer, by making payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer in immediately available funds, for any payment or disbursement made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under any Letter of Credit issued by it (each such amount so paid until reimbursed, an “Unpaid Drawing”) (i) within two Business Days of the date of such payment or disbursement, if the Letter of Credit Issuer provides notice to the Borrower of such payment or disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on such next succeeding Business Day from the date of such payment or disbursement or (ii) if such notice is received after such time, on the second Business Day following the date of receipt of such notice (such required date for reimbursement under clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, the “Required Reimbursement Date”), with interest on the amount so paid or disbursed by such Letter of Credit Issuer, (A) from and including the date of such payment or disbursement to but excluding the Required Reimbursement Date, at the per annum rate for each day equal to the rate described in Section 2.8(a), and (B) from and including the Required Reimbursement Date to but excluding the date such Letter of Credit Issuer is reimbursed therefor, at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the rate described in Section 2.8(c)(ii); provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Letter of Credit, (i) unless the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the Required Reimbursement Date that the Borrower intends to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer for the amount of such drawing with funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Notice of Borrowing requesting that the Lenders make Revolving Credit Loans (which shall be ABR Loans) on the Required Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to the amount at such drawing, and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Letter of Credit Participant of such drawing and the amount of its Revolving Credit Loan to be made in respect thereof, and each Letter of Credit Participant shall be irrevocably obligated to make a Revolving Credit Loan to the Borrower in the manner deemed to have been requested in the amount of its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the applicable Unpaid Drawing by 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on such Required Reimbursement Date by making the amount of such Revolving Credit Loan available to the Administrative Agent. Such Revolving Credit Loans shall be made without regard to the Minimum Borrowing Amount. The Administrative Agent shall use the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans solely for purpose of reimbursing the Letter of Credit Issuer for the related Unpaid Drawing.

(b) The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 3.4 to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to Unpaid Drawings (including, in each case, interest thereon) shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment that the Borrower or any other Person may have or have had against the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Participant), including any defense based upon the failure of any drawing under a Letter of Credit (each a “Drawing”) to conform to the terms of the

 

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Letter of Credit or any non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of the proceeds of such Drawing; provided, that the Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer for any wrongful payment made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under the Letter of Credit issued by it as a result of acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Letter of Credit Issuer.

3.5 Increased Costs. If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any Applicable Law, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or actual compliance by the Letter of Credit Issuer or any Letter of Credit Participant with any request or directive made or adopted after the date hereof (whether or not having the force of law), by any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall either (a) impose, modify or make applicable any reserve, deposit, capital adequacy or similar requirement against letters of credit issued by the Letter of Credit Issuer, or any Letter of Credit Participant’s Letter of Credit Participation therein or (b) impose on the Letter of Credit Issuer or any Letter of Credit Participant any other conditions affecting its obligations under this Agreement in respect of Letters of Credit or Letter of Credit Participations therein or any Letter of Credit or such Letter of Credit Participant’s Letter of Credit Participation therein, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant of issuing, maintaining or participating in any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant hereunder (other than any such increase or reduction attributable to taxes) in respect of Letters of Credit or Letter of Credit Participations therein, then, promptly after receipt of written demand to the Borrower by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant, as the case may be (a copy of which notice shall be sent by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant for such increased cost or reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that the Letter of Credit Issuer or a Letter of Credit Participant shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Person’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any such Applicable Law as in effect on the date hereof. A certificate submitted to the Borrower by the Letter of Credit Issuer or a Letter of Credit Participant, as the case may be (a copy of which certificate shall be sent by the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant to the Administrative Agent) setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for the determination of such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Letter of Credit Participant as aforesaid shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower absent clearly demonstrable error.

3.6 New or Successor Letter of Credit Issuer. (a) Any Letter of Credit Issuer may resign as a Letter of Credit Issuer upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Subject to the terms of the following sentence, the Borrower may replace the Letter of Credit Issuer for any reason upon written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower may add Letter of Credit Issuers at any time upon notice to the Administrative Agent. If the Letter of Credit Issuer shall resign or be replaced, or if the Borrower shall decide to add a new Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement, then the Borrower may appoint a successor issuer of Letters of Credit or a

 

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new Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), whereupon such successor issuer shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the replaced or resigning Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, or such new issuer of Letters of Credit shall be granted the rights, powers and duties of a Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder, and the term “Letter of Credit Issuer” shall mean such successor or such new issuer of Letters of Credit effective upon such appointment. At the time such resignation or replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay to the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer all accrued and unpaid fees pursuant to Sections 4.1(b). and 4.1(d). The acceptance of any appointment as a Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder whether as a successor issuer or new issuer of Letters of Credit in accordance with this Agreement, shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such new or successor issuer of Letters of Credit, in a form satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, such new or successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall become a “Letter of Credit Issuer” hereunder. After the resignation or replacement of a Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder, the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit. In connection with any resignation or replacement pursuant to this clause (a) (but, in case of any such resignation, only to the extent that a successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall have been appointed), either (i) the Borrower, the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer and the successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall arrange to have any outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer replaced with Letters of Credit issued by the successor issuer of Letters of Credit or (ii) the Borrower shall cause the successor issuer of Letters of Credit, if such successor issuer is reasonably satisfactory to the replaced or resigning Letter of Credit Issuer, to issue “back-stop” Letters of Credit naming the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer as beneficiary for each outstanding Letter of Credit issued by the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer, which new Letters of Credit shall have a face amount equal to the Letters of Credit being back-stopped and the sole requirement for drawing on such new Letters of Credit shall be a drawing on the corresponding back-stopped Letters of Credit. After any resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer’s resignation or replacement as Letter of Credit Issuer, the provisions of this Agreement relating to a Letter of Credit Issuer shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it (A) while it was a Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement or (B) at any time with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer.

(b) To the extent that there are, at the time of any resignation or replacement as set forth in clause (a) above, any outstanding Letters of Credit, nothing herein shall be deemed to impact or impair any rights and obligations of any of the parties hereto with respect to such outstanding Letters of Credit (including, without limitation, any obligations related to the payment of Fees or the reimbursement or funding of amounts drawn), except that the Borrower, the resigning or replaced Letter of Credit Issuer and the successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall have the obligations regarding outstanding Letters of Credit described in clause (a) above.

3.7 Cash Collateral.

(a) If, as of the Letter of Credit Maturity Date, there are any Letters of Credit Outstanding, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the then Letters of Credit Outstanding.

 

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(b) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Revolving Credit Lenders with Letter of Credit Exposures representing greater than 50% of the Letters of Credit Outstanding may require that the Letters of Credit Outstanding be Cash Collateralized.

(c) For purposes of this Section 3.7 and 5.2(e), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit in a Cash Collateral Account with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the Letters of Credit Outstanding, cash or deposit account balances in an amount equal to the amount of the Letters of Credit Outstanding required to be Cash Collateralized pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Lenders having Letter of Credit Exposure, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Such cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts established by and in the name of the Administrative Agent.

3.8 Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (a) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (b) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance, shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

3.9 Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

3.10 Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries.

SECTION 4. Fees; Commitment Reductions and Terminations

4.1 Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (in each case pro rata according to the respective Revolving Credit Commitments of all such Lenders) a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) that shall accrue from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Each such Commitment Fee shall be payable (x) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (for the three-month period (or portion thereof) ended on such day for which no payment has been received) and (y) on the Revolving

 

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Credit Maturity Date (for the period ended on such date for which no payment has been received pursuant to clause (x) above), and shall be computed for each day during such period at a rate per annum equal to the percentage set forth under the heading “commitment fee” in the definition of the term “Applicable Margin” in Section 1.1 in effect on the daily average unused portion of the Total Commitment of such Lender (which, for purposes of this Section 4.1(a), shall not include the incurrence of Swingline Loans).

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer a fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued hereunder (the “Fronting Fee”), for the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to but excluding the termination or expiration date of such Letter of Credit, computed at the rate for each day equal to 0.125% per annum or such other amount as is agreed in a separate writing between the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower. The Fronting Fee shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and on the Letter of Credit Maturity Date.

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, pro rata according to the Letter of Credit Exposure of such Lender, a fee in respect of each Letter of Credit (the “Letter of Credit Fee”), for the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to but excluding the termination or expiration date of such Letter of Credit, computed at the per annum rate for each day equal to (x) the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans then in effect for Revolving Credit Loans times (y) the average daily Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit. The Letter of Credit Fee shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and on the Letter of Credit Maturity Date.

(d) The Borrower agrees to pay directly to the Letter of Credit Issuer upon each issuance of, drawing under and/or amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit issued by it such amount as the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Borrower shall have agreed upon for issuances of, drawings under or amendments of, renewals or extensions of, letters of credit issued by it.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any amounts to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 4.1 until the event or circumstances giving rise to such Lender being designated as a Defaulting Lender have been cured.

(f) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with the Administrative Agent.

4.2 Voluntary Reduction of Commitments. Upon at least two Business Day’s prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders), the Borrower shall have the right, without premium or penalty, on any day, permanently to terminate or reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Letter of Credit Sub-Limit in whole or in part; provided that (i) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be in the amount of at least $1,000,000 and (ii) after

 

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giving effect to such termination or reduction and to any prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans or cancellation or cash collateralization of Letters of Credit made on the date thereof in accordance with this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Total Commitment.

4.3 Mandatory Termination of Commitments. (a) The Total Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(b) The Swingline Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Swingline Maturity Date.

SECTION 5. Payments

5.1 Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part from time to time on the following terms and conditions: (a) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of its intent to make such prepayment, the amount of such prepayment and in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made, which notice shall be given by the Borrower no later than (i) in the case of Revolving Credit Loans, 1:00 p.m. (New York time) (x) one Business Day prior to (in the case of ABR Loans) or (y) three Business Days prior to (in the case of Eurodollar Loans) or (ii) in the case of Swingline Loans and Permitted Overadvances, 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on, the date of such prepayment and shall promptly be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to each of the relevant Lenders or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, (b) each partial prepayment of any Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be in a multiple of $500,000 and in an aggregate principal amount of at least $1,000,000 and each partial prepayment of Swingline Loans shall be in a multiple of $100,000 and in an aggregate principal amount of at least $100,000; provided that no partial prepayment of Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount for Eurodollar Loans; (c) any prepayment of Eurodollar Loans pursuant to this Section 5.1 on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto shall be subject to compliance by the Borrower with the applicable provisions of Section 2.11. At the Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.1, such prepayment shall not be applied to any Loan of a Defaulting Lender.

5.2 Mandatory Prepayments. (a) On any date on which the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings exceeds the Total Commitments, the Borrower shall forthwith pay to the Administrative Agent an amount in cash equal to such excess and the Administrative Agent shall apply it in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2(e).

(b) Except for Permitted Overadvances, if on any date the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings for any reason exceed 100% of the Borrowing Base then in effect, the Borrower shall promptly pay to the Administrative Agent an amount in cash equal to such excess and the Administrative Agent shall apply it in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2(e).

 

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(c) At all times following the establishment of the Cash Management Systems pursuant to Section 9.18 and after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Cash Dominion Event and notification thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement), on each Business Day, at or before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time), the Administrative Agent shall apply all immediately available funds credited to the Collection Account to the payment of the Obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.2(e).

(d) Over-Funding in relation to the Existing Notes. Within 5 Business Days after the receipt of any Existing Notes Over-Funding Amount from the trustee under the indenture governing the Existing Notes, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the Existing Notes Additional Redemption Amount with the proceeds of such Existing Notes Over-Funding Amount and for the balance, by an additional equity contribution which shall be contributed by the Investors to the Borrower (through Holdings) in the form of a cash equity contribution (which shall be on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent if not made as common equity contribution of Holdings).

(e) Application to Revolving Credit Loans. With respect to each prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans elected by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.1 or required by Section 5.2, the Borrower may designate (i) the Types of Loans that are to be prepaid and the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which made and (ii) the Revolving Credit Loans to be prepaid; provided that (x) Eurodollar Loans may be designated for prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.2 only on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto unless all Eurodollar Loans with Interest Periods ending on such date of required prepayment and all ABR Loans have been paid in full; (y) each prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to a Borrowing shall be applied pro rata among such Loans; and (z) notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding clause (y), no prepayment made pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 of Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Loans of any Defaulting Lender unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Borrower. In the absence of a designation by the Borrower as described in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the above, make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.11. The Administrative Agent shall (subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement) apply each prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans elected by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.1 or required by Section 5.2, (i) first to pay any fees or expenses then due and payable to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Lenders (other than in connection with Secured Cash Management Agreements), pro rata, (ii) second to pay all accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans and Permitted Overadvances) being prepaid, pro rata, (iii) third, to prepay the principal of any Permitted Overadvances that may be outstanding, pro rata, (iv) fourth, to prepay the principal of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, pro rata, (v) fifth, to Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit Outstanding, and (vi) sixth to pay any other Obligations then due and payable.

(f) Eurodollar Interest Periods. In lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 5.2 in respect of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, so long as no Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower at its option may deposit with the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the amount

 

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of the Eurodollar Loan to be prepaid and such Eurodollar Loan shall be repaid on the last day of the Interest Period therefor in the required amount. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a corporate time deposit account established on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, earning interest at the then-customary rate for accounts of such type. Such deposit shall constitute cash collateral for the Specified Obligations; provided that the Borrower may at any time direct that such deposit be applied to make the applicable payment required pursuant to this Section 5.2.

5.3 Method and Place of Payment. (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments under this Agreement shall be made by the Borrower, without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind, to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders entitled thereto, the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date when due and shall be made in immediately available funds in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office, it being understood that written or facsimile notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower’s account at the Administrative Agent’s Office shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such funds held in such account. The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 2:30 p.m. (New York time) on such day and, if not, on the next Business Day) like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or Fees ratably to the Lenders entitled thereto or to the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender, as applicable.

(b) For purposes of computing interest or fees, any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately prior to such extension.

5.4 Net Payments. (a) Subject to the following sentence, all payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any current or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding in the case of each Lender and each Agent, (A) overall net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of overall net income taxes) imposed on any Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection between such Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely from such Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Credit Document) and (B) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction where the Borrower is located. If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“Non-Excluded Taxes”) are required to be withheld from any amounts payable under this Agreement, the Borrower shall increase the

 

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amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement. Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt (or other evidence acceptable to such Lender, acting reasonably) received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. The agreements in this Section 5.4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(b) In addition, each Credit Party shall pay any present or future stamp, documentary, excise, property or intangible taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made by such Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Documents or from the execution, delivery or registration or recordation of, performance under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) The Credit Parties shall indemnify each Lender and each Agent for and hold them harmless against the full amount of Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes, and for the full amount of Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes imposed or asserted (whether properly or not) by any jurisdiction on any additional amounts or indemnities payable under this Section 5.4, imposed on or paid by such Lender or such Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, additions to tax, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or such Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor.

(d) To the extent permitted by law or otherwise, each Non-U.S. Lender shall:

(i) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two originals of either (x) in the case of Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. Federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (together with a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is not a 10-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code) of the Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code)), or (y) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, in each case properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or reduced rate of, U.S. Federal withholding tax on payments by the Borrower under this Agreement; and

(ii) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two further originals of any such form or certification (or any applicable successor form) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower;

unless in any such case any change in treaty, law or regulation has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required that renders any such form inapplicable or would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect to it.

 

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(e) The Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Lender that is not organized under the laws of the United States of America, a state thereof or the District of Columbia (a “Non-U.S. Lender”), or to pay any additional amounts to any Non-U.S. Lender, in respect of U.S. Federal withholding tax pursuant to paragraph (a) above to the extent that (i) the obligation to withhold amounts with respect to U.S. Federal withholding tax existed on the date such Non-U.S. Lender became a party to this Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 5.4(e) shall not apply to the extent that (x) the indemnity payments or additional amounts any Lender would be entitled to receive (without regard to this clause (i)) do not exceed the indemnity payment or additional amounts that the person making the assignment, participation or transfer to such Lender (or Participant) would have been entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment, participation or transfer, or (y) such assignment, participation or transfer had been requested by the Borrower or (ii) the obligation to pay such additional amounts would not have arisen but for a failure by such Non-U.S. Lender or Non-U.S. Participant to comply with the provisions of Section 5.4(d), other than by reason of any change in treaty, law or regulation having effect after the date such representations or certifications were made.

(f) Each Lender that is organized in the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia shall (A) on or prior to the date such Lender becomes a Lender hereunder, (B) on or prior to the date on which any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete, (C) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form or certification previously delivered by it pursuant to this Section 5.4(f) and (D) from time to time if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a participant, the relevant Lender), provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or, in the case of a participant, the relevant Lender) with two duly completed and signed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (certifying that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from U.S. backup withholding tax) or any successor form.

(g) If any Lender or the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion that it has received a refund of a Non-Excluded Tax or Other Taxes for which a payment has been made by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, which refund in the good faith judgment of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, is attributable to such payment made by such Borrower, then such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Borrower for such amount (together with any interest received thereon) as such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, reasonably determines to be the proportion of the refund as will leave it, after such reimbursement, in no better or worse position than it would have been in if the payment had not been required; provided that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (with interest and penalties) in the event such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Neither any Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall be obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to the Borrower in connection with this Section 5.4(g) or any other provision of this Section 5.4; provided, further, that nothing in this Section 5.4 shall obligate any Lender (or Transferee) or the Administrative Agent to apply for any refund.

 

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5.5 Computations of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest on Eurodollar Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. Interest on ABR Loans and interest on overdue interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed.

(b) Fees and Letters of Credit Outstanding shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year for the actual days elapsed.

5.6 Limit on Rate of Interest. (a) No Payment shall exceed Lawful Rate. Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be obliged to pay any interest or other amounts under or in connection with this Agreement in excess of the amount or rate permitted under or consistent with any Applicable Law.

(b) Payment at Highest Lawful Rate. If the Borrower is not obliged to make a payment which it would otherwise be required to make, as a result of Section 5.6(a), the Borrower shall make such payment to the maximum extent permitted by or consistent with Applicable Law.

(c) Adjustment if any Payment exceeds Lawful Rate. If any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents would obligate the Borrower to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by any Applicable Law, then notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law (in the case of the Borrower), such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows:

(i) firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender under Section 2.8; and

(ii) thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if any Lender shall have received from the Borrower an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by any Applicable Law, then the Borrower shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent, to obtain reimbursement from such Lender in an amount equal to such excess, and pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by such Lender to the Borrower.

SECTION 6. Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Event

The occurrence of the initial Credit Event is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

6.1 Credit Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(a) this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each of Holdings, the Borrower, each Agent and each Lender;

 

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(b) the Guarantee, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each Person that is a Guarantor as of the Closing Date;

(c) the Security Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each other grantor party thereto as of the Closing Date.

(d) the Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, the Borrower and each other pledgor party thereto as of the Closing Date; and

(e) the Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the Revolving Credit Documents and acknowledged by Holdings, the Borrowers and the other Guarantors.

6.2 Collateral. (a) All Capital Stock of the Borrower and all Capital Stock of each Subsidiary of the Borrower directly owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case as of the Closing Date, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement (except that such Credit Parties shall not be required to pledge any Excluded Capital Stock) and the collateral agent under the Term Loan Credit Documents shall have received all certificates, if any, representing such securities pledged under the Pledge Agreement, accompanied by instruments of transfer and undated stock powers endorsed in blank.

(b) All Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary that is owing to any Credit Party that is a party to the Pledge Agreement as of the Closing Date shall, to the extent exceeding $2,500,000 (individually), be evidenced by one or more global promissory notes and shall have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and the Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank.

(c) All documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable personal property security financing statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any Collateral (other than Collateral consisting of the Capital Stock of the Borrower and the Capital Stock of any Domestic Subsidiary required to be pledged pursuant to Section 6.2(a)), the security interest in which may not be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement, if the perfection of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Collateral may not be accomplished on or prior to the Closing Date without undue burden or expense and without the taking of any action that goes beyond commercial reasonableness, then the delivery of documents and instruments for perfection of such security interest shall not constitute a condition precedent to the initial Credit Event to occur on the Closing Date. To the extent that any such security interest is not so perfected on or

 

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prior to the Closing Date, then Holdings and the Borrower agree to deliver or cause to be delivered such documents and instruments, and take or cause to be taken such other actions as may be required to perfect such security interests, on or prior to the date that is 60 days after the Closing Date or such longer period of time as may be agreed to by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion.

6.3 Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the following executed legal opinions:

(a) the legal opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special New York counsel to Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1;

(b) the legal opinion of Akerman Senterfitt, special Florida counsel to Holdings to certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2; and

(c) the legal opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP, local Texas counsel to certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-3.

6.4 Structure and Terms of the Transactions. (a) The Merger shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Event, in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any modifications, amendments or waivers thereto that are material and adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Joint Lead Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Administrative Agent shall have received certified copies of the Acquisition Agreement and all material certificates and other material documents delivered thereunder.

(b) The Equity Contribution shall have been made, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Event hereunder shall be made, in at least the amount set forth in the third recital to this Agreement, which to the extent constituting other than common stock shall be on terms and conditions and pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Joint Lead Arrangers to the extent material to the interests of the Lenders.

(c) The Borrower shall have received, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Credit Event shall receive, $500,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes, which Senior Subordinated Notes shall have (i) a maturity date that is not earlier than the eighth anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) customary subordination provisions and (iii) covenants, events of default, guarantees and other terms which, taken as a whole, are not more restrictive to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those contained in this Agreement.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a fully executed pay-off letter, confirming that the repayment in full of, and the termination of any commitments to make extensions of credit under, all of the outstanding Indebtedness listed on Schedule 6.4(d) and (ii) such UCC (or equivalent) termination statements, mortgage releases, releases of assignments of leases and rents, releases of security interests in intellectual property and other instruments from any person holding any Lien securing any such Indebtedness, in each case in proper form for recording or filing, as the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably requested to release and terminate of record the Liens securing such Indebtedness.

 

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6.5 Closing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of each Person that is a Credit Party as of the Closing Date, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit H, with appropriate insertions, executed by the President or any Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Credit Party, and attaching the documents referred to in Sections 6.6 and 6.7.

6.6 Corporate Proceedings. The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the resolutions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the Board of Directors or other governing body, as applicable, of each Person that is a Credit Party as of the Closing Date (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing (a) if applicable, the consummation of the Merger, (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents (and any agreements relating thereto) to which it is a party and (c) in the case of the Borrower, the extensions of credit contemplated hereunder and under the Revolving Credit Documents.

6.7 Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received true and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of each Person that is a Credit Party as of the Closing Date.

6.8 Fees and Expenses. The fees in the amounts previously agreed in writing by the Agents to be received on the Closing Date and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel) for which invoices have been presented on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid in full.

6.9 Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with appropriate attachments and demonstrating that after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

6.10 Financial Statements. (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received: (i) the Historical Financial Statements and (ii) an unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at December 31, 2007, and a pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2007, in each case adjusted to give effect to the Merger, the related financings and the other Transactions as if such Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).

(b) The Borrower shall have delivered to the Joint Bookrunners, and the Joint Bookrunners shall have acknowledged receiving, the financial projections of the Borrower and its subsidiaries through the 2013 fiscal year.

 

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6.11 Insurance Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of insurance certificates evidencing the insurance required to be maintained by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 9.3.

6.12 Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in reasonable detail in the Company SEC Documents (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) filed prior to the date of the Acquisition Agreement (other than disclosure referred to in the “Factors That May Affect Future Results,” “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” or “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of such Company SEC Documents) or in the Company Disclosure Letter (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement), since June 30, 2007, there shall not have been any changes, facts, events, developments or state of circumstances that have had or constitutes, individually or in the aggregate, any Company Material Adverse Effect (as such expression is defined in the Acquisition Agreement).

6.13 Closing EBITDA. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer confirming that Closing EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2007, shall equal at least $255,000,000, and showing in reasonable detail the support for such calculation.

6.14 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties made by the Company in the Acquisition Agreement relating to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses that are material to the interests of the Lenders shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct as of such earlier date) unless, as a result of any failure to be so true and correct, Holdings does not have the right to terminate its obligations under the Acquisition Agreement as a result of a breach of such representations.

SECTION 7. Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events

7.1 No Default; Representations and Warranties. The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date (excluding Mandatory Borrowings) and the obligation of the Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit on any date is subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent that at the time of each such Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (a) except in the case of the Credit Events to occur on the Closing Date, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (b) all representations and warranties made by any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); provided that, in the case of the initial Credit Event to occur on the Closing Date, such representations and warranties shall be limited to the Specified Representations. For purposes of this Section 7.1, the Specified Representations shall mean the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 8.1(a), 8.2 (other than clause (b) of the last

 

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sentence thereof), 8.5, 8.7 and, subject to the last paragraph of Section 6.2, section 3.3 of the Security Agreement and section 5(f) of the Pledge Agreement. The acceptance of the benefits of each such Credit Event shall constitute a representation and warranty by each Credit Party to each of the Lenders that the conditions contained in this Section 7.1 have been met as of such date.

7.2 Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request. (a) Prior to the making of each Revolving Credit Loan (other than any Revolving Credit Loan made pursuant to Section 3.4(a)) and each Swingline Loan, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.3.

(b) Prior to the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a Letter of Credit Request meeting the requirements of Section 3.2(a).

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit as provided for herein, each of Holdings and the Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to, and agreements with, the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit:

8.1 Corporate Status. Holdings, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged and (b) has duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.2 Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability. Each Credit Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and each such Credit Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is in compliance with all Applicable Laws and (b) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted except, in each case to the extent that failure to be in compliance therewith or to have all such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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8.3 No Violation. None of (a) the execution, delivery and performance by any Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof, (b) the consummation of the Merger or (c) the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby on the relevant dates therefor will (i) contravene any applicable provision of any material Applicable Law of any Governmental Authority, (ii) result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of any of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Liens created under the Credit Documents and the Term Loan Credit Documents) pursuant to, the terms of any indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage or deed of trust or any other Contractual Obligation to which Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which they or any of their property or assets is bound, except to the extent that any such conflict, breach, contravention, default, creation or imposition could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries.

8.4 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings (including Environmental Claims) pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened with respect to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that (a) involve any of the Credit Documents or (b) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

8.5 Margin Regulations. Neither the making of any Loan hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.

8.6 Governmental Approvals. No order, consent, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any Governmental Authority is required to authorize or is required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery and performance of any Credit Document or (b) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Credit Document, except, in the case of either clause (a) or (b), (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) filings and recordings in respect of Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents.

8.7 Investment Company Act. None of the Credit Parties is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

8.8 True and Complete Disclosure. (a) None of the factual information and data (taken as a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by Holdings, the Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective authorized representatives in writing to any Agent or any Lender on or before the Closing Date (including (i) the Confidential Information Memorandum (including all information incorporated by reference therein) and (ii) all information contained in the Credit Documents) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein contained any untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make such

 

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information and data (taken as a whole) not materially misleading at such time (after giving effect to all supplements so furnished prior to such time) in light of the circumstances under which such information or data was furnished; it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section 8.8(a), such factual information and data shall not include projections (including financial estimates, forecasts and other forward-looking information), pro forma financial information or information of a general economic or general industry nature.

(b) The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the information and data referred to in Section 8.8(a) were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by Holdings and the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made; it being recognized by the Agents and the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and such differences may be material.

8.9 Financial Statements. The (a) unaudited historical consolidated financial information as set forth in the Confidential Information Memorandum and (b) the Historical Financial Statements, in each case present fairly in all material respects the financial position and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries at the respective dates of such information and for the respective periods covered thereby subject, in the case of the unaudited financial information, to changes resulting from audit, normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. The financial statements referred to in clause (b) of this Section 8.9 have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied except to the extent provided in the notes thereto.

8.10 Tax Returns and Payments, etc. Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by them and have paid all material taxes and assessments payable by them that have become due, other than those not yet delinquent or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established on the applicable financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have paid, or have provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) in accordance with GAAP for the payment of, all material Federal, state and foreign income taxes applicable for all prior fiscal years and for the current fiscal year to the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower, Holdings, nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has engaged in any “listed transactions” within the meaning of the Code.

8.11 Compliance with ERISA. Each Plan is in compliance with ERISA, the Code and any Applicable Law; no Reportable Event has occurred (or is reasonably likely to occur) with respect to any Plan; no Plan is insolvent or in reorganization (or is reasonably likely to be insolvent or in reorganization), and no written notice of any such insolvency or reorganization has been given to any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate; no Plan (other than a multiemployer plan) has an accumulated or waived funding deficiency (or is reasonably likely to have such a deficiency); none of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred (or is reasonably likely expected to incur) any liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or

 

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Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code or has been notified in writing that it will incur any liability under any of the foregoing Sections with respect to any Plan; no proceedings have been instituted (or are reasonably likely to be instituted) to terminate or to reorganize any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, and no written notice of any such proceedings has been given to any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate; and the conditions for imposition of a lien that could be imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate do not exist (or are not reasonably likely to exist) nor has Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate been notified in writing that such a lien will be imposed on the assets of any of Holdings, the Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate on account of any Plan, except to the extent that a breach of any of the representations, warranties or agreements in this Section 8.11 would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in an amount of liability that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or relates to any matter disclosed in the financial statements of the Borrower contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum. No Plan (other than a multiemployer plan) has an Unfunded Current Liability that would, individually or when taken together with any other liabilities referenced in this Section 8.11, be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to Plans that are multiemployer plans (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), the representations and warranties in this Section 8.11, other than any made with respect to (a) liability under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or (b) liability for termination or reorganization of such Plans under ERISA, are made to the best knowledge of the Borrower.

8.12 Subsidiaries. On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), Holdings does not have any Subsidiaries other than the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 8.12. Schedule 8.12 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, the name and the jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary and, as to each Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Credit Party and the designation of such Subsidiary as a Guarantor, a Restricted Subsidiary, an Unrestricted Subsidiary, a Specified Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary. The Borrower does not own or hold, directly or indirectly, any Capital Stock of any Person other than such Subsidiaries and Investments permitted by Section 10.5.

8.13 Intellectual Property. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid license or right to use, all patents, trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, copyrights and all applications therefor and licenses thereof, and all other intellectual property rights, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 10.2), that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such title, license or rights could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Borrower’s knowledge, no patent, patent application, trademark, trademark application, service mark, trade name, copyright, copyright application, Internet domain name, other intellectual property (excluding any copyright license, patent license, or trademark license), slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or component, or other material now employed by any of the Credit Parties infringes upon, misappropriates, or otherwise violates any rights owned by any other Person with regard to any Intellectual Property, and no material claim or litigation regarding the foregoing is pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened.

 

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8.14 Environmental Laws. (a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws (including having obtained and complied with all material permits required under Environmental Laws for their current operations); (ii) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, there are no facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the operations of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any currently or formerly owned, operated or leased Real Estate that would reasonably be expected to result in Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring liability under any Environmental Law; and (iii) none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has become subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened Environmental Claim or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any other liability under any Environmental Law.

(b) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has treated, stored, transported, released or disposed of Hazardous Materials at or from any currently or formerly owned, operated or leased Real Estate in a manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.15 Properties, Assets and Rights. (a) As of the Closing Date and as of the date of each Credit Event thereafter, each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interest in, or easements, licenses or other limited property interests in, all properties (other than Intellectual Property) that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to have such good title could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of such properties and assets is subject to any Lien, except for Liens permitted under Section 10.2 and minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with any Credit Party’s ability to conduct its business or to utilize such property for its intended purposes.

(b) Set forth on Schedule 8.15 hereto is a complete and accurate list of all real property owned in fee by the Credit Parties on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, showing as of the Closing Date the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state and record owner thereof.

(c) All permits required to have been issued or appropriate to enable all Real Estate of the Credit Parties to be lawfully occupied and used for all of the purposes for which they are currently occupied and used have been lawfully issued and are in full force and effect, other than those permits the failure of which to be issued or to so enable lawful occupation and use could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.16 Solvency. On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, the Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

8.17 Material Adverse Change. Since the Closing Date, there have been no events or developments that have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 9. Affirmative Covenants

Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until the Total Commitment and all Letters of Credit have terminated (unless such Letters of Credit have been collateralized on terms and conditions satisfactory to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer following the termination of the Commitments) and the Loans and Unpaid Drawings, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements and contingent indemnification obligations), are paid in full:

9.1 Information Covenants. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event on or before the date that is 90 days after the end of each such fiscal year (or in the case of financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, on or before the date that is 120 days after the end of such fiscal year), the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and, if different, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statement of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year (or, in lieu of such audited financial statements of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a detailed reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on the other hand), all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, except with respect to such reconciliation, certified by independent registered public accountants of recognized national standing whose opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit or as to the status of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as a going concern, together in any event with a certificate of such accounting firm stating that in the course of its regular audit of the business of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, which audit was conducted in accordance with GAAP, such accounting firm has obtained no knowledge of any Event of Default relating to Section 10.11 (if such covenant is required to be computed at such time) that has occurred and is continuing or, if in the opinion of such accounting firm such an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 9.1(a) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) or (B) the Borrower’s or Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to Holdings (or a parent thereof), such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under the first sentence of this Section 9.1(a), such materials are accompanied by an opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing, which opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit or as to the status of Holdings (or such parent) and its consolidated Subsidiaries as a going concern.

 

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(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event on or before the date that is 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, in the case of financial statements for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, on or before the date that is 60 days after the end of such fiscal quarter), the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and, if different, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such quarterly period and the related consolidated statement of operations for such quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period, and the related consolidated statement of cash flows for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period, and setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year or, in the case of such consolidated balance sheet, for the last day of the prior fiscal year (or in lieu of such audited financial statements of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a detailed reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand and the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on the other hand), all in reasonable detail and all of which shall be certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit, normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 9.1(b) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) or (B) the Borrower’s or Holdings’ (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), to the extent such information relates to Holdings (or a parent thereof), such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

(c) Budget. Within 90 days after the commencement of each fiscal year of the Borrower (and for the first time with respect to the fiscal year of the Borrower starting on January 1, 2009), a detailed quarterly budget of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in reasonable detail for that fiscal year as customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use consistent in scope with the financial statements provided pursuant to Section 9.1(a) (but including, in any event, a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income) and setting forth the principal assumptions upon which such budget is based.

(d) Officer’s Certificates. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, which certificate shall set forth (i) if applicable, the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries were in compliance with the provisions of Section 10.11 as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, (ii) the calculations required to establish the Consolidated

 

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Total Debt to Consolidated Total EBITDA Ratio as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be for the purpose of determining the Commitment Fee payable pursuant to Section 4.1(a); (iii) a specification of any change in the identity of the Restricted Subsidiaries, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Specified Subsidiaries, the Immaterial Subsidiaries and the Foreign Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Specified Subsidiaries, the Immaterial Subsidiaries and the Foreign Subsidiaries, respectively, provided to the Lenders on the Closing Date or the most recent fiscal year or period, as the case may be, (iv) the then applicable pricing level, (v) the calculations and basis, in reasonable detail, of any “run rate” cost savings added back to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to the provisions of clause (a)(xi) of the definition thereof and (vi) the amount of any Pro Forma Adjustment not previously set forth in a Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate or any change in the amount of a Pro Forma Adjustment set forth in any Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate previously provided and, in either case in reasonable detail, the calculations and basis therefor. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Section 9.1(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth (i) in reasonable detail the calculation of the Available Amount and the Available Equity Amount as at the end of the fiscal year to which such financial statements relate and (ii) the information required pursuant to Section 2 of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Closing Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 9.1(d), as the case may be.

(e) Management Discussion. Concurrently with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries.

(f) Notice of Certain Events. Promptly after an Authorized Officer of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action Holdings or the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) any other event that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Environmental Matters. Promptly after obtaining knowledge of any one or more of the following environmental matters, unless such environmental matters would not, individually or when aggregated with all other such matters, be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(i) any pending or threatened Environmental Claim against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Real Estate;

(ii) any condition or occurrence on any Real Estate that (x) results in noncompliance by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with any applicable Environmental Law or (y) could reasonably be anticipated to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Real Estate;

 

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(iii) any condition or occurrence on any Real Estate that could reasonably be anticipated to cause such Real Estate to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such Real Estate under any Environmental Law; and

(iv) the taking of any removal or remedial action in response to the actual or alleged presence of any Hazardous Material on any Real Estate.

All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim, investigation, condition, occurrence or removal, remedial action and the response thereto. The term “Real Estate” shall mean land, buildings and improvements owned or leased by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, but excluding all operating fixtures and equipment, whether or not incorporated into improvements.

(h) Other Information. Promptly upon filing thereof, (i) copies of any filings (including on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K) or registration statements with, and reports to, the SEC or any analogous Governmental Authority in any relevant jurisdiction by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it becomes effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent for further delivery to the Lenders), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statements on Form S-8), (ii) copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports that Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall send to the holders of any publicly issued debt of Holdings, the Borrower and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in their capacity as such holders (in each case to the extent not theretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent for further delivery to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement) and (iii) with reasonable promptness, such other information (financial or otherwise) as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender may reasonably request in writing from time to time.

(i) Pro Forma Adjustment Certificate. Not later than any date on which financial statements are delivered with respect to any period in which a Pro Forma Adjustment is made, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth the amount of such Pro Forma Adjustment and, in reasonable detail, the calculations and basis therefor.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a), 9.1(b), 9.1(c), 9.1(e) and 9.1(h) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 12.2; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the

 

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Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the certificates required by Section 9.1(d) to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

(j) Insurance. Together with each delivery of any financial statement for any fiscal year pursuant to Section 9.1(a), a summary of all material insurance coverage maintained as of the end of such fiscal year by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, together with such other related documents and information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

(k) Borrowing Base Certificates. (i) As soon as available and in any event within 10 Business Days after the end of each calendar month, a Borrowing Base Certificate, certified on behalf of the Borrower by a Authorized Officer as complete and correct in all material respects, setting forth the Borrowing Base and the Excess Availability as at the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal month; and (ii) in addition, after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Cash Dominion Event, on Wednesday of each week (or, if Wednesday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), a Borrowing Base Certificate showing the Borrower’s reasonable estimate (which shall be based on the most current accounts receivable aging reasonably available and shall be calculated in a consistent manner with the most recent Borrowing Base Certificates delivered pursuant to clause (i) above) of the Borrowing Base (but not the calculation of Excess Availability) as of the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar week.

(l) Inventory. At the Administrative Agent’s request, concurrently with the delivery of the Borrowing Base Certificate, with respect to Credit Parties, a summary of inventory by location and type with a supporting perpetual inventory report, in each case accompanied by such supporting detail and documentation as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

(m) Aging Balance. At the Administrative Agent’s request, concurrently with the delivery of the Borrowing Base Certificate, with respect to Credit Parties, a monthly trial balance and Accounts aging report showing Accounts outstanding aged (i) with respect to Other Accounts, from invoice date and/or due date and (ii) with respect to Distributor Accounts, from the date of sale of the product, in each case, as follows: 1 to 30 days, 31 to 60 days, 61 to 90 days and 91 days or more, accompanied by such supporting detail and documentation as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

(n) To the Administrative Agent, at the Administrative Agent’s request, at the time of delivery of each of the quarterly and/or annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b):

(i) a reconciliation of the most recent Borrowing Base, general ledger and quarter-end and/or year-end inventory reports of the Borrower to the Borrower’s general ledger

 

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and quarterly and/or annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), in each case accompanied by such supporting detail and documentation as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion;

(ii) a reconciliation of the perpetual inventory by location to the Borrower’s most recent Borrowing Base Certificate, general ledger and quarterly and/or annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), in each case accompanied by such supporting detail and documentation as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion;

(iii) an accounts payable trial balance and a reconciliation of that accounts payable trial balance to the Borrower’s general ledger and quarterly and/or annual financial statements delivered pursuant to this Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), in each case accompanied by such supporting detail and documentation as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; and

(iv) a reconciliation of the outstanding Loans as set forth in the quarterly loan account statement provided by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower’s general ledger and quarterly and/or annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), in each case accompanied by such supporting detail and documentation as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion;

provided that, if requested by any Lender, the Administrative Agent shall make available to such Lender the documents that it has received under this Section 9.1(n);

(o) at the time of delivery of the annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(a), the Borrower, at its own expense, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the results of those annual physical verifications, if any, that the Borrower or any of the Credit Parties may in their discretion have made, or caused any other Person to have made on their behalf, of all or any portion of their inventory located at manufacturing sites where a full annual physical inventory verification was performed;

9.2 Books, Records and Inspections. (a) Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties (to the extent it is within such Person’s control to permit such inspection), to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default or Cash Dominion Event, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may

 

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exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 9.2(a) and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than once during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default at the Borrower’s expense; and provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants.

(b) Independently, of or in connection with the visits and inspections provided for in Section 9.2(a), but not more than twice a year at the expense of the Borrower in respect of appraisals and not more than twice a year at the expense of the Borrower in respect of field examinations (in each case, unless required by Applicable Law or unless an Event of Default or Cash Dominion Event has occurred and is continuing in which case the Administrative Agent may cause additional appraisals and field examinations to be undertaken at the expense of the Borrower), upon the request of the Administrative Agent after reasonable prior notice, the Borrower will permit the Administrative Agent or professionals reasonably acceptable to the Borrower (including investment bankers, consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers) retained by the Administrative Agent to conduct appraisals, commercial finance examinations and other evaluations (including updates thereof), including, without limitation, (i) of the Borrower’s practices in the computation of the Borrowing Base, and (ii) inspecting, verifying and auditing the Collateral. The Borrower shall pay the fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent or such professionals with respect to such evaluations and appraisals in accordance with the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.

9.3 Maintenance of Insurance. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect, with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in businesses similar to those engaged by Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and will furnish to the Administrative Agent for further delivery to the Lenders, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.

9.4 Payment of Taxes. Holdings and the Borrower will pay and discharge, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which such payments become due, and all lawful material claims in respect of taxes imposed, assessed or levied that, if unpaid, could reasonably be expected to become a material Lien upon any properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim that is being diligently contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

 

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9.5 Consolidated Corporate Franchises. Holdings and the Borrower will do, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, corporate rights, privileges and authority, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Sections 10.3, 10.4 or 10.5.

9.6 Compliance with Statutes. Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all Applicable Laws (including Environmental Laws and permits required thereunder), except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.7 ERISA. Promptly after Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following events that, individually or in the aggregate (including in the aggregate such events previously disclosed or exempt from disclosure hereunder, to the extent the liability therefor remains outstanding), would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, Holdings or the Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer or any other senior officer of Holdings or the Borrower setting forth details as to such occurrence and the action, if any, that Holdings, the Borrower, such Restricted Subsidiary or such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together with any notices (required, proposed or otherwise) given to or filed with or by Holdings, the Borrower, such Restricted Subsidiary, such ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, a Plan participant (other than notices relating to an individual participant’s benefits) or the Plan administrator with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred; that an accumulated funding deficiency has been incurred or an application is to be made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code with respect to a Plan; that a Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability has been or is to be terminated, reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); that a Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability that has or will result in a Lien under ERISA or the Code; that proceedings will be or have been instituted to terminate a Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability (including the giving of written notice thereof); that a proceeding has been instituted against Holdings, the Borrower, a Restricted Subsidiary thereof or an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 515 of ERISA to collect a delinquent contribution to a Plan; that the PBGC has notified Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate of its intention to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; that Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make a required installment or other payment pursuant to Section 412 of the Code with respect to a Plan; or that Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or will incur (or has been notified in writing that it will incur) any liability (including any contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code.

9.8 Good Repair. Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, ensure that its properties and equipment used or

 

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useful in its business in whomsoever’s possession they may be to the extent that it is within the control of such party to cause same, are kept in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and that from time to time there are made in such properties and equipment all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto, to the extent and in the manner customary for companies in the industry in which the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries conduct business and consistent with third party leases, except in each case to the extent the failure to do so could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.9 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters. The Borrower will, for financial reporting purposes, cause (a) each of its, and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries’, fiscal years to end on December 31 of each year and (b) each of its, and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries’, fiscal quarters to end on dates consistent with such fiscal year-end and the Borrower’s past practice; provided, however, that the Borrower may, upon written notice to, and consent by, the Administrative Agent, change the financial reporting convention specified above to any other financial reporting convention reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary in order to reflect such change in financial reporting.

9.10 Additional Guarantors and Grantors. Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Guarantee or the Security Agreement, as applicable, Holdings and the Borrower will cause (i) any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case to execute a supplement to each of the Guarantee, the Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, substantially in the form of Annex B, Annex 1 or Annex II, as applicable, to the respective agreement in order to become a Guarantor under the Guarantee and a grantor under the Security Agreement.

9.11 Pledges of Additional Stock and Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Pledge Agreement, Holdings and the Borrower will pledge, and, if applicable, will cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.10) to pledge, to the Collateral Agent (or its non-fiduciary agent or designee) for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (i) all the Capital Stock (other than any Excluded Capital Stock) of each Subsidiary owned by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.10), in each case, formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date, pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Annex A thereto, (ii) all evidences of Indebtedness in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) received by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.10), in each case pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Annex A thereto, and (iii) any global promissory notes executed after the Closing Date evidencing Indebtedness in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries that is owing to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.10), in each case pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement in the form of Annex A thereto.

 

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(b) Each of Holdings and the Borrower agrees that all Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries that is owing to any Credit Party shall be evidenced by one or more global intercompany promissory notes in the form of Exhibit J.

9.12 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans solely (a) to fund, in part, the Merger Funds, (b) to provide working capital and (c) for other general corporate purposes, including the financing of Permitted Acquisitions.

9.13 Changes in Business. The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from the business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the Closing Date and other business activities incidental or related to any of the foregoing.

9.14 Further Assurances. (a) Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the Security Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Security Agreement, any Mortgage and in Section 6.2, if any assets (including any owned real estate or improvements thereto (but not any leased real property) or any interest therein) with a book value or Fair Market Value in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) are acquired by the Borrower or any other Credit Party after the Closing Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien of the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof or assets subject to a Lien granted pursuant to Section 10.2(c)) that are of the nature secured by the Security Agreement or any Mortgage, as the case may be, the Borrower will notify the Collateral Agent (who shall thereafter notify the Lenders) thereof and will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the applicable Obligations and will take, and cause the other Credit Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect such Liens consistent with the applicable requirements of the Security Documents, including actions described in Section 9.14(a), all at the expense of the Credit Parties.

(c) Any Mortgage delivered to the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 9.14(b) shall be accompanied by (x) (i) a policy or policies of title insurance or a marked unconditional binder thereof issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of such Mortgage as a valid Lien (with the priority described therein) on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 10.2,

 

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together with such endorsements and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and which are available at commercially reasonable rates in the jurisdiction where the applicable Mortgaged Property is located; and (ii) unless the Collateral Agent shall have otherwise agreed, either (A) a survey for which all necessary fees (where applicable) have been paid (1) prepared by a surveyor reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (2) dated or re-certificated not earlier than three months prior to the date of such delivery, (3) certified to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the title insurance company issuing the title insurance policy for such Mortgaged Property pursuant to clause (i), which certification shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and (4) complying with the “Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys,” jointly established and adopted by ALTA, ACSM and NSPS in 1999 (except for such deviations as are acceptable to the Collateral Agent) or (B) coverage under the title insurance policy or policies referred to in clause (i) above that does not contain a general exception for survey matters and which contains survey-related endorsements reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, and (y) a local opinion of counsel to the Borrower with respect to the enforceability and perfection of the applicable Mortgages and any related fixture filings (or in the event a Subsidiary of the Borrower is the mortgagor, to such Subsidiary) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Collateral Agent and the Borrower reasonably determine that the cost of creating or perfecting any Lien on any property is excessive in relation to the benefits afforded to the Lenders thereby, then such property may be excluded from the Collateral for all purposes of the Credit Documents.

9.15 Designation of Subsidiaries. The board of directors of the Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) immediately before and after such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (and, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such designation, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating such compliance), (c) the Borrower may not be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (d) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purposes of any Senior Subordinated Notes Document or the Term Loan Credit Document or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the net book value of the Borrower’s (as applicable) investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

9.16 Interest Rate Protection. No later than the 90th day after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall enter into, and for a minimum of two years thereafter maintain, interest rate Hedging Agreements that result in no less than 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of (i) the Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding being effectively subject to a fixed or maximum interest rate.

 

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9.17 Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations shall constitute Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents.

9.18 Cash Management. The Credit Parties will establish and maintain the cash management systems described below:

(a) Within 60 days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree in writing), the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to, establish and maintain, at its sole expense, blocked accounts or lockboxes and related deposit accounts (in each case, “Blocked Accounts”) with such banks as are reasonably acceptable to Collateral Agent into which Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall promptly deposit and direct their respective Account Debtors to directly remit all payments on Accounts and all payments constituting proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral in the identical form in which such payments are made, whether by cash, check or other manner and shall be identified and segregated from all other funds of the Credit Parties. All proceeds of the Loans shall be deposited into a Blocked Account. The Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Collateral Agent a Control Agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by each bank where a Blocked Account for the benefit of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor is maintained. Except as permitted by Section 9.18(b)(iii), the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not establish any deposit accounts after the Closing Date, unless the Borrower or the Subsidiary Guarantor (as applicable) have complied in full with the provisions of this Section 9.18 with respect to such deposit accounts.

(b) At all times after the initial Blocked Accounts are established pursuant Section 9.18(a), the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall maintain a cash management system which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (the “Cash Management System”). The Cash Management System shall contain, among other things, the following:

(i) With respect to the Blocked Accounts of Borrower and such Subsidiary Guarantors as the Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole discretion, the applicable bank maintaining such Blocked Accounts shall agree, pursuant to the applicable Control Agreement, to forward daily all amounts in each Blocked Account to one Blocked Account designated as concentration account in the name of the Borrower (the “Concentration Account”) at the bank that shall be designated as the Concentration Account bank for the Borrower (the “Concentration Account Bank”). The Concentration Account Bank shall agree, pursuant to the applicable Control Agreement from and after the receipt of a notice (an “Activation Notice”) from the Collateral Agent (which Activation Notice may be given by Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent at any time during the existence of a Cash Dominion Event) and so long as such Cash Dominion Event is continuing, to forward daily all amounts in the Concentration Account to the account designated as collection account (the “Collection Account”) which shall be under the exclusive dominion and control of the Collateral Agent and the Administrative

 

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Agent; provided that at any time when no Cash Dominion Event is continuing, the balance standing to the credit of the Concentration Account shall be distributed as directed by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 9.18;

(ii) With respect to the Blocked Accounts of such Guarantors as the Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole discretion, the applicable bank maintaining such Blocked Accounts shall agree, from and after the receipt of an Activation Notice from the Collateral Agent (which Activation Notice may be given by Collateral Agent at any time during the existence of a Cash Dominion Event) and so long as such Cash Dominion Event is continuing, to forward all immediately available collected funds in each Blocked Account, as of the close of business on the prior Business Day, to the Collection Account and to commence the process of daily sweeps for such Blocked Account into the Collection Account; and

(iii) Any provision of this Section 9.18 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Credit Parties may maintain payroll accounts, trust accounts, investment accounts, securities accounts or other accounts that are not a part of the Cash Management Systems or subject to a Control Agreement provided that no Credit Party shall accumulate or maintain cash in such accounts (other than cash not constituting proceeds of Collateral or Loans) as of any date of determination in excess of checks outstanding against such accounts as of that date and amounts necessary to meet minimum balance requirements plus $2,500,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts of all Credit Parties.

(c) At all times following the establishment of the Cash Management Systems pursuant to Section 9.18(a) and after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Cash Dominion Event and notification thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (subject to the provisions of the Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement), on each Business Day, at or before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time), the Administrative Agent shall apply all immediately available funds credited to the Collection Account in accordance with Section 5.2(e).

(d) The Borrower and its directors, employees, agents and other Affiliates and Subsidiary Guarantors shall, acting as trustee for Collateral Agent, receive, as the property of Collateral Agent, any monies, checks, notes, drafts or any other payment relating to and/or proceeds of Accounts, Inventory or other Collateral which come into their possession or under their control and, following the establishment of the Cash Management Systems pursuant to this Section 9.18, within three (3) Business Days after receipt thereof, shall deposit or cause the same to be deposited in the Blocked Accounts, or remit the same or cause the same to be remitted, in kind, to the Collateral Agent.

9.19 Post-Closing Covenants. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, comply with the terms and conditions set forth on Schedule 9.19.

SECTION 10. Negative Covenants

Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until the Total Commitment and all Letters of Credit have terminated (unless such Letters of Credit have been collateralized on terms and conditions

 

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satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer following the termination of the Commitments) and the Loans and Unpaid Drawings, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), are paid in full:

10.1 Limitation on Indebtedness. Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

(a) (i) Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents and (ii) Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Documents (subject to the limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(b) Indebtedness of (i) Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor owing to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing shall be evidenced by an intercompany note substantially in the form of Exhibit J; (ii) any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor owing to any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) to the extent permitted by Section 10.5, any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor owing to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

(c) Indebtedness in respect of any bankers’ acceptance, bank guarantees, letter of credit, warehouse receipt or similar facilities entered into in the ordinary course of business (including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims) but in any event, not in respect of Hedging Agreements;

(d) except as provided in clauses (h), (k), and (l) below, Guarantee Obligations incurred by (i) any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement and (ii) Holdings or the Borrower in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement;

(e) Guarantee Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees;

(f) (i) Indebtedness (including Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness arising under Capitalized Leases) the proceeds of which are used to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, expansion or improvement of fixed or capital assets or otherwise incurred in respect of Capital Expenditures; provided that (A) such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within 270 days after the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, expansion or improvement, (B) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test

 

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Period as if the incurrence of such Indebtedness had occurred on the first day of such Test Period and (C) such Indebtedness is not incurred to acquire Capital Stock of any Person and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(g) (i) Indebtedness arising under Capitalized Leases, other than Capitalized Leases in effect on the Closing Date (and set forth on Schedule 10.1) or Capitalized Leases entered into pursuant to Section 10.1(f), and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness provided that (A) any obligations existing on the Closing Date (x) that were not included on the balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as Capitalized Lease Obligations and (y) that are subsequently recharacterized as Capitalized Lease Obligations due to a change in accounting treatment shall not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations for the purpose of this Section 10.1(g) and (B) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding permitted under this Section 10.1(g), when combined with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under Sections 10.1(k) and 10.1(l), shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(h) (i) Closing Date Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(j)) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(i) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Agreements incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(j) (i) Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000,000 plus the PIK Interest Amount and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (including such PIK Interest Amount);

(k) (i) Indebtedness of a Person or Indebtedness attaching to assets of a Person that, in either case, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is a Restricted Subsidiary that survives a merger with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries) or Indebtedness attaching to assets that are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Closing Date as the result of a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (x) such Indebtedness existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time such assets were acquired and, in each case, was not created in anticipation thereof, (y) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed in any respect by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any such Person that so becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is the survivor of a merger with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries) and (z)(A) the Capital Stock of such Person is pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 9.11 and (B) such Person executes a supplement to each of the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (or alternative guarantee and security arrangements in relation to the Obligations) to the extent required under Sections 9.10, 9.11 or 9.14(b), as applicable; provided that the assets covered by such pledges and security interests may, to the extent permitted by Section 10.2, equally and ratably secure such Indebtedness assumed with the Secured Parties subject to intercreditor arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); provided, further; that the requirements of this clause (z) shall not apply to any Indebtedness of the type that could have been incurred under Section 10.1(f); and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing

 

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Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 10.1(k), when combined with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(l) shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(l) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (x) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed in any respect by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor except to the extent permitted under Section 10.5, and (y)(A) the Borrower or such other relevant Credit Party pledges the Capital Stock of any Person acquired in such Permitted Acquisition (the “acquired Person”) to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 9.11 and (B) such acquired Person executes a supplement to the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (or alternative guarantee and security arrangements in relation to the Obligations) to the extent required under Sections 9.10, 9.11 or 9.14(b), as applicable (provided that the assets covered by such pledges and security interests may, to the extent permitted by Section 10.2, equally and ratably secure such Indebtedness incurred with the Secured Parties subject to intercreditor arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 10.1(l), when combined with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(k) shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(m) (i) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms (which require that all such payments be made within 60 days after the incurrence of the related obligation) in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Agreements and (ii) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of intercompany obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of accounts payable incurred in connection with goods sold or services rendered in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money;

(n) Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case entered into in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock permitted hereunder, other than Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Capital Stock for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (i)) and (ii) the maximum assumable liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds, including non-cash proceeds (the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value) actually received by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

 

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(o) Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case entered into in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted under Section 10.5;

(p) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or Hedging Agreements;

(q) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (i) obligations to pay insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or Hedging Agreements;

(r) (i) unsecured Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation to their employees, consultants or independent contractors or other similar arrangements incurred by such Persons in connection with the Transactions and Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;

(s) unsecured Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by any Credit Party to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof to the extent such direct or indirect parent use the proceeds to finance the purchase or redemption (directly or indirectly) of Capital Stock of Holdings), or the Borrower permitted by Section 10.6;

(t) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearing house arrangements, employees’ credit or purchase cards, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business provided that such Indebtedness (other than credit or purchase cards) is extinguished within 10 Business Days of its incurrence and such Indebtedness in respect of credit or purchase cards is extinguished within 60 days of its incurrence;

(u) additional Indebtedness and any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding at any time pursuant to this Section 10.1(u) shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any time; provided, further, that, if the most recent compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d) demonstrates, on a Pro Forma Basis, a Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 4.00:1.00 or less as of the last day of the Test Period to which such compliance certificate relates, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur up to $25,000,000 of additional Indebtedness under this Section 10.1(u);

 

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(v) (i) Indebtedness incurred in connection with any Permitted Sale Leaseback and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

(w) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Additional Notes to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are offered to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement;

(x) Indebtedness of Restricted Foreign Subsidiaries (and if such Restricted Foreign Subsidiary is not a Subsidiary Guarantor without recourse against the Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantors, in each case except as permitted under Section 9.5) for working capital purposes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

(y) all customary premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in each of the Sections 10.1(a) through 10.1(x) above.

10.2 Limitation on Liens. Neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they permit any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible) of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

(a) Liens created pursuant to the Credit Documents to secure the Obligations or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage;

(b) Permitted Liens;

(c) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.1(f) or 10.1(g); provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 270 days after the acquisition, repair, replacement, construction, expansion or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property, except for accessions to such property, other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and the products thereof and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(d) Liens on property and assets existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 10.2 or, to the extent not listed in such Schedule, such property or assets have a Fair Market Value that does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate; provided that (i) such Lien does not extend to any other property or asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than after acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1 and proceeds and products thereof and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the Closing Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1;

 

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(e) The modification, replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clauses (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (q), (u) and (v) of this Section 10.2 upon or in the same assets theretofore subject to such Lien (other than after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1 and proceeds and products thereof) or the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness as permitted by Section 10.1;

(f) Liens existing on the assets of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.15), or existing on assets acquired, pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment permitted under Section 10.5 to the extent the Liens on such assets secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1(k); provided that such Liens attach at all times only to the same assets that such Liens (other than after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1 and proceeds and products thereof) attached to, and secure only the same Indebtedness or obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1) that such Liens secured, immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or such other Investment, as applicable;

(g) (i) Liens placed upon the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to secure Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l) in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) Liens placed upon the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary to secure (A) a guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of any such Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary or (B) Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary, in either case incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(l) in connection with such Permitted Acquisition;

(h) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(ii) and any related obligations with respect to cash management and hedging arrangements contemplated thereby; provided that such Liens are subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement;

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary in favor of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor and Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor in favor of any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(j) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right to set off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(k) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise

 

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dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 10.4, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, disposition, transfer or lease, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(l) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

(m) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Permitted Investments permitted under Section 10.5;

(n) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit, automatic clearing house or sweep accounts of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

(p) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(q) Liens in respect of Permitted Sale Leasebacks;

(r) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(s) agreements to subordinate any interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Liens on Capital Stock in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture;

(u) Liens with respect to property or assets of any Restricted Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Foreign Subsidiary permitted under Section 10.1(x); and

(v) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 10.2 so long as the aggregate outstanding amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $12,500,000; provided that, if the most recent compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d) demonstrates, on a Pro Forma Basis, a Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio of 3.00:1.00 or less as of the last day of the Test Period to which such compliance certificate relates, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may secure up to $7,500,000 of additional obligations under this clause 10.2(v).

 

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10.3 Limitation on Fundamental Changes. Except as expressly permitted by Sections 10.4 or 10.5, neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its business units, assets or other properties, except that:

(a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person (other than Holdings) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower; provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or, in the case of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Borrower, the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than the Borrower) shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Borrower or such Person, as the case may be, being herein referred to as the “Successor Borrower”), (ii) the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from such consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (iv) if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves the Borrower, the Successor Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as such covenant is recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period under such Section as if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by a supplement to the Guarantee confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (vi) each Subsidiary grantor and each Subsidiary pledgor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by a supplement to the Credit Documents that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (vii) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (viii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and any supplements to the Credit Documents preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents, (ix) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement and (x) if the merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation complies with all the conditions set forth in the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition”;

 

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(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person (other than Holdings) may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (B) the Borrower shall take all steps necessary to cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Guarantors, a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Guarantor) shall execute a supplement to the Guarantee, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and any applicable Mortgage in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in order for the surviving Person to become a Guarantor and pledgor, mortgagor and grantor of Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (iii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (iv) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as such covenant are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period under such Section as if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (v) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and such supplements to any Credit Document preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Agreement and (vi) if the merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation complies with all the conditions set forth in the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition”;

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower, a Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower;

(d) any Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, provided that if such Subsidiary Guarantor is not the surviving entity, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall be deemed to be an “Investment” and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.5 and (iii) sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or any other Guarantor;

(e) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if (x) the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (y) to the extent such

 

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Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Sections 10.4 or 10.5, or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to, or otherwise owned or conducted by, another Guarantor after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution;

(f) the Merger may be consummated; and

(g) to the extent that no Default or Event of Default would result from the consummation of such disposition, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a disposition permitted pursuant to Section 10.4.

10.4 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets (including receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired (other than any such sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition resulting from a Recovery Event), or (ii) sell to any Person (other than the Borrower or a Guarantor) any shares owned by it of any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock, except that:

(a) Holdings (solely in the case of clause (iii)), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the following in the ordinary course of business: (i) obsolete, worn-out, used or surplus assets to the extent such assets are not necessary for the operation of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ business; (ii) inventory and goods held for sale or other immaterial assets; and (iii) cash and Permitted Investments;

(b) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may lease, sublease, license (or cross-license) (on a non-exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property or on an exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property if done in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or sublicense (or cross-sublicense) (on a non-exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property or on an exclusive basis with respect to intellectual property if done in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(c) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of other assets (other than accounts receivable except in connection with a Disposition to which such accounts receivable relate) (each a “Disposition”) for Fair Market Value; provided that (i) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this Section 10.4(c) for a purchase price in excess of $5,000,000, Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Permitted Investments; provided that, for purposes of determining what constitutes cash under this clause (i), (A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which the Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing and (B) any securities received by the Borrower or such Restricted

 

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Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, (ii) any non-cash proceeds received in the form of Indebtedness or Capital Stock are pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 9.11, (iii) after giving effect to any such Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (iv) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Disposition (including the prepayment of Indebtedness with the proceeds of such Disposition), with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as if such Disposition had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (v) the aggregate amount of consideration received from all Dispositions under this Sections 10.4(c), when combined with the aggregate amount of Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated pursuant to Section 10.4(g), shall not exceed $300,000,000 for all transactions consummated after the Closing Date and (vi) to the extent applicable, the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans as required by Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (it being understood that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all Dispositions made pursuant to Section 10.4(c) and Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated pursuant to Section 10.4(g) from the Closing Date to the date of such disposition exceeds $150,000,000, all Net Cash Proceeds in excess of such amount shall be promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans and may not be reinvested in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries);

(d) (i) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell or discount without recourse accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and (ii) sell or transfer account receivables so long as the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are promptly applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement;

(e) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of property or assets to Holdings, the Borrower or to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor or the Borrower (i) the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor or (ii) to the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 10.5;

(f) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer and otherwise dispose of property (including like-kind exchanges) to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(g) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into Sale Leasebacks, so long as, (i) after giving effect to any such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such transaction, with the covenants set forth in Section 9.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Test Period under such Section as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of such Test Period, (iii) to the extent applicable, the Net Cash Proceeds thereof to the

 

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Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (iv) the aggregate amount of all Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated under this Section 10.4(g), when combined with the aggregate amount of consideration received from all Dispositions made pursuant to Section 10.4(c), shall not exceed $300,000,000 for all transactions consummated after the Closing Date and (v) to the extent applicable, the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are promptly offered to prepay the Term Loans as required by Section 4.2(a)(i) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (it being understood that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all Dispositions made pursuant to Section 10.4(c) and Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated pursuant to Section 10.4(g) from the Closing Date to the date of such disposition exceeds $150,000,000, all Net Cash Proceeds in excess of such amount shall be offered to prepay the Term Loans and may not be reinvested in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries);

(h) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, transfer and otherwise dispose of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(i) Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may effect any transaction permitted by Sections 10.3, 10.5 or 10.6;

(j) Dispositions of inventory of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined by the management of the Borrower to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) Dispositions listed on Schedule 10.4;

(l) the unwinding of any Hedging Agreement;

(m) Dispositions of any asset between or among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries as a substantially concurrent interim Disposition in connection with a Disposition otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a) through (l) above; and

(n) subject to the provisions of the definition of “Holdings”, Holdings may take any action which is necessary to achieve a substitution by a New Holdings of a Previous Holdings.

10.5 Limitation on Investments. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any advance, loan, extensions of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of or any assets of, or make any other investment in, any Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:

(a) extensions of trade credit, asset purchases (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials), the lease of any asset and the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(b) Permitted Investments;

(c) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees and consultants of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) to finance the purchase of Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof); provided that the amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Capital Stock shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash as common equity, (ii) for reasonable and customary business related travel expenses, entertainment expenses, moving expenses and similar expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) for additional purposes not contemplated by subclause (i) or (ii) above; provided that the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding with respect to this clause 10.5(c)(iii) shall not exceed $10,000,000;

(d) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 10.5 and any modifications, replacements, extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof and (ii) Investments existing on the Closing Date of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, replacement, renewal, extension or reinvestment thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause 10.5(d) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investments existing on the Closing Date;

(e) Investments in Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 10.1(i);

(f) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers or customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers or suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(g) Investments to the extent that the payment for such Investments is made solely with the Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower;

(h) Investments constituting non-cash proceeds of sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets to the extent permitted by Section 10.4;

(i) Investments in the Borrower or any Guarantor and Investments by any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor in the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

(j) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(k) the Borrower may make a loan to Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) that could otherwise be made as a Dividend permitted under Section 10.6;

 

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(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(m) advances of payroll payments to employees, consultants or independent contractors or other advances of salaries or compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Guarantees by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Investments made to repurchase or retire Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower owned by any employee stock ownership plan or key employee stock ownership plan of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower;

(p) the Transactions;

(q) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions; provided that any portion of the Permitted Acquisition Consideration of such Permitted Acquisition made or provided by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any Subsidiary that shall not be, or after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition, shall not become a Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not cause the aggregate amount of all such Investments made pursuant to this Section 10.5(q) to exceed the sum of (i) $25,000,000, (ii) the Available Equity Amount at such time, (iii) the Available Amount at such time and (iv) to the extent not otherwise included in the determination of the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in cash in respect of any such Investment (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time such Investment was made);

(r) any additional Investments (including Investments in Minority Investments, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, Investments in joint ventures or similar entities that do not constitute Restricted Subsidiaries, Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions and Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not, and do not become, Guarantors), as valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time each such Investment is made; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investment (as so valued) shall not cause the aggregate amount of all such Investments made pursuant to this Section 10.5(r) (as so valued) to exceed the sum of (i) $25,000,000, (ii) the Available Equity Amount at such time, (iii) the Available Amount at such time and (iv) to the extent not otherwise included in the determination of the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in respect of any such Investment (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time such Investment was made); provided, further, that intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, in connection with the cash management operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be included in calculating the limitation in this paragraph at any time;

 

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(s) Investments arising as a result of Permitted Sale Leasebacks;

(t) Investments held by any Person acquired after the Closing Date or of any Person merged into the Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 10.3 after the Closing Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(u) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of consummating transactions permitted under Sections 10.4(g); and

(v) Investments consisting of Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Dividends permitted under Sections 10.1, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.6.

10.6 Limitation on Dividends. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will declare or pay any dividends (other than with respect to Holdings, dividends payable solely in the Capital Stock of Holdings and with respect to the Borrower, dividends payable solely to Holdings in the Capital Stock of the Borrower) or return any capital to its equity holders or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its equity holders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration, any shares of any class of its Capital Stock or the Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of its Capital Stock), or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, or permit the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration (other than in connection with an Investment permitted by Section 10.5) any shares of any class of the Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Capital Stock of the Borrower, now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of the Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Capital Stock of the Borrower) (all of the foregoing “Dividends”); provided that:

(a) each of Holdings and the Borrower may (or may pay dividends to permit any direct or indirect parent thereof to) redeem in whole or in part any of its Capital Stock for another class of Capital Stock or rights to acquire its Capital Stock or with proceeds 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;

(b) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, each of Holdings and the Borrower may redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase (and the Borrower may declare and pay Dividends to Holdings, the proceeds of which are used to so redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase) shares of its Capital Stock (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of such Capital Stock)

 

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(or to allow any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies to so redeem, retire, acquire or repurchase their Capital Stock) held by current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and its Subsidiaries, with the proceeds of Dividends from, seriatim, Holdings or the Borrower, upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee stock ownership or incentive plan, stock subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement; provided that, except with respect to non-discretionary repurchases, acquisitions, retirements or redemptions pursuant to the terms of any stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee stock ownership or incentive plan, stock subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreement or equity holders’ agreement, the aggregate amount of all cash paid in respect of all such shares of Capital Stock (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued with respect to any of such Capital Stock) so redeemed, acquired, retired or repurchased in any calendar year does not exceed the sum of (i) $7,500,000 (which shall increase to $15,000,000 subsequent to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO) plus (ii) all net cash proceeds obtained by Holdings or the Borrower during such calendar year from the sale of such Capital Stock to other present or former officers, consultants, employees and directors in connection with any permitted compensation and incentive arrangements plus (iii) all net cash proceeds obtained from any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year; notwithstanding the foregoing, 100% of the unused amount of payments in respect of this Section 10.6(b)(i) (before giving effect to any carry forward) may be carried forward to the immediately succeeding fiscal year (but not any other) and utilized to make payments pursuant to this Section 10.6(b) (any amount so carried forward shall be deemed to be used last in the subsequent fiscal year);

(c) Holdings and the Borrower may make Investments permitted by Section 10.5;

(d) to the extent constituting Dividends, Holdings and the Borrower may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 10.3, and the Borrower may pay Dividends to Holdings as and when necessary to enable Holdings to effect such Dividends;

(e) Holdings and the Borrower may repurchase Capital Stock of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Borrower, as applicable, upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants, and the Borrower may pay Dividends to Holdings as and when necessary to enable Holdings to effect such repurchases;

(f) in addition to the foregoing Dividends and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Holdings may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Available Equity Amount at the time such Dividend is paid and (ii) if the Borrower’s ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the immediately preceding Test Period is less than 3.00:1.00, after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Dividend, (A) $15,000,000 and (B) the Available Amount at the time such Dividend is paid; and the Borrower may pay Dividends to Holdings as and when necessary to effect such Dividends;

 

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(g) the Borrower may make and pay Dividends to Holdings:

the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or to make Dividends to allow any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) the tax liability to each relevant jurisdiction in respect of consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated returns for the relevant jurisdiction of Holdings (or such parent), but only to the extent of taxes that Borrower would have to pay if it filed a tax return on a standalone basis for itself and its Subsidiaries;

the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay (or to make Dividends to allow any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) its operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year plus any actual, reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors or officers of Holdings (or any parent thereof);

the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) corporate existence;

the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to make Investments contemplated by Sections 10.5(c) and Dividends contemplated by Section 10.6(b));

the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay (or to make Dividends to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering, disposition or acquisition transaction permitted by this Agreement; and

the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers, employees and consultants of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) Holdings and the Borrower may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any Dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(i) Holdings and the Borrower may pay Dividends in an amount equal to withholding or similar taxes payable or expected to be payable by any present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or their respective Affiliates, estates or immediate family members) and any repurchases of Capital Stock in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options; provided in each case that payments made under this Section 10.6(i) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate; and

 

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(j) Holdings and the Borrower may make payments described in Sections 10.12 (c), (e), (h), (i), (j), (l) and (q) (subject to the conditions set out therein).

10.7 Limitations on Debt Payments and Amendments. (a) Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not allow any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, prepay, repurchase, redeem or otherwise defease any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(j) (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest shall be permitted); provided, however, that so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may prepay, repurchase, redeem or defease any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(j) with (i) the proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or (ii) an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of (A) the Available Equity Amount at the time of such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance and (B) if, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance, the Borrower’s ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to the date of such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance, is less than 4.00:1.00, (x) $15,000,000 and (y) the Available Amount at the time of such prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance.

(b) Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, waive, amend, modify, terminate or release the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents (or any document governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) to the extent that any such waiver amendment, modification, termination or release, taken as a whole, would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Borrower may make any “AHYDO” catch-up payments in respect of Indebtedness incurred under Section 10.1(j).

10.8 Limitations on Sale Leasebacks. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or effect any Sale Leasebacks, other than Permitted Sale Leasebacks.

10.9 Negative Pledge Clauses. Neither Holdings nor any Borrower will, nor will they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Credit Document) that limits the ability of Holdings, the Borrower or any Guarantor to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to the Obligations or under the Credit Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that (i)(x) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 10.9) are listed on Schedule 10.9 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness or other obligations, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness or obligation so long as such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered

 

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into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 10.1, (iv) arise pursuant to agreements entered into with respect to any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition permitted by Section 10.4 and applicable solely to assets under such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted by Section 10.5 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1, but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.1 to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) are imposed by Applicable Law; (xiii) exist under the Term Loan Credit Documents or any documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness and (xiv) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by Subsidiaries of the Borrower, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligation.

10.10 Passive Holding Company. Holdings shall not conduct, transact or otherwise engage in any business or operations other than (i) the ownership and/or acquisition of the Capital Stock of the Borrower, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence, including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance, (iii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of Holdings and Borrower, (iv) the performance of its obligations under and in connection with the Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, any documentation governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Revolving Credit Documents or the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, the Acquisition Agreement, the other agreements contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby, (v) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or registration of its Capital Stock for sale or resale not prohibited by Section 9, including the costs, fees and expenses related thereto, (vi) any transaction that Holdings is permitted to enter into or consummate under this Section 9, including making any Dividend permitted by Section 10.6 or holding any cash received in connection with Dividends made by the Borrower in accordance with Section 10.6 pending application thereof by Holdings in the manner contemplated by Section 10.6, (vii) incurring fees, costs and expenses relating to overhead and general operating including professional fees for legal, tax and accounting issues and paying taxes, (viii) providing indemnification to officers and directors and as otherwise permitted in Section 9, (ix) activities incidental to the consummation of the Transactions and (x) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (i) to (ix) of this Section 10.10. Notwithstanding anything to

 

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the contrary herein, Holdings will not own or acquire any assets (other than shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower, cash and Permitted Investments) or incur any liabilities (other than liabilities under the Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, any documentation governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Revolving Credit Documents or the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents, and other liabilities expressly permitted to be incurred by it by the terms hereof and liabilities imposed by law, including tax liabilities, and other liabilities incidental to its existence and business and activities permitted by this Agreement).

10.11 Financial Covenant. The Borrower will not permit its Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio as of the last day of any Test Period to be lower than 1.00 to 1.00; provided that such Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges Ratio will only be tested as of the last day of the Test Period ending immediately prior to the date on which a Borrowing Base Certificate shows that the Excess Availability is less than $30,000,000 and shall continue to be tested as of the last day of each Test Period thereafter until such Test Period in which a Borrowing Base Certificate shows that the Excess Availability is more than $30,000,000.

10.12 Transactions with Affiliates. Neither Holdings nor the Borrower shall, nor shall they permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Borrower except: (a) such transactions that are made on terms substantially as favorable to Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (b) if such transaction is among Credit Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction, (c) the payment of Transaction Expenses, (d) the issuance of Capital Stock of Holdings or the Borrower to the management of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions or pursuant to arrangements described in clause (m) below, (e) the payment of indemnities and reasonable expenses incurred by the Sponsor and its Affiliates in connection with any services provided to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (f) equity issuances, repurchases, retirements or other acquisitions or retirements of Capital Stock by Holdings or the Borrower permitted under Section 10.6, (g) loans, guarantees and other transactions by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under Section 9, (h) employment and severance arrangements and health, disability and similar insurance or benefit plans between Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees (including management and employee benefit plans or agreements, subscription agreements or similar agreements pertaining to the repurchase of Capital Stock pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current or former employees, officers or directors and stock option or incentive plans and other compensation arrangements) in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower, (i) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, consultants, officers and employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings, the Borrower and the

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries, (j) transactions pursuant to permitted agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 10.12 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse, taken as a whole, to the Lenders in any material respect, (k) Dividends, redemptions and repurchases permitted under Section 10.6, (l) customary payments (including reimbursement of fees and expenses) by Holdings, the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, whether or not consummated), which payments (i) are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of Holdings or the Borrower, in good faith; and (ii) do not exceed, in the aggregate, $1,500,000 in any calendar year of the Borrower, (m) any issuance of Capital Stock, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities, Capital Stock or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower, as the case may be, (n) any purchase by Holdings of the Capital Stock of the Borrower, as the case may be; provided that, to the extent required by Section 9.11, any Capital Stock of the Borrower so purchased shall be pledged to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, (o) transactions with wholly owned Subsidiaries for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with past practice, (p) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice, and (q) payments by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among Holdings (and any such parent), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms.

SECTION 11. Events of Default

Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

11.1 Payments. The Borrower shall (a) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or (b) default, and such default shall continue for five or more days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or any Fees or any Unpaid Drawing of any other amounts owing hereunder or under any other Credit Document (other than any amount referred to in clause 11.1(a)); or

11.2 Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or any certificate, statement, report or other document delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made; or

11.3 Covenants. Any Credit Party shall (a) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 9.1(f), 9.5 (with respect to the existence of the Borrower or Holdings only), 9.9, or 9.15 or Section 10 or (b) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other

 

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than those referred to in Section 11.1, Section 11.2 and clause (a) of this Section 11.3) contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days (or 2 Business Days with respect to Sections 9.1(k)) after receipt of written notice by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

11.4 Default Under Other Agreements. (a) Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness described in Section 11.1) in excess of $20,000,000, beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedging Agreements, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Agreements), the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (b) without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment (and, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedging Agreements, other than due to a termination event or equivalent event pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Agreements), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

11.5 Bankruptcy, etc. Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,”; or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary and the petition is not controverted within 10 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary and the petition is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action; or a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code), receiver, receiver manager, trustee or similar person is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary commences any other proceeding or action under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary; or there is commenced against Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary any such proceeding or action that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding or action is entered; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary suffers any appointment of any custodian, receiver, receiver manager, trustee or the like for it or any substantial part of its property to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any corporate action is taken by Holdings, the Borrower or any Specified Subsidiary for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

 

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11.6 ERISA. (a) Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standard required for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standard or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412 of the Code; any Plan is or shall have been terminated or is the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); an event shall have occurred or a condition shall exist in either case entitling the PBGC to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan (including the giving of written notice thereof) in a manner that results in a liability under Title IV of ERISA; any Plan shall have an accumulated funding deficiency (whether or not waived); any of Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is likely to incur a liability to or on account of a Plan under Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code (including the giving of written notice thereof); (b) there could result from any event or events set forth in clause (a) of this Section 11.6 the imposition of a lien, the granting of a security interest, or a liability, or the reasonable likelihood of incurring a lien, security interest or liability; and (c) such lien, security interest or liability will or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

11.7 Guarantee. The Guarantee or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect or any Guarantor thereunder or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee; or

11.8 Security Documents. Any Security Document or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof) or any grantor, pledgor or mortgagor thereunder or any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm in writing any grantor’s, pledgor’s or mortgagor’s obligations under such Security Document; or

11.9 Subordination. The Obligations or the obligations of the Guarantors pursuant to the Guarantee shall cease to constitute senior indebtedness under the subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents or such subordination provisions shall be invalidated or otherwise cease to be legal, valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms; or

11.10 Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries involving a liability of $20,000,000 or more in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not paid or fully covered by insurance provided by a carrier not disputing coverage) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or

11.11 Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur;

then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default shall then be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement: (i) declare the Total

 

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Commitment or the Swingline Commitment terminated and whereupon any such Commitment, if any, of each Lender or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, shall forthwith terminate immediately and any Fees theretofore accrued shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind, (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest and fees in respect of all Loans and all Obligations owing hereunder and thereunder to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; (iii) terminate any Letter of Credit that may be terminated in accordance with its terms; and/or (iv) direct the Borrower to pay (and the Borrower agrees that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 with respect to the Borrower, it will pay) to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office such additional amounts of cash, to be held as security for the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations for Drawings that may subsequently occur thereunder, equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit issued and then outstanding; (provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 shall occur, the result that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent as specified in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice and all Obligations shall be automatically become forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower).

11.12 Borrower’s Right to Cure.

(a) Financial Covenant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11, in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the Financial Covenant, until the expiration of the 10th day subsequent to the date the certificate calculating the Financial Covenant is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d), Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Securities for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to (or in the case of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings receive equity interests in Holdings for its cash contributions to) the capital of Holdings (collectively, the “Cure Right”), and upon contribution by Holdings of such cash to the Borrower (the “Cure Amount”) pursuant to the exercise by the Borrower of such Cure Right, the Financial Covenant shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

(i) Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased, solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Covenant and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

(ii) if, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Covenant, the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Covenant as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the Financial Covenant that had occurred shall be deemed cured for purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Limitation on Exercise of Cure Right. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four fiscal-quarter period there shall be at least three fiscal quarters

 

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during which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the Financial Covenant and (iii) all Cure Amounts shall be disregarded for purposes of determining any baskets, the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount with respect to the covenants contained in the Credit Documents.

SECTION 12. The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

12.1 Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints GECC as Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. The Joint Lead Arrangers, each in its capacity as such, shall not have any obligations, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement but shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 11. Each Lender hereby appoints GECC (together with any successor Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 12.11) as the Collateral Agent hereunder and authorizes the Collateral Agent to (i) take such action on its behalf and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies and perform the duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent under such Credit Documents and (iii) exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

12.2 Limited Duties. Under the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent (i) is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except to the limited extent provided in Section 2.5(c)), with duties that are entirely administrative in nature, notwithstanding the use of the defined term “Administrative Agent”, the terms “agent”, “administrative agent” and “collateral agent” and similar terms in any Credit Document to refer to the Administrative Agent, which terms are used for title purposes only, (ii) is not assuming any obligation under any Credit Document other than as expressly set forth therein or any role as agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender or any other Secured Party and (iii) shall have no implied functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or other liabilities under any Credit Document, and each Lender hereby waives and agrees not to assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on the roles, duties and legal relationships expressly disclaimed in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

12.3 Binding Effect. Each Lender agrees that (i) any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if expressly required hereby, a greater proportion of the Lenders) in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents, (ii) any action taken by the Administrative Agent in reliance upon the instructions of Required Lenders (or, where so required, such greater proportion) and (iii) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, where so required, such greater proportion) of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Secured Parties.

 

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12.4 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

12.5 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document (except for its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrower, any Guarantor, any other Credit Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Credit Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or for any failure of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Credit Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower.

12.6 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex, electronic mail message or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

12.7 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the

 

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Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders and the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders (except to the extent that this Agreement requires that such action be taken only with the approval of the Required Lenders or each of the Lenders, as applicable).

12.8 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Credit Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Guarantor and any other Credit Party and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Guarantor and any other Credit Party. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, assets, operations, properties, financial condition, prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Credit Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Lender also acknowledges that the lien and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and the existence of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent thereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and any Security Document, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender.

12.9 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective portions of the Total Commitment in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with their respective portions of the

 

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Total Commitment in effect immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (including at any time following the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section 12.9 shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

12.10 GECC in its Individual Capacity. GECC and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower, any Guarantor and any other Credit Party as though GECC were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents. With respect to the Loans made by it, GECC shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include GECC in its individual capacity.

12.11 Successor Agent. The Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent may resign as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, upon 20 days’ prior written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, then (a) the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders within 30 days, or (b) the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, selected from among the Lenders. In either case, the successor agent shall be approved by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 shall have occurred and be continuing), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and the term “Administrative Agent” and/or “Collateral Agent”, as the case may be, shall mean such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative Agent’s and/or Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, or any of the parties to this Agreement or any Lenders or other holders of the Loans. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s and/or the Collateral Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, the provisions of this Section 11 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

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12.12 Withholding Tax. To the extent the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that it is required by any Applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses. The agreements in this Section 12.12 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

12.13 Duties as Collateral Agent and as paying agent. Without limiting the generality of Section 12.1 above, the Administrative Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority (to the exclusion of the Lenders), and is hereby authorized, to (i) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for the Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with the Credit Documents (including in any proceeding described in Section 11.5 or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding), and each Person making any payment in connection with any Credit Document to any Secured Party is hereby authorized to make such payment to the Administrative Agent, (ii) file and prove claims and file other documents necessary or desirable to allow the claims of the Secured Parties with respect to any Obligation in any proceeding described in Section 11.5 or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding (but not to vote, consent or otherwise act on behalf of such Secured Party), (iii) act as collateral agent for each Secured Party for purposes of the perfection of all Liens created by such agreements and all other purposes stated therein, (iv) manage, supervise and otherwise deal with the Collateral, (v) take such other action as is necessary or desirable to maintain the perfection and priority of the Liens created or purported to be created by the Credit Documents, (vi) except as may be otherwise specified in any Credit Document, exercise all remedies given to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, whether under the Credit Documents, applicable requirements of law or otherwise and (vii) execute any amendment, consent or waiver under the Credit Documents on behalf of any Lender that has consented in writing to such amendment, consent or waiver; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent hereby appoints, authorizes and directs each Lender to act as collateral sub-agent for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for purposes of the perfection of all Liens with respect to the Collateral, including any deposit account maintained by a Credit Party with, and cash and Permitted Investments held by such Lender and may further authorize and direct the Lenders to take further actions as collateral sub-agents for purposes of enforcing such Liens or otherwise to transfer the Collateral subject thereto to the Administrative Agent, and each Lender hereby agrees to take such further actions to the extent, and only to the extent, so authorized and directed.

12.14 Authorization to Release Liens and Guarantees. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby irrevocably authorized by each of the Lenders to effect any release or subordination of Liens or the Guarantees contemplated by Section 13.17 without further action or consent by the Lenders.

 

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SECTION 13. Miscellaneous

13.1 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any other Credit Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1. The Required Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall, from time to time, (a) enter into with the relevant Credit Party or Credit Parties written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Credit Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Credit Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification shall directly (i) reduce or forgive any portion of any Loan or extend the final scheduled maturity date of any Loan or reduce the stated rate of any interest on the Loans or the stated rate of the fees (provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the “default rate” or amend Section 2.8(c)), or reduce or forgive any portion, or extend the date for the payment, of any interest or fee payable hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates and other than as a result of a waiver or amendment of any mandatory prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans (which shall not constitute an extension, forgiveness or postponement of any date for payment of principal, interest or fees)), or reduce or extend the date for payment of any Unpaid Drawings, or extend the final expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment or extend the final expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Letter of Credit Maturity Date, or increase the aggregate amount of any Commitment of any Lender or amend or modify any provisions of Section 13.8(a) or any other provision that provides for the pro rata nature of disbursements by or payments to Lenders, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 13.1 or the last sentence of Section 5.2(e) or reduce the percentages specified in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or “Supermajority Lenders” consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 10.3), in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 12 without the written consent of the then-current Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, or (iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 without the written consent of the Letter of Credit Issuer, or (v) amend, modify or waive any provisions hereof relating to Swingline Loans without the written consent of the Swingline Lender, or (vi) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors under the Guarantee (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantee), or release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents, in each case without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (vii) amend Section 2.9 so as to permit Interest Period intervals greater than six months if not available to all applicable Lenders

 

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in each case without the prior written consent of each applicable Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender (it being understood that any Commitments or Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for a vote of the Lenders hereunder requiring any consent of the Lenders).

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 13.1, Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the input or consent of the other Lenders, effect changes to Exhibit C as may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Collateral Agent.

(c) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of or consent with respect to any provision of this Agreement (i) which modify the definition of the Borrowing Base or the constituent definitions thereof in a manner that is intended to increase availability under the Revolving Facility in any material respect and (ii) modifications to the advance rates specified in the definition of “Borrowing Base” in a manner that is intended to increase availability under the Revolving Facility in any material respect, shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent, the Supermajority Lenders and the Borrower.

13.2 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies

(a) General. All notices, demands, requests, directions and other communications required or expressly authorized to be made by this Agreement shall, whether or not specified to be in writing but unless otherwise expressly specified to be given by any other means, be given in writing and (i) addressed to (A) the party to be notified and sent to the address or facsimile number indicated in Schedule 13.2, or (B) otherwise to the party to be notified at its address specified on the signature page of any applicable Assignment and Acceptance Agreement, (ii) posted to Intralinks® (to the extent such system is available and set up by or at the direction of the Administrative Agent prior to posting) in an appropriate location by uploading such notice, demand, request, direction or other communication to www.intralinks.com, faxing it to 866-545-6600 with an appropriate bar-coded fax coversheet or using such other means of posting to Intralinks® as may be available and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent prior to such posting, (iii) posted to any other E-System set up by or at the direction of the Administrative Agent in an appropriate location or (iv) addressed to such other address as shall be notified in writing to Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Transmission by electronic mail (including E-Fax, even if transmitted to the fax numbers set forth in clause (i) above) shall not be sufficient or effective to transmit any such notice under this clause (a) unless such transmission is an available means to post to any E-System.

(b) Effectiveness. All communications described in clause (a) above and all other notices, demands, requests and other communications made in connection with this Agreement shall be effective and be deemed to have been received (i) if delivered by hand, upon personal delivery, (ii) if delivered by overnight courier service, one Business Day after delivery to such courier service, (iii) if delivered by mail, when deposited in the mails, (iv) if delivered by facsimile (other than to post to an E-System pursuant to clause (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) above), upon

 

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sender’s receipt of confirmation of proper transmission, and (v) if delivered by posting to any E-System, on the later of the date of such posting in an appropriate location and the date access to such posting is given to the recipient thereof in accordance with the standard procedures applicable to such E-System. Failure or delay in delivering copies of any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication to any Person (other than Borrower or the Administrative Agent) designated in Schedule 13.2 to receive copies shall in no way adversely affect the effectiveness of such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication. The giving of any notice required hereunder may be waived in writing by the party entitled to receive such notice.

(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

13.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

13.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Credit Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder.

13.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower agrees, (i) to pay or reimburse the Agents for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and one counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction approved by the Borrower, (ii) to pay or reimburse each Lender, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm or counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and, to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction, (iii) to pay, indemnify, and hold harmless each Lender and the Administrative Agent from any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise,

 

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property, intangible, mortgage recording and other similar taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents, (iv) to pay, indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Related Parties (the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, including reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Party affected by such conflict has retained its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Party) , and to the extent required, one firm or local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for all Indemnified Parties, arising out of, or with respect to the Transactions or to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any such other documents or the use of the proceeds thereof, including any of the foregoing relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law or any actual or alleged presence of Hazardous Materials applicable to the operations of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Real Estate (all the foregoing in this clause (iv), collectively, the “indemnified liabilities”); provided that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party with respect to indemnified liabilities arising from (A) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or its Related Parties, (B) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnified Party or its Related Parties under the Credit Documents or (C) disputes between or among the Indemnified Parties. All amounts payable under this Section 13.5 shall be paid within 5 Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expense in reasonable detail. The agreements in this Section 13.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(b) No Credit Party nor any Indemnified Party shall have any liability for any punitive, indirect or consequential damages resulting from this Agreement or any other Credit Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). No Indemnified Party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent that such damages have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of any Indemnified Party or any of its Related Parties.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but only to the extent representing reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses, the expenses, costs, charges and fees described above may include: fees, costs and expenses of accountants, environmental advisors, appraisers, investment bankers, management and other consultants and paralegals (if any such accountants, environmental advisors, appraisers, investment bankers and management and other consultants have been retained with the prior written consent of the Borrower); photocopying and duplication expenses; long distance telephone charges; air express charges; and telegram or telecopy charges.

 

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13.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Letter of Credit Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) except as set forth in Section 10.3(a), the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Letter of Credit Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in Section 13.6(c)) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnified Parties) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph 13.6(b)(ii), any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; it being understood that, without limitation, the Borrower shall have the right to withhold its consent to any assignment if, in order for such assignment to comply with Applicable Law, the Borrower would be required to obtain the consent of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority) of:

(A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender (unless increased costs would result therefrom, except if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 has occurred and is continuing), an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and

(B) the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, the Letter of Credit Issuer; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of (i) an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (ii) an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or (iii) an assignment by any Joint Bookrunner, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than, in the case of Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Loans, $1,000,000, unless each of the Borrower and the

 

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Administrative Agent otherwise consents; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 has occurred and is continuing; and provided, further, that contemporaneous assignments to a single assignee made by affiliated Lenders or related Approved Funds or by a single assignor to related Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of meeting the minimum assignment amount requirements stated above;

(B) the payment to the Administrative Agent of an assignment in an amount equal to $3,500 (save for transfer made by any Joint Bookrunner or one of their Affiliates);

(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance; and

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the tax form required by Section 5.4 and an administrative questionnaire in a form approved by the Administrative Agent in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Credit Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and Applicable Laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

For the purpose of this Section 13.6(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank or commercial loans and similar extensions of credit and that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 13.6(b)(vi), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5, 5.4 and 13.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 13.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 13.6(c).

(iv) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to

 

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confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (A) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Revolving Credit Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Revolving Credit Loans, in each case without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, (B) except as set forth in (A) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (C) such assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (D) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 8.9 or delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (E) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (F) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (G) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(v) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans (and interest thereon) and any payment made by the Letter of Credit Issuer under any Letter of Credit owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). Further, the Register shall contain the name and address of the Administrative Agent and the lending office through which each such Person acts under this Agreement. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register, as in effect at the close of business on the preceding Business Day, shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(vi) Upon its receipt of and, if required, consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed administrative questionnaire and the tax form required by Section 5.4

 

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(unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 13.6(b)(i), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless and until it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender, and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 13.1 that affects such Participant. Subject to Section 13.6(c)(ii), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5, 5.4 and 13.5 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 13.6(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 13.8(b) as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 13.8(a) as though it were a Lender.

(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. Each Lender having sold a participation in any of its Obligations, acting as agent of the Borrower solely for this purpose and solely for tax purposes, shall establish and maintain at its address a record of ownership, in which such Lender shall register by book entry (A) the name and address of each such participant (and each change thereto, whether by assignment or otherwise) and (B) the rights, interest or obligation of each such participant in any Obligation, in any Commitment and in any right to receive any payment hereunder.

(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. In order to facilitate such pledge or assignment, the Borrower hereby agrees that, upon request of any Lender at any

 

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time and from time to time after the Borrower has made its initial borrowing hereunder, the Borrower shall provide to such Lender, at the Borrower’s own expense, a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit I, evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans owing to such Lender.

(e) Subject to Section 13.16, the Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant, secured creditor of such Lender or assignee (each, a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Affiliates prior to becoming a party to this Agreement.

13.7 Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances. (a) The Borrower, at its sole expense, shall be permitted to replace any Lender (or any Participant) that (i) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4, (ii) is affected in the manner described in Section 2.10(a)(iii) and as a result thereof any of the actions described in such Section is required to be taken or (iii) becomes a Defaulting Lender, with a replacement bank or other financial institution; provided that (A) such replacement does not conflict with any Applicable Law, (B) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (C) the Borrower shall repay (or the replacement bank or institution shall purchase, at par) all Loans and other amounts (other than any disputed amounts) pursuant to Section 2.10, 2.11, 3.5 or 5.4, as the case may be, owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of replacement, (D) the replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender, and the terms and conditions of such replacement, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (E) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.6 and (F) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender or that the replaced Lender shall have against the Borrower and the other parties for indemnity, contribution, payment of disputed and other unpaid amounts and otherwise.

(b) If any Lender (such Lender a “Non-Consenting Lender”) has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination, which pursuant to the terms of Section 13.1 requires the consent of all of the Lenders affected and with respect to which the Required Lenders shall have granted their consent, then provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent), at its own cost and expense, to replace such Non-Consenting Lender by requiring such Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans and Commitments to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that: (i) all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender being replaced shall be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment, (ii) the replacement Lender shall purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and/or fees thereon, (iii) the replacement Lender shall consent to the proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination and (iv) all Lenders (except all Non-Consenting Lenders which are simultaneously replaced) have consented to such proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination. In connection with any such assignment, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, such Non-Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 13.6.

 

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13.8 Adjustments; Set-off. (a) If any Lender (a “benefited Lender”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 11.5, or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans or interest thereon, such benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loans, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower, as the case may be. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

13.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tiff”)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

13.10 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

13.11 Integration. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents represent the agreement of Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises,

 

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undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

13.12 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

13.13 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the applicable party at its respective address set forth in Section 13.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 13.13 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

13.14 Acknowledgments. Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to Holdings or the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, and the relationship between Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand, and Holdings or the Borrower, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

 

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(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among Holdings, the Borrower and the Lenders.

13.15 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

13.16 Confidentiality. Each Agent, and each Lender shall hold all non-public information furnished by or on behalf of Holdings and the Borrower and their Subsidiaries in connection with such Lender’s evaluation of whether to become a Lender hereunder or obtained by such Lender or such Agent pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement (“Confidential Information”) confidential in accordance with its customary procedure for handling confidential information of this nature and (in the case of a Lender that is a bank) in accordance with safe and sound banking practices and in any event may make disclosure as required or requested by any governmental agency or representative thereof or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority or representative thereof) or pursuant to legal process or to such Lender’s or such Agent’s trustees, attorneys, professional advisors or independent auditors or Affiliates, in each case who need to know such information in connection with the administration of the Credit Documents and are informed of the confidential nature of such information or with the consent of the Borrower or to the extent such Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than as a breach of this Section 13.16; provided that unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender, each Agent shall notify the Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition of such Lender or such Agent by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information; and provided, further, that in no event shall any Lender or any Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower. Each Lender and each Agent agrees that it will not provide to prospective Transferees, pledgees referred to in Section 13.6(d) or to prospective direct or indirect contractual counterparties under Hedging Agreements to be entered into in connection with Loans made hereunder any of the Confidential Information unless such Person is advised of and agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 13.16.

13.17 Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations; Subordination of Liens. (a) The Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, as set forth in clause (b) below, (ii) upon the sale, transfer or other disposition of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other sale, transfer or other disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person other than another Credit Party, to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased

 

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to a Credit Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 13.1), (v) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee (in accordance with the second succeeding sentence) and (vi) as required to effect any sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Credit Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Credit Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents. Additionally, the Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Guarantors shall be released from the Guarantees upon consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary, or in the case of a Previous Holdings in the conditions set forth in the definition of “Holdings”. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Credit Document relating to any such Collateral or Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be repeated.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Credit Document, when all Obligations (other than (i) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (ii) any contingent or indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid in full, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to release all obligations under any Credit Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any (i) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (ii) any contingent or indemnification obligations not then due. Any such release of Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrowers or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrowers or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, upon request of the Borrower in connection with any Liens permitted by the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to subordinate the Lien on any Collateral to any Lien permitted under Section 10.2.

 

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13.18 USA PATRIOT ACT. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT ACT”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT ACT.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC. (which on the

Closing Date shall be merged with and into

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. with GOODMAN

GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the Borrower),

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  


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CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Revolving Credit Agreement]


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The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Credit Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to the Credit Agreement as a Borrower thereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Revolving Credit Agreement]


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GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION.,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and a Lender,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Revolving Credit Agreement]


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BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Bookrunner and a Lender

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Revolving Credit Agreement]


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CALYON BANK NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Joint Bookrunner and a Lender,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Revolving Credit Agreement]


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GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Book Runner and a Lender,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Revolving Credit Agreement]

EX-10.3 8 dex103.htm INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Intercreditor Agreement, dated February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of February 13, 2008, between GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION (“GECC”), as collateral agent for the Term Loan Secured Parties referred to herein, and GECC, as collateral agent for the Revolving Secured Parties referred to herein, and acknowledged by CHILL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Company surviving such merger as the borrower) (the “Borrower”), and certain other subsidiaries of the Borrower.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, reference is made to the Credit Agreements (such term, and each other capitalized term used and not otherwise defined herein, having the meaning assigned to it in Section 1), under which the lenders referred to therein have extended and agreed to extend credit to the Borrower; and

WHEREAS, it is a condition to the initial extensions of credit under the Credit Agreements that the parties hereto execute and deliver this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Term Loan Collateral Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Term Loan Secured Parties) and the Revolving Collateral Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Revolving Secured Parties) agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions.

(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Administrative Agent” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Administrative Agent.

Agents” shall mean the Revolving Administrative Agent, the Term Loan Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agents.

Agreement” shall mean this Intercreditor Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.


Applicable Administrative Agent” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral Agent, the Revolving Administrative Agent and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral Agent, the Term Loan Administrative Agent.

Applicable Collateral” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral Agent, the Revolving Collateral and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral Agent, the Term Loan Collateral.

Applicable Collateral Agent” shall mean (a) with respect to any “Lender” under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Revolving Collateral Agent and (b) with respect to any “Lender” under and as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

Applicable Credit Documents” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, the Revolving Credit Documents and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, the Term Loan Credit Documents.

Applicable Required Lenders” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral Agent, the Revolving Required Lenders and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral Agent, the Term Loan Required Lenders.

Applicable Secured Parties” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, the Revolving Secured Parties and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, the Term Loan Secured Parties.

Applicable Security Documents” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, the Revolving Security Documents and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, the Term Loan Security Documents.

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean title 11, United States Code.

Bankruptcy Law” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar federal, state or foreign Applicable Law for the relief of debtors or any arrangement, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, assignment for the benefit of creditors, any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Borrower or any other Credit Party or any similar law relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

Collateral Agents” shall mean the Revolving Collateral Agent and the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

Collateral Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Senior Documents, the Junior Documents and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, guaranties and other documents executed and/or delivered by the Credit Parties and accepted by any Agent.

Collateral Enforcement Action” means, with respect to any Secured Party, for such Secured Party, whether or not in consultation with any other Secured Party, but in any case after the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of

 

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Default, to exercise, seek to exercise, join any Person in exercising or institute or maintain or participate in any action or proceeding (whether judicial or non-judicial) with respect to, any rights or remedies under the related Collateral Documents or Applicable Law with respect to any Collateral, including (a) instituting or maintaining, or joining any Person in instituting or maintaining, any enforcement, contest, protest, attachment, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure action or proceeding with respect to any Collateral, whether under any Credit Document or otherwise, (b) exercising any right of set-off with respect to any Credit Party, (c) exercising any right or remedy under any Deposit Account control agreement, Securities Account control agreement, landlord waiver, bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement or (d) causing (or, after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, consenting to or requesting) any asset sale or other sale of any Collateral.

Credit Agreements” shall mean the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Credit Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Documents and the Term Loan Credit Documents.

Credit Facility Claims” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Claims and the Term Loan Claims.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” shall mean, collectively, (a) any voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under the Bankruptcy Law with respect to the Borrower or any other Credit Party, (b) any other voluntary or involuntary insolvency, reorganization or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding with respect to the Borrower or any other Credit Party or with respect to a material portion of their respective assets, (c) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of the Borrower or any Credit Party, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, (except as permitted by the Credit Agreements), and (d) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Borrower or any other Credit Party.

Junior Administrative Agent” shall mean (a) with respect to any Revolving Claim or any Revolving Collateral, the Term Loan Administrative Agent and (b) with respect to any Term Loan Claim or any Term Loan Collateral, the Revolving Administrative Agent.

Junior Agents” shall mean, collectively, the Junior Administrative Agent and the Junior Collateral Agent.

Junior Claims” shall mean (a) with respect to any Revolving Collateral, all Term Loan Claims and (b) with respect to any Term Loan Collateral, all Revolving Claims.

 

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Junior Collateral Agent” shall mean (a) with respect to any Revolving Claim or any Revolving Collateral, the Term Loan Collateral Agent and (b) with respect to any Term Loan Claim or any Term Loan Collateral, the Revolving Collateral Agent.

Junior Documents” shall mean, collectively, with respect to any Junior Claim, any provision pertaining to such Junior Claim in any Credit Document or any other document, instrument or certificate evidencing or delivered in connection with such Junior Claim.

Junior Liens” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, the Term Loan Liens and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, the Revolving Liens.

Junior Secured Parties” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, all Term Loan Secured Parties and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, all Revolving Secured Parties.

Maximum Revolving Amount” shall mean the principal amount of $330,000,000.

Maximum Term Loan Amount” shall mean the principal amount of $880,000,000.

pay in full”, “paid in full” or “payment in full” shall mean with respect to any Secured Claims, the payment in full in cash of the principal of, accrued (but unpaid) interest and premium, if any, on all such Secured Claims and, with respect to letters of credit outstanding thereunder, delivery of cash collateral or backstop letters of credit in respect thereof in compliance with the relevant Collateral Documents, in each case, after or concurrently with termination of all Commitments thereunder and payment in full in cash of any other such Secured Claims that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal and interest are paid.

Post-Petition Financing” shall mean any financing obtained by any Credit Party during any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise pursuant to any Bankruptcy Law on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Senior Administrative Agent, including any such financing obtained by any Credit Party under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or consisting of any arrangement for use of cash collateral held in respect of any Revolving Obligation or Term Loan Obligation under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, in each case or any similar provision of any Bankruptcy Law.

Required Revolving Lenders” shall mean “Required Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Required Term Loan Lenders” shall mean “Required Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).

 

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Revolving Administrative Agent” shall mean GECC, in its capacity as administrative agent (or such similar role) under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns.

Revolving Agents” shall mean the Revolving Administrative Agent and the Revolving Collateral Agent.

Revolving Claims” shall mean (a) all Revolving Obligations, (b) all extensions of credit under any Post-Petition Financing by the Revolving Lenders and (c) all interest accrued or accruing (or which would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the Revolving Credit Documents whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent any payment with respect to the Revolving Claims (whether by or on behalf of any Credit Party, as Proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver or similar person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred; provided, however, that (x) to the extent at any time, the principal amount of Revolving Claims (excluding the Cash Management Obligations and the Hedging Obligations) shall exceed the Maximum Revolving Amount, then obligations in respect of the principal amount of Revolving Claims set forth in clauses (b) and (a) above (in that order) shall be excluded from the definition of “Revolving Claims” in an amount equal to the amount of such excess.

Revolving Collateral” shall mean (a) all cash (other than cash consisting solely of Proceeds of Term Loan Collateral), (b) all Accounts, (c) all Inventory, (d) all Instruments, Chattel Paper and other contracts evidencing, or substituted for, any Account or Inventory, (e) all Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts (other than designated Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts solely containing Proceeds of Term Loan Collateral), (f) all claims and causes of action in any way relating to any Account or Inventory, all Letter-of-Credit Rights, (g) all guarantees, security, credit enhancements, Instruments, Promissory Notes, drafts, Documents and Chattel Paper (including Electronic Chattel Paper and Tangible Chattel Paper) evidencing, relating to or pertaining to any of the foregoing, (h) all Supporting Obligations with respect to any of the foregoing, (i) all software relating to any of the foregoing, for any Account or Inventory, (j) all books and Records relating to any of the foregoing and (k) all substitutions, replacements, accessions, products or proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds) of any of the foregoing.

Revolving Collateral Agent” shall mean GECC, in its capacity as collateral agent (or such similar role) under the Revolving Credit Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Revolving Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, the Borrower, the lenders from time to time

 

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party thereto, GECC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, GECC as Letter of Credit Issuer, Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, and GECC, as joint lead arrangers, and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners, as such agreement may be amended, restated, waived, replaced.

Revolving Credit Documents” shall mean “Credit Documents” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Lenders” shall mean “Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Liens” shall mean Liens securing the Revolving Claims.

Revolving Obligations” shall mean “Obligations” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Required Lenders” shall mean “Required Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Secured Parties” shall mean “Secured Parties” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Security Documents” shall mean the “Security Documents”, as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Secured Claims” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Claims and the Term Loan Claims.

Secured Hedging Agreements” shall mean “Secured Hedging Agreements” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).

Secured Parties” shall mean, collectively, the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Secured Parties.

Senior Administrative Agent” shall mean (a) with respect to any Revolving Claim or any Revolving Collateral, the Revolving Administrative Agent and (b) with respect to any Term Loan Claim or any Term Loan Collateral, the Term Loan Administrative Agent.

Senior Agents” shall mean, collectively, the Senior Administrative Agent and the Senior Collateral Agent.

Senior Claims” shall mean (a) with respect to any Revolving Collateral, all Revolving Claims and (b) with respect to any Term Loan Collateral, all Term Loan Claims. “Senior Claims” shall include all interest accrued or accruing (or which would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the

 

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rate specified in the Senior Documents whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent any payment with respect to the Senior Claims (whether by or on behalf of any Credit Party, as Proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

Senior Collateral” shall mean (a) with respect to any Junior Secured Party, any Collateral on which it has a Junior Lien and (b) with respect to any Senior Secured Party, any Collateral on which it has a Senior Lien.

Senior Collateral Agent” shall mean (a) with respect to any Revolving Claim or any Revolving Collateral, the Revolving Collateral Agent and (b) with respect to any Term Loan Claim or any Term Loan Collateral, the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

Senior Documents” shall mean, collectively, with respect to any Senior Claim, any provision pertaining to such Senior Claim in any Credit Document or any other document, instrument or certificate evidencing or delivered in connection with such Senior Claim.

Senior Liens” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, the Revolving Liens and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, the Term Loan Liens.

Senior Secured Parties” shall mean (a) with respect to the Revolving Collateral, all Revolving Secured Parties and (b) with respect to the Term Loan Collateral, all Term Loan Secured Parties.

Swingline Loans” shall mean “Swingline Loans” (as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Term Loan Administrative Agent” shall mean GECC, in its capacity as administrative agent (or such similar role) under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns.

Term Loan Agents” shall mean the Term Loan Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

Term Loan Claims” shall mean (a) all Term Loan Obligations and (b) all extensions of credit under any Post-Petition Financing by the Term Loan Lenders and (c) all interest accrued or accruing (or which would, absent the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the Term Loan Credit Documents whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent any payment with respect to the Term Loan Claims (whether by or on behalf of any Credit Party, as Proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or

 

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preferential in any respect, set aside or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred; provided, however, that (x) to the extent at any time, the Term Loan Claims (excluding the Cash Management Obligations) shall exceed the Maximum Term Loan Amount, then obligations in respect of the principal amount of Term Loan Claims set forth in clauses (b) and (a) above (in that order) shall be excluded from the definition of “Term Loan Claims” in an amount equal to the amount of such excess.

Term Loan Collateral” shall mean all Collateral other than the Revolving Collateral.

Term Loan Collateral Agent” shall mean GECC, in its capacity as collateral agent (or such similar role) under the Term Loan Credit Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall mean the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, GECC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, and Calyon New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers, and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners.

Term Loan Credit Documents” shall mean “Credit Documents” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and the Secured Hedging Agreements.

Term Loan Lenders” shall mean “Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).

Term Loan Liens” shall mean Liens securing the Term Loan Claims.

Term Loan Obligations” shall mean “Obligations” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).

Term Loan Required Lenders” shall mean “Required Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).

Term Loan Secured Parties” shall mean “Secured Parties” (as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement).

Term Loan Security Documents” shall mean the “Security Documents”, as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York; provided, however, that, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any of the

 

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attachment, perfection or priority of any Administrative Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.

1.2 Certain Other Terms.

(a) Where the context requires, provisions relating to any Collateral, when used in relation to any Credit Party, shall refer to such Credit Party’s Collateral or any relevant part thereof.

(b) Any reference in this Agreement to a Credit Document shall include all appendices, exhibits and schedules thereto.

(c) The rules of construction specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of each of the Credit Agreements shall apply to this Agreement, including terms defined in the preamble hereto.

(d) Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms defined in one or both of the Credit Agreements and not defined herein shall have the meanings specified in such Credit Agreement or, if applicable, each Credit Agreement.

(e) The following terms have the meanings given to them in the UCC and terms used herein without definition that are defined in the UCC have the meanings given to them in the UCC (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined): “Account”, “Account Debtor”, “Chattel Paper”, “Deposit Account”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Goods”, “Instruments”, “Inventory”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Proceeds”, “Promissory Note”, “Record”, “Securities Account”, “security”, “Supporting Obligation” and “Tangible Chattel Paper”.

Section 2. Priority of Liens

2.1 Lien Subordination. Notwithstanding the date, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Junior Lien in respect of any Collateral or of any Senior Lien in respect of any Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, any Applicable Law, any Collateral Document, any alleged or actual defect or deficiency in any of the foregoing or any other circumstance whatsoever, each Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, in respect of such Collateral hereby agrees that:

(a) any Senior Lien in respect of such Collateral, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be and shall remain senior and prior to any Junior Lien in respect of such Collateral (whether or not such Senior Lien is subordinated to any Lien securing any other obligation); and

 

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(b) any Junior Lien in respect of such Collateral, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and subordinate in all respects to any Senior Lien in respect of such Collateral.

2.2 Prohibition on Contesting Liens. In respect of any Collateral, each Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, in respect of such Collateral agrees that it shall not, and hereby waives any right to:

(a) contest, or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the priority, validity or enforceability of any Senior Lien on such Collateral; or

(b) demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or similar right which it may have in respect of such Collateral or the Senior Liens on such Collateral, except to the extent that such rights are expressly granted in this Agreement.

2.3 New Liens.

The parties hereto agree that, prior to the payment in full of the Secured Claims, any Lien on any Collateral securing any Secured Claim (and which asset is not also subject to a Lien securing all of the Secured Claims in accordance with the priorities set forth herein) shall immediately be released upon demand by any Agent or assigned to the respective Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, subject to the priorities set forth in Section 2.1, and, at all times prior to such release or assignment, the Secured Party to whom such Lien was granted shall be acting as a sub-agent of the Agent for the sole purpose of perfecting the Lien on such asset.

2.4 Separate Liens. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that (i) the grants of Liens pursuant to the Collateral Documents constitute separate and distinct grants of Liens and (ii) because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Collateral, the Junior Claims in respect of any Collateral are fundamentally different from the Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral, and the Junior Claims and Senior Claims in respect of any Collateral must be separately classified in any Insolvency or Liquidity Proceeding. To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that, in respect of any Collateral, the Junior Claims and the Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral constitute only one secured claim (rather than separate classes of senior and junior secured claims), then the Junior Secured Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that all distributions shall be made as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured claims against the Credit Parties in respect of any Collateral (with the effect that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Senior Collateral is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the Junior Secured Parties), the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest and other claims, all amounts owing in respect of post-petition interest before any distribution is made in respect of the claims held by the Junior Secured Parties with respect to the Senior Collateral, with the Junior Secured Parties

 

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hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Senior Secured Parties amounts otherwise received or receivable by them to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Junior Secured Parties).

2.5 Rights to Utilize Intellectual Property and Permits. Each Term Loan Agent agrees that if any Revolving Agent shall require the use of rights under or in any (i) Trademarks, tradenames, Copyrights or other Intellectual Property that constitutes Term Loan Collateral or (ii) permits in respect of the Term Loan Collateral, in each case, in order to realize on any Revolving Collateral after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, such Term Loan Agent shall take all such actions as shall be available to it (at no cost to such Revolving Agent and at the sole expense of the Credit Parties), consistent with Applicable Law and the Security Documents and reasonably requested by such Revolving Agent to make such rights available to such Revolving Agent subject to the Term Loan Liens and this Agreement.

Section 3. Exercise of Remedies

3.1 Remedies.

(a) Prior to the payment in full of the Senior Claims in respect of any Collateral, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against any Credit Party, with respect to such Collateral:

(i) no Junior Secured Party shall (or shall direct any Junior Agent to) (A) take or cause to be taken any Collateral Enforcement Action, (B) object to any Collateral Enforcement Action brought by the Senior Collateral Agent or any Senior Secured Party or any other exercise of any rights and remedies relating to such Collateral under the Senior Documents or otherwise, or (C) object to the forbearance by the Senior Secured Parties from bringing or pursuing any Collateral Enforcement Action; and

(ii) the Senior Agents, on behalf of the Senior Secured Parties, shall have the exclusive right to take or cause to be taken any Collateral Enforcement Action and make determinations regarding release, disposition (including under §363(f) of the Bankruptcy Code) or restrictions with respect to such Collateral without any consultation with, or the consent of, any Junior Secured Party.

(b) In exercising rights and remedies with respect to any Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents or Applicable Law after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Senior Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Senior Secured Parties, in respect of such Collateral may enforce the provisions of the Senior Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as the Senior Administrative Agent may determine in the exercise of its sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include, without limitation, the rights of an agent appointed by them to sell or otherwise dispose of such Collateral upon

 

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foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition, and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured lender under the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction and of a secured creditor under any Bankruptcy Law.

(c) The Junior Agents, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, in respect of any Collateral agree that, prior to the payment in full of the Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral, they will not take or receive any such Collateral or any Proceeds of such Collateral in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including setoff) with respect to such Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to the payment in full of the Senior Claims in respect of any Collateral, the sole right of the Junior Agents and the Junior Secured Parties with respect to such Collateral shall be the right to receive a share of the Proceeds thereof pursuant to Section 4.1.

(d) The Junior Agents, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, in respect of any Collateral (i) agree that neither they nor any Junior Secured Party will take or cause to be taken any action that would hinder any exercise of remedies undertaken by any Senior Secured Party in respect of such Collateral under the Collateral Documents, including any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of such Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise, and (ii) hereby waive any and all rights they or any Junior Secured Party may have as a junior creditor or otherwise to object to the manner in which any Senior Secured Party may seek to enforce or collect the Senior Claims or the Liens granted in any of such Collateral.

3.2 Entry Upon Premises by the Revolving Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (a) if the Revolving Collateral Agent takes any Collateral Enforcement Action with respect to the Revolving Collateral, the Term Loan Agents, on behalf of the Term Loan Secured Parties, (i) shall cooperate with the Revolving Collateral Agent in its efforts to enforce its security interest in the Revolving Collateral and to finish any work-in-process and assemble the Revolving Collateral, (ii) shall not hinder or restrict in any respect the Revolving Collateral Agent from enforcing its security interest in the Revolving Collateral, and (iii) shall permit the Revolving Collateral Agent, its employees, agents, advisers and representatives, at the sole cost and expense of the Revolving Secured Parties, to enter upon and use the Term Loan Collateral (including equipment, processors, computers and other machinery related to the storage or processing of Records, documents or files), for a period not to exceed 180 days after the taking of such Collateral Enforcement Action, for purposes of (A) assembling and storing the Revolving Collateral and completing the processing of and turning into finished Goods any Revolving Collateral consisting of raw materials or work-in-process, (B) selling any or all of the Revolving Collateral located on premises constituting Term Loan Collateral, whether in bulk, in lots or to customers in the ordinary course of business or otherwise, (C) removing any or all of the Revolving Collateral located on premises constituting Term Loan Collateral, and/or (D) taking reasonable actions to protect, secure, and otherwise enforce the rights of the Revolving Agents in and to the Revolving Collateral; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall restrict the rights of the Term Loan Agents from selling, assigning or otherwise transferring (or causing to be sold assigned or otherwise transferred) any

 

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Term Loan Collateral prior to the expiration of such 180 day period if the purchaser, assignee or transferee thereof agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 3.2. If any stay or other order prohibiting the exercise of remedies with respect to the Revolving Collateral has been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, such 180 day period shall be tolled during the pendency of any such stay or other order.

(b) During the period of actual occupation, use and/or control by the Revolving Agents, on behalf of the Revolving Secured Parties, or their agents or representatives of any Term Loan Collateral, the Revolving Secured Parties shall be obligated to repair at their expense any physical damage to such Term Loan Collateral resulting from such occupancy, use or control, and to leave such Term Loan Collateral in substantially the same condition as it was at the commencement of such occupancy, use or control, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Revolving Agents or the Revolving Secured Parties have any liability to the Term Loan Agents or the Term Loan Secured Parties pursuant to this Section 3.2 as a result of any condition (including any environmental condition, claim, or liability) on or with respect to the Term Loan Collateral existing prior to the date of the exercise by the Revolving Agents of their rights under this Section 3.2 and such Revolving Agents shall have no duty or liability to maintain the Term Loan Collateral in a condition or manner better than that in which it was maintained prior to the use thereof by such Revolving Agent, or for any diminution in the value of the Term Loan Collateral that results from ordinary wear or tear resulting from the use of the Term Loan Collateral by such Revolving Agent in the manner and for the time periods specified under this Section 3.2. Without limiting the rights granted in this paragraph, the Revolving Agents shall cooperate with the Term Loan Agents in connection with any efforts made by the Term Loan Agents to sell the Term Loan Collateral.

3.3 Exercise of Remedies as Unsecured Creditors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each Junior Secured Party may exercise its rights and remedies as an unsecured creditor against the Credit Parties in accordance with the terms of the Junior Documents and Applicable Law. In the event any Junior Secured Party in respect of any Collateral becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of such Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor, such judgment lien shall be subordinated to any Lien on such Collateral securing any Senior Claim in respect of such Collateral on the same basis and to the same extent as the other Liens on such Collateral securing the Junior Claims are subordinated to those securing the Senior Claims under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement modifies any rights or remedies which any Senior Secured Party in respect of any Collateral may have with respect to such Collateral.

Section 4. Application of Payments; Subrogation

4.1 Proceeds of Collateral. Prior to the payment in full of the Senior Claims, any Collateral or Proceeds of Collateral received by any Agent or any Secured Party in connection with any Collateral Enforcement Action or otherwise (or any other payment required to be applied as set forth pursuant to Section 4.2) shall be applied to the Secured Claims as follows:

(a) first, to pay interest on and then principal of any portion of the Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral that the Senior Administrative Agent may have advanced on behalf of any Senior Secured Party for which the Senior Administrative Agent has not then been reimbursed by such Senior Secured Party or the Credit Parties;

 

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(b) second, to pay Senior Claims in respect of any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expense reimbursements or indemnities then due and payable to any Senior Secured Parties;

(c) third, to pay Senior Claims in respect of any fees then due and payable to any Senior Secured Parties;

(d) fourth, to pay interest then due and payable in respect of all Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral;

(e) fifth, to pay or prepay principal payments for all Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral (including when applicable, to provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit) and all payments with respect to Secured Hedging Agreements constituting Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral;

(f) sixth, to pay all other Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral;

(g) seventh, to pay interest on and then principal of any portion of the Junior Claims that the Junior Administrative Agent may have advanced on behalf of any Junior Secured Party for which the Junior Administrative Agent has not then been reimbursed by such Junior Secured Party or the Credit Parties;

(h) eighth, to pay Junior Claims in respect of any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expense reimbursements or indemnities then due and payable to any Junior Secured Parties;

(i) ninth, to pay Junior Claims in respect of any fees then due and payable to any Junior Secured Parties;

(j) tenth, to pay interest then due and payable in respect of all Junior Claims in respect of such Collateral;

(k) eleventh, to pay or prepay principal payments for all Junior Claims in respect of such Collateral (including when applicable, to provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit) or all payments with respect to Secured Hedging Agreements in respect of such Collateral;

(l) twelfth, to pay all other Junior Claims in respect of such Collateral; and

(m) thirteenth, as directed by the Borrower (subject to Applicable Laws);

 

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provided, however, that, if sufficient funds are not available to fund all payments required to be made in any of clauses first through thirteenth above, the available funds being applied to the Secured Claims specified in any such clause (unless otherwise specified in such clause) shall be allocated to the payment of such Secured Claims ratably, based on the proportion of each Agent’s and each Secured Party’s interest in the aggregate outstanding Secured Claims described in such clause; provided, further, that payments that would otherwise be allocated to the Revolving Secured Parties under clauses 4.1(e) or 4.1(k) as the case may be shall be allocated pursuant to the terms of Section 5.2(d) of the Revolving Credit Agreement. The order of payment application set forth in clauses (a) through (m) above may be amended at any time and from time to time by the Required Revolving Lenders and the Required Term Loan Lenders without any notice to or consent of or approval by any Credit Party or any other Person that is not a party to the Credit Agreements; provided, however, that (i) any such amendment adversely affecting any Agent (or Swingline Lender or Letter of Credit Issuer as the case may be) shall also require the prior written consent of such Agent (or Swingline Lender or Letter of Credit Issuer as the case may be), (ii) any such amendment not adversely affecting the Revolving Lenders shall only require the consent of the Required Term Loan Lenders, (iii) any such amendment not adversely affecting the Term Loan Lenders shall only require the consent of the Required Revolving Lenders and (iv) any such amendment adversely affecting the Hedge Banks or the Cash Management Banks (as applicable) shall also require the prior written consent of such Hedge Banks or such Cash Management Banks (as applicable).

4.2 Payments Over. Unless and until all Secured Claims shall have been paid in full, (a) any payment received by any party hereto at any time in contravention of either Credit Agreement or this Agreement and (b) any Collateral or Proceeds thereof or any payment received by any Secured Party from Proceeds of any Collateral received in connection with a Collateral Enforcement Action shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Senior Collateral Agent for application in accordance with the Credit Agreements (in the case of clause (a) above) or Section 4.1 (in the case of clause (b) above) in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Each Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for any such Person. This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.

4.3 Subrogation. The Junior Agents in respect of any Collateral, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, hereby waive any rights of subrogation they may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral shall have been paid in full. Upon payment in full of such Senior Claims, the Junior Secured Parties shall be subrogated to the rights of the Senior Secured Parties to receive payments or distributions applicable to such Senior Claims.

Section 5. Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

5.1 Voting of Claims. Until the payment in full of all Senior Claims in respect of any Collateral, the Senior Administrative Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, to vote or cause to be voted the claim of any Junior Secured Party in respect

 

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of such Collateral in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding if such Junior Secured Party has not voted its claim on or prior to 10 days before the expiration of the time to vote any such claim. In the event that the Senior Administrative Agent exercises such rights, no Junior Secured Party shall be entitled to change or withdraw such vote.

5.2 Waivers. In the event an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding shall be commenced by or against any Credit Party, in respect of any part of the Senior Collateral or Proceeds thereof or any Senior Lien which may exist thereon, each of the Junior Secured Parties in respect of such Collateral hereby agrees that such Person shall not, until the payment in full of the Senior Claims in respect of such Collateral (irrespective of whether the Senior Claims are scheduled to be paid in full as part of an applicable Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding):

(a) seek any relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay as provided in §362 of the Bankruptcy Code or seek or accept any form of adequate protection under either or both of §362 and §363 of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Collateral, except (i) replacement Liens and super-priority administrative expense claims for diminution of value (the “Priority Claims”), (A) which Liens at all times shall also secure the Senior Claims and (B) which Liens and Priority Claims shall be subordinated to the Senior Liens and any similar Priority Claims granted to the Senior Secured Parties in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) the accrual (but not the current payment) of interest and out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel and other professional advisors, incurred by any Junior Agent (which the Junior Secured Parties agree will constitute adequate protection of their claims and interests);

(b) oppose or object to any adequate protection sought by or granted to any Senior Secured Parties with respect to the Senior Collateral;

(c) oppose or object to the use of any Senior Collateral constituting cash collateral by any Credit Party, unless the Senior Secured Parties shall have opposed or objected to such use of such cash collateral;

(d) oppose or object to any Post-Petition Financing constituting Credit Facility Claims, it being understood that (A) with respect to each such Post-Petition Financing constituting a refinancing of the entire amount of the Senior Claims, Liens securing such Post-Petition Financing shall be Senior Liens and, therefore, the Junior Liens on any Collateral shall be junior and subordinate to such Liens to the same extent such Junior Liens are junior and subordinate to any other Senior Lien and (B) with respect to each such Post-Petition Financing which does not constitute a refinancing of all Senior Claims outstanding immediately prior to the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent the Liens securing such Senior Claims are subordinated to (or pari passu with) the Liens securing such Post-Petition Financing, the Junior Liens on any Collateral shall be junior and subordinate to such Liens securing such Post-Petition Financing and such Senior Claims. Each Junior Secured Party shall further subordinate each Junior Lien to any Senior Liens securing such Post-Petition Financing as necessary to effect the priority described in clauses (A) or (B) above;

 

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(e) object to (i) the amount of the Senior Claims allowed or permitted to be asserted under any Bankruptcy Law or (ii) the extent to which the Senior Claims are deemed secured claims, including under §506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code;

(f) oppose or object to any protection provided to the Senior Secured Parties, including any form of adequate protection under §362 or §363 of the Bankruptcy Code and the payment of amounts equal to interest and expenses allowed under §506(b) and (c) of the Bankruptcy Code to any Senior Secured Parties; or

(g) object to the treatment of the Senior Claims under a chapter 11 plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or similar plan or reorganization or arrangement under any other applicable Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, except on the grounds that the present value of all property received by the Senior Secured Parties exceeds the amount of the claims of the Senior Secured Parties in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

5.3 No Waiver by Senior Secured Parties. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit or in any way limit any Senior Secured Party from, with respect to the Senior Collateral, objecting in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding (or otherwise) to any action taken by any Junior Secured Party, including the seeking by such Junior Secured Party of adequate protection with respect to such Collateral or the asserting by such Junior Secured Party of any of its rights and remedies under the Junior Documents (or otherwise) with respect to such Collateral.

Section 6. Representations and Warranties

Each Agent represents and warrants as follows:

(a) Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable in accordance with its terms; except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and by general principles of equity.

(c) The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any governmental authority and (ii) will not violate any Applicable Law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party or any order of any governmental authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party.

 

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Section 7. Senior Collateral Agent as Agent and Bailee for Perfection

7.1 The Senior Collateral Agent agrees to (i) hold the Collateral that is in its “possession” or “control” (as defined in the UCC) (or in the possession or control of its agents or bailees) as agent or as bailee, as the case may be, and on behalf of and for the Junior Collateral Agent and (ii) be the agent of the Junior Collateral Agent with respect to any Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts included in the Collateral that are controlled or held by it or any bailee agreements entered into by it, in each case, solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted in such Collateral by possession or control pursuant to the Junior Documents, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 7.

7.2 Prior to the payment in full of the Senior Claims, (i) the Senior Collateral Agent shall be entitled to deal with the Collateral in its possession or under its control in accordance with the terms of the Senior Documents as if the Lien of the Junior Collateral Agent under the Junior Documents did not exist, and (ii) the rights of the Junior Agents shall at all times be subject to the terms of this Agreement and to the Senior Agents’ rights under the Senior Documents.

7.3 The Senior Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Junior Collateral Agent or any Junior Secured Party to ensure that the Collateral in its possession or under its control is genuine or owned by a Credit Party or to preserve the rights or benefits of any Person except as expressly set forth in this Section 7. The duties or responsibilities of the Senior Collateral Agent under this Section 7 shall be limited solely to holding the Collateral as agent or as bailee, as the case may be, and controlling Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts as agent, in each case for the Junior Collateral Agent for purposes of perfecting the Lien thereon held by the Junior Collateral Agent.

7.4 Notwithstanding anything in the Credit Documents to the contrary, (a) prior to the payment in full of the Revolving Obligations, (i) the requirements under any Revolving Credit Document to endorse, assign or deliver Revolving Collateral, or grant control over such Revolving Collateral (to the extent only one person can have control of such Revolving Collateral), to the Term Loan Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied by endorsement, assignment or delivery of, or grant of control over, such Revolving Collateral to the Revolving Collateral Agent and (ii) any endorsement, assignment or delivery to the Revolving Collateral Agent shall be deemed an endorsement, assignment or delivery to the Term Loan Collateral Agent for all purposes under such Revolving Credit Documents and (b) prior to the payment in full of the Term Loan Obligations, (i) the requirements under any Term Loan Credit Document to endorse, assign or deliver Term Loan Collateral, or grant control over such Term Loan Collateral (to the extent only one person can have control of such Revolving Collateral), to the Revolving Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied by endorsement, assignment or delivery of, or grant of control over, such Term Loan Collateral to the Term Loan Collateral Agent and (ii) any endorsement, assignment or delivery to the Term Loan Collateral Agent shall be deemed an endorsement, assignment or delivery to the Revolving Collateral Agent for all purposes under such Term Loan Credit Documents.

 

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Section 8. Release of Collateral

8.1 At the request of the Senior Collateral Agent, the Junior Collateral Agent shall, and each of the Junior Secured Parties hereby authorizes and directs the Junior Collateral Agent (without any further notice or consent to or of any Junior Secured Party) to, promptly release (or, in the case of clause (c) below, release or subordinate as required by the holders of any Lien specified thereunder) any Lien held by the Junior Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties against any of the following:

(a) any Collateral in connection with any Collateral Enforcement Action permitted under this Agreement;

(b) any part of the Collateral Disposed of by a Credit Party if such sale or Disposition is permitted by the Credit Agreements (or pursuant to a valid waiver or consent to a transaction otherwise prohibited by such Credit Agreements) and the Proceeds thereof are applied in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreements; and

(c) any part of the Collateral that is subject to a Lien permitted by Section 9.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement or Section 10.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement;

8.2 Each of the Secured Parties hereby authorizes and directs each Collateral Agent to execute and deliver or file such termination and partial release statements and take such other actions as are reasonably necessary to release (or subordinate) Liens pursuant to this Section 8 promptly upon the effectiveness of any such release (or subordination).

Section 9. Amendments

9.1 Amendments to Credit Documents.

(a) Amendments to Revolving Credit Agreement. Without the prior written consent of the Term Loan Administrative Agent, the Revolving Credit Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (and no replacement Revolving Credit Agreement may be entered into in connection with a refinancing), in each case if the effect of such amendment, supplement, modification or replacement is to do any of the following:

(i) increase the “Applicable Margin” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement (or any term of similar application in any Revolving Credit Document) by more than 3.25% per annum at any level of the pricing grid applicable thereto, other than any increase occurring because of any Event of Default;

(ii) increase the Total Commitments (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of any such amendment supplement or other modification or replacement in connection with a refinancing to an amount exceeding the Maximum Revolving Amount; or

 

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(iii) contravene any provision of this Agreement.

(b) Amendments to Term Loan Credit Agreement. Without the prior written consent of the Revolving Administrative Agent, the Term Loan Credit Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (and no replacement Term Loan Credit Agreement may be entered into in connection with a refinancing), in each case if the effect of such amendment, supplement, modification or replacement is to do any of the following:

(i) increase the “Applicable Margin” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (or any term of similar application in any Term Loan Credit Document) by more than 3.25% per annum at any level of the pricing grid applicable thereto, other than any increase occurring because of any Event of Default;

(ii) increase the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) outstanding on the date of any such amendment, supplement, or other modification or replacement in connection with a refinancing to an amount exceeding the Maximum Term Loan Amount; or

(iii) contravene any provision of this Agreement.

Section 10. Acknowledgements and Consents

10.1 Reliance by Senior Secured Parties. The consent by the Senior Secured Parties to the execution and delivery of the Junior Documents and the grant of a Junior Lien on the Senior Collateral and all loans and other extensions of credit made or deemed made on and after the date hereof by the Senior Secured Parties to the Borrower shall be deemed to have been given and made in reliance upon this Agreement.

10.2 Independent Analysis. Each Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, acknowledges that it and each Junior Secured Party has, independently and without reliance on any Senior Agent or any Senior Secured Party, and based on documents and information deemed by it appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement, the Junior Documents, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and agrees that it will continue to make its own credit decision in taking or not taking any action under the Junior Documents or this Agreement.

10.3 No Warranties or Liability. Each Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) no Senior Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectibility or enforceability of any Senior Document;

(b) the Senior Secured Parties will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective loans and extensions of credit to the Borrower as they may, in their sole

 

20


discretion, deem appropriate and without regard to any rights or interests that any Junior Secured Party may have in the Senior Collateral or otherwise, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or under Applicable Law; and

(c) no Senior Secured Party shall have any duty to any Junior Secured Party to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of an event of default or default under any agreements with any Credit Party (including the Junior Documents), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

10.4 No Waiver of Lien Priorities.

(a) No right of any Senior Secured Party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Credit Party or by any act or failure to act by any Senior Secured Party, or by any noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Agreement, any of the Senior Documents or any of the Junior Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any Senior Secured Party may have or be otherwise charged with.

(b) Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (a) (but subject to the rights of Credit Parties under the Credit Documents and subject to Section 9.1), each Senior Secured Party, may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Junior Secured Party, without incurring any liability to any Junior Secured Party and without impairing or releasing the lien priorities and other benefits provided in this Agreement (even if any right of subrogation or other right or remedy of any Junior Secured Party is affected, impaired or extinguished thereby) do any one or more of the following:

(i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment of, or renew, exchange, amend, increase or alter, the terms of any Senior Claim, any Lien in respect of any Senior Collateral, any guaranty of any Senior Claim, or any liability of any Credit Party incurred directly or indirectly in respect of any of the foregoing (including any increase in or extension of the Senior Claims, without any restriction as to the amount, tenor or terms of any such increase or extension) or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify or supplement in any manner the Senior Claims, any Liens held by the Senior Collateral Agent, the Senior Secured Parties, or any of the Senior Documents;

(ii) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any part of the Senior Collateral or any liability of any Credit Party to any Senior Agent or any Senior Secured Party, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof;

(iii) settle or compromise any Senior Claim or any other liability of any Credit Party or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including the Senior Claims) in any manner or order; and

 

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(iv) exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against any security or any Credit Party or any other Person, elect any remedy and otherwise deal freely with the Credit Parties, the Senior Collateral and any security, any guarantor or any liability of any Credit Party to any Senior Secured Party, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly, in respect of the foregoing;

(c) Each Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, also agrees that no Senior Secured Party shall have any duty or liability to any Junior Secured Party, and such Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, hereby waives all claims against each Senior Secured Party arising out of any and all actions which any Senior Secured Party may take or permit or omit to take with respect to: (i) the Senior Documents, (ii) the collection of the Senior Claims, (iii) the foreclosure upon, or sale, liquidation or other disposition of, the Senior Collateral, (iv) the release of any Lien in respect of any Senior Collateral, or (v) the maintenance or preservation of the Senior Collateral, the Senior Claims or otherwise; and

(d) Each Junior Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, in respect of any Collateral agrees not to assert and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or otherwise claim the benefit of, any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may otherwise be available under Applicable Law or any other similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under Applicable Law in respect of such Collateral.

10.5 Obligations Unconditional. All rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Senior Agents and the Senior Secured Parties in respect of any Collateral and the Junior Agents and the Junior Secured Parties in respect of such Collateral shall remain in full force and effect regardless of:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Senior Document or any Junior Document and regardless of whether the Liens of the Senior Collateral Agent and Senior Secured Parties are not perfected or are voidable for any reason;

(b) except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other terms of, all or any of the Senior Claims or Junior Claims, or any amendment or waiver or other modification, including any increase in the amount thereof, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of the terms of any Senior Document or any Junior Document;

(c) except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, any exchange, release or lack of perfection of any Lien on any Collateral or any other asset, or any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of all or any of the Senior Claims or Junior Claims or any guarantee thereof;

(d) the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of any Credit Party; or

 

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(e) any other circumstances which otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Credit Party in respect of any Secured Claim or of any Junior Secured Party in respect of this Agreement.

10.6 Attorney-in-Fact. The Junior Collateral Agent, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, in respect of any Collateral hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Senior Collateral Agent in respect of such Collateral and any officer or agent of such Senior Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of the Junior Collateral Agent or such holder or in such Senior Collateral Agent’s own name, from time to time in the Senior Administrative Agent’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including any financing statements, endorsements or other instruments or transfer or release. Notwithstanding the grant of the foregoing power of attorney, nothing in this Section 10.6 is intended to in any way relieve any Credit Party of its obligations to comply with requirements of law or applicable obligations with respect to the release of Collateral under any Collateral Document.

10.7 Consent of Credit Parties. Each Credit Party hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Credit Parties under any Senior Document, Junior Document, Credit Document or other Collateral Document shall not in any way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements. All references to any Credit Party shall include reference to such Credit Party as a debtor and debtor in possession and any receiver or trustee for such Credit Party in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. Each Credit Party hereby agrees that, if, pursuant to the provisions of either Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall be required to cause any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party to become a Credit Party, or if for any reason the Borrower desires any such Subsidiary to become a Credit Party, such Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Agents an Intercreditor Supplement in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and shall thereafter for all purposes be deemed to have acknowledged this Agreement with the same effect as if it had signed this Agreement on the Closing Date.

Section 11. Collateral Agents

11.1 Appointment of Collateral Agent.

(a) Each Revolving Secured Party hereby confirms the appointment of GECC as the Revolving Collateral Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement and authorizes the Revolving Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement, the other Revolving Collateral Documents and the Revolving Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Revolving Collateral Agent under such documents and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Revolving Secured Party hereby authorizes the

 

23


Revolving Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Revolving Collateral Documents and the Revolving Credit Agreement to which the Revolving Collateral Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Revolving Collateral Agent may have under such documents and to act as agent for the Revolving Secured Parties under such Revolving Collateral Documents.

(b) Each Term Loan Secured Party hereby confirms the appointment of GECC as the Term Loan Collateral Agent under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and authorizes the Term Loan Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement, the other Term Loan Collateral Documents and the Term Loan Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Term Loan Collateral Agent under such documents and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Term Loan Secured Party hereby authorizes the Term Loan Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Term Loan Collateral Documents and the Term Loan Credit Agreement to which the Term Loan Collateral Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Term Loan Collateral Agent may have under such documents and to act as agent for the Term Loan Secured Parties under such Term Loan Collateral Documents.

11.2 Actions; Directions of Applicable Administrative Agents.

(a) Each Collateral Agent shall take, or refrain from taking, any action with respect to the Applicable Collateral that does not contradict any provision of this Agreement as directed in writing by the Applicable Administrative Agent.

(b) Each Administrative Agent shall promptly send to the other Administrative Agent and the Borrower a copy of any written direction given by such Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 11.2, and each Collateral Agent shall provide to each Administrative Agent and the Borrower a copy of any written direction received by such Collateral Agent from any Secured Party pursuant to this Section 11.2; provided, however, that the failure to comply with this clause (b) shall not impair any right, power or remedy of any Secured Party under any Credit Document.

(c) Nothing in this Section 11.2 shall impair the rights of any Collateral Agent in its discretion to take or omit to take any action deemed proper by the Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the Applicable Credit Documents and that it believes in good faith is not inconsistent with any direction of the Applicable Administrative Agent delivered pursuant to this Section 11.2; provided, however, no Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to take any discretionary action under the provisions of this Agreement or any Credit Document unless so directed by the Applicable Administrative Agent.

11.3 No Duties. No Collateral Agent shall have any obligation whatsoever to any Secured Party to ensure that the Collateral in its possession or under its control is genuine or owned by any Credit Party or to preserve the rights or benefits of any Person except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

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Section 12. Miscellaneous

12.1 Conflicts. Except as expressly provided herein, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Collateral Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.

12.2 Continuing Nature. This Agreement shall continue to be effective until the payment in full of all Secured Claims (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations). This is a continuing agreement of lien subordination and the Senior Secured Parties may continue, at any time and without notice to any Junior Secured Party, to extend credit and other financial accommodations and lend monies constituting Senior Claims on the faith hereof. The terms of this Agreement shall survive, and shall continue in full force and effect, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

12.3 Amendments; Waivers. No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made unless the same (i) shall be in writing signed by each Agent and (ii) shall have been approved by the Borrower and the Required Lenders (other than any amendments or modifications requested by any successor Agent not adversely affecting the Secured Parties) under the Credit Agreements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the consent of any Credit Party shall not be required for amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement that would not impose any additional obligations on any Credit Party. In the case of a waiver of any provision of this Agreement, such waiver shall be effective only with respect to the specific instance involved and shall in no way impair the rights of the parties making such waiver or the obligations of the other parties in any other respect or at any other time. The Agents shall notify the Borrower of any amendment, modification or waiver effected hereunder; provided, however, that the failure of any Agent to deliver such notice shall not render any such amendment, modification or waiver ineffective.

12.4 Submission To Jurisdiction Waivers. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and any other Credit Document, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

25


(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party at its address referred to in Section 12.5;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of any other party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of any other party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 12.4 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

(f) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

12.5 Notices. Any notice or other communication herein shall be made in accordance with Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement or Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, as applicable, or such other address as shall be notified in writing to the Agents.

12.6 Governing Law. This Agreement has been delivered and accepted at and shall be deemed to have been made at New York, New York and shall be interpreted, and the rights and liabilities of the parties bound hereby determined, in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

12.7 Specific Performance. Each of the Agents and the Secured Parties may demand specific performance of this Agreement. The Senior Agents, on behalf of each Senior Secured Party, and the Junior Agents, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, hereby irrevocably waive any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense which might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be brought by any Agent or Secured Party.

12.8 Section Titles. The section titles contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of this Agreement.

12.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall together constitute one and the same document. Signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are attached to the same document.

12.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and the rights and benefits hereof shall inure to the benefit of, the Secured Parties and each of their respective permitted successors and assigns, and no other Person shall

 

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have or be entitled to assert rights or benefits hereunder. To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Credit Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and each Credit Party shall cause each of its Subsidiaries, to the extent such Subsidiary becomes or is required to become a Credit Party, to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

12.11 No Fiduciary Duty. The Revolving Agents shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other document a fiduciary relationship in respect of the Term Loan Agents or any Term Loan Secured Party. The Term Loan Agents shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other document a fiduciary relationship in respect of the Revolving Agents or any Revolving Secured Party.

12.12 Further Assurances. Each of the Credit Parties and Junior Agents, on behalf of each Junior Secured Party, agrees that each such Person shall, at the Credit Parties’ expense, take such further action and execute and deliver to each Agent, on behalf of each Senior Secured Party, such additional documents and instruments (in recordable form, if requested), as the Senior Agents may reasonably request to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Revolving Administrative Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Revolving Collateral Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Term Loan Administrative Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Term Loan Collateral Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT]


ACCEPTED this 13th day of February, 2008
CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Intercreditor Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Grantor hereunder

 

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
EX-10.4 9 dex104.htm TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Term Loan Security Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTION COPY

TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT

TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Agreement”), among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Company surviving such merger as the borrower, the “Borrower”), each of the subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Annex A hereto (each such subsidiary, individually, a “Subsidiary Grantor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Grantors”; and, together with Holdings and the Borrower, collectively, the “Grantors”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, (1) Holdings and the Borrower have entered into a Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), with the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Bookrunners, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Administrative and Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the Lenders have severally agreed to make loans to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, (2) one or more Hedge Banks may from time to time enter into Secured Hedging Agreements with any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and (3) one or more Cash Management Banks may from time to time provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (clauses (1), (2) and (3), collectively, the “Extensions of Credit”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Term Loan Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Term Loan Guarantee”), Holdings and each of the Subsidiary Grantors have agreed to guarantee to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to Holdings and the Subsidiary Grantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Term Loan Credit Agreement that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties; and

WHEREAS, the Grantors acknowledge that they will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the Extensions of Credit and have agreed to secure their obligations with respect thereto pursuant to this Agreement, on a first priority basis (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement).


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into the Term Loan Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and to induce one or more Hedge Banks to enter into Secured Hedging Agreements with any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and to induce one or more Cash Management Banks to provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

1. Defined Terms.

(a) (i) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein (including terms used in the preamble and the recitals) shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and (ii) all terms defined in the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State of New York (the “NY UCC”) and not defined herein or in the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall have the meanings specified therein (and if defined in more than one article of the NY UCC, shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 thereof).

(b) The rules of construction and other interpretive provisions specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall apply to this Agreement, including terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto.

(c) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.1(c).

Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrower” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Chattel Paper” shall mean all “chattel paper” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.

Collateral Account” shall mean any collateral account established by the Collateral Agent as provided in Section 5.1.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

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Commercial Tort Claims” shall mean all “commercial tort claims,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Copyrights” shall mean all (a) copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States, or of any other country or any group of countries, whether registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished, including copyrights in computer software and the content thereof, and internet web sites, (b) registrations, recordings and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office, and (c) rights to obtain all renewals thereof.

Credit Documents” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Credit Documents” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Deposit Accounts” shall mean all “deposit accounts,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Deposit Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement among the Collateral Agent, any Grantor and the relevant depository bank, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, granting control of such Grantor’s Deposit Accounts maintained at such depository bank in accordance with Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the jurisdiction of such depository bank.

Documents” shall mean all “documents,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Equipment” shall mean all “equipment,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or to which any Grantor has rights and, in any event, shall include all machinery, equipment, furnishings, movable trade fixtures and vehicles now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or to which any Grantor has rights and any and all additions, substitutions and replacements of any of the foregoing, wherever located, together with all attachments, components, parts, equipment and accessories installed thereon or affixed thereto.

Excluded Property” shall mean (a) any Subject Property (as defined in Section 2(a)(A)), (b) any property included in the definition of “Collateral” in the Term Loan Pledge Agreement, (c) any Excluded Capital Stock, (d) any property that is subject to a Lien permitted pursuant to Section 9.2(c) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement if the contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted (or the documentation providing for such Indebtedness) validly prohibits the creation of any other Lien on such property; provided that such property shall be Excluded Property only to the extent and for so long as such prohibition is in effect, (e) any Vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title the perfection of a security interest in which is excluded from the Uniform Commercial Code in the relevant jurisdiction, (f) any property with respect to which the Collateral Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the costs or other consequences (including adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of granting or perfecting a security interest in is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties, and (g) United States intent-to-use trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark applications under applicable United States federal law.

 

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Exclusive IP Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2(a).

Extensions of Credit” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Fixtures” shall mean all “fixtures,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

General Intangibles” shall mean all “general intangibles” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC and, in any event, including with respect to any Grantor, all contracts, agreements, instruments and indentures in any form, and portions thereof, to which such Grantor is a party or under which such Grantor has any right, title or interest or to which such Grantor or any property of such Grantor is subject, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, including (a) all rights of such Grantor to receive moneys due and to become due to it thereunder or in connection therewith, (b) all rights of such Grantor to receive proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guarantee with respect thereto, (c) all claims of such Grantor for damages arising out of any breach of or default thereunder and (d) all rights of such Grantor to terminate, amend, supplement, modify or exercise rights or options thereunder, to perform thereunder and to compel performance and otherwise exercise all remedies thereunder.

Grantor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Instruments” shall mean all “instruments,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Intellectual Property” shall mean any and all intellectual property, including Trade Secrets, Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and the IP Agreements, all rights therein, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any past, present, or future infringement, misappropriation, violation, misuse or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive injunctive relief and all Proceeds and damages therefrom.

Intellectual Property Collateral” shall mean the Collateral constituting Intellectual Property, including the Intellectual Property set forth in Schedules 1 and 2 hereto.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(e).

Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Inventory” shall mean all “inventory,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

 

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Investment Property” shall mean all “investment property,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

IP Agreements” shall mean any and all agreements, permits, consents, orders and franchises, now or hereafter in effect, relating to the license, development, use, manufacture, distribution, sale or disclosure of any Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, or Trade Secrets to which any Grantor, now or hereafter, is a party.

Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Letter-of-Credit Rights” shall mean all “letter-of-credit rights,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

NY UCC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1(a)(ii).

Patents” shall mean (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country or group of countries, all registrations, recordings and extensions thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including patent registrations, statutory invention registrations, utility models, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof, and in the case of (a) and (b), all the inventions disclosed or claimed therein and all improvements thereto, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Perfection Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Permitted Lien” shall mean any Lien on the Collateral expressly permitted to be granted pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Proceeds” shall mean all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC and, in any event, shall include with respect to any Grantor, any consideration received from the sale, exchange, license, lease or other disposition of any asset or property that constitutes Collateral, any value received as a consequence of the possession of any Collateral and any payment received from any insurer or other person or entity as a result of the destruction, loss, theft, damage or other involuntary conversion of whatever nature of any asset or property that constitutes Collateral, and shall include (a) all cash and negotiable instruments received by or held on behalf of the Collateral Agent, (b) any claim of any Grantor against any third party for (and the right to sue and recover for and the rights to damages or profits due or accrued arising out of or in connection with) (i) past, present or future infringement or dilution, where applicable, of any Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Trade Secret, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, or licensed under an IP Agreement or injury to the goodwill associated with or symbolized by any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, and (ii) past, present or future breach of any IP Agreement and (c) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.

Registered Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

 

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Revolving Credit Documents” shall mean the “Credit Documents” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Revolving Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Revolving Liens” shall mean Liens granted in favor of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Revolving Credit Documents.

Secured Debt Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Credit Documents, each Secured Hedging Agreement entered into with a Hedge Bank and each Secured Cash Management Agreement entered into with a Cash Management Bank.

Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Secured Parties” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Security Interest” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(a).

Securities Account” shall mean all “securities account,” as such term is defined in Article 8 of the NY UCC.

Securities Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement among the Collateral Agent, any Grantor and the relevant securities intermediary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, granting control of such Grantor’s Securities Accounts maintained with such securities intermediary.

Subject Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the proviso to Section 2(a).

Subsidiary Grantor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Term Loan Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Term Loan Pledge Agreement” shall mean “Pledge Agreement” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Termination Date” shall mean the date on which all Obligations are paid in full in cash (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management or contingent indemnification obligations).

Trademarks” shall mean (a) all trademarks, service marks, domain names, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, slogans, other source or business identifiers, now existing or hereafter adopted

 

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or acquired, whether registered or unregistered, and all registrations, recordings and applications for registration filed in connection with the foregoing, including registrations, recordings and applications for registration in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country, group of countries or any political subdivision thereof, and all common-law rights related thereto, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all extensions or renewals thereof.

Trade Secrets” shall mean all confidential and proprietary information, including know-how, trade secrets, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, inventions, research and development information, databases and data, including, without limitation, technical data, financial, marketing and business data, pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and information.

Vehicles” shall mean all cars, trucks, trailers, and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title law of any state and all tires and other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.

(d) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

2. Grant of Security Interest.

(a) Each Grantor hereby assigns, pledges, mortgages and hypothecates to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on (the “Security Interest”) all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in (subject only to Permitted Liens) and to all of the following assets and properties now owned or anytime hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Collateral”) as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations:

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all cash;

(iii) all Chattel Paper;

(iv) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(v) all Deposit Accounts;

(vi) all Documents;

(vii) all Equipment;

(viii) all Fixtures;

 

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(ix) all General Intangibles;

(x) all Goods;

(xi) all Instruments;

(xii) all Intellectual Property;

(xiii) all Inventory;

(xiv) all Investment Property;

(xv) all letters of credit and Letter of Credit Rights;

(xvi) all Money;

(xvii) all Securities Accounts;

(xviii) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and

(xix) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to the foregoing;

provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

(A) this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any property to the extent that such grant of a security interest (1) is prohibited by any Applicable Law of a Governmental Authority or requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Applicable Law, (2) is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under, or results in the termination of, or requires any consent not obtained under, any contract, license, lease, agreement, instrument or other document or, in the case of any Investment Property, any applicable shareholder or similar agreement (3) constitutes or results in the abandonment, invalidation or unenforceability of any right, title or interest of any Grantor under any contract, license, lease, agreement, instrument or other document, except to the extent that such Applicable Law or the term in such contract, license, lease, agreement, instrument or other document or shareholder or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under Applicable Law or (4) or would result in the forfeiture of the Grantor’s rights in the property including, without limitation, any Trademark applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the basis of such Grantor’s “intent-to-use” such trademark, unless and until acceptable evidence of use of the Trademark has been filed with and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to Section 1(c) or Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1051, et seq.), to the extent that granting a lien in such trademark application prior to such filing would adversely affect the enforceability or validity of such Trademark application (any such property subject to the exclusions described in clause (1), (2), (3) or (4), “Subject Property”); provided, however, that the foregoing

 

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exclusions shall not apply to the extent that any such prohibition, default or other term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the NY UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other Applicable Law or principles of equity; and provided, further, that the security interest shall attach immediately to any portion of such Subject Property that does not result in any of the consequences specified above including, without limitation, any Proceeds of such Subject Property; and

(B) the Collateral shall not include any other Excluded Property.

(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto and continuations thereof that contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment or continuation, including whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor. Such financing statements may describe the Collateral in the same manner as described herein or may contain an indication or description of collateral that describes such property in any other manner such as “all assets” or “all personal property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired” of such Grantor or words of similar effort as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail and in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or covering the Collateral constituting minerals or the like to be extracted or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

Each Grantor also ratifies any authorization previously given in writing to the Collateral Agent to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto or continuations thereof if filed prior to the date hereof.

The Collateral Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing, protecting or providing notice of the Security Interests granted by each Grantor hereunder, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

This Agreement secures the payment of all the Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement secures the payment of all amounts that constitute part of the Obligations and would be owed to the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving any Grantor.

The Security Interests created hereby are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Collateral.

 

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3. Representations And Warranties.

Each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party that:

3.1. Title; No Other Liens. Except for (a) the Security Interest granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement, (b) the Revolving Liens, and (c) other Permitted Liens, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. To the knowledge of such Grantor, no action or proceeding seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of such Grantor’s ownership interest in the Collateral, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is pending or threatened. None of the Grantors has filed or consented to the filing of any (x) security agreement, financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other Applicable Laws covering any Collateral, (y) assignment for security in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, which security agreement, financing statement or similar instrument or assignment is still in effect or (z) assignment for security in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except in the case of each of clauses (x), (y) and (z) above, such as have been filed in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents or are filed in respect of Permitted Liens.

3.2. Intellectual Property. (a) The Intellectual Property Collateral set forth on (i) Schedule 1 hereto is a true and correct list of all patents, patent applications, trademark registrations and applications for registration, copyright registrations and applications for registration, and domain names (collectively, the “Registered Intellectual Property”), in each case, owned by a Grantor in its name as of the date hereof, and indicating for each such item, as applicable, the application and/or registration number, date and jurisdiction of filing and/or issuance, the identity of the current applicant or registered owner, and (ii) Schedule 2 hereto is a true and correct list of all IP Agreements (other than non-exclusive license agreements or licenses of commercially available off-the-shelf software), in which a Grantor is, as of the date hereof, the exclusive licensee of any United States patent, patent application, trademark registration or application for registration, copyright registration or application for registration (collectively, the “Exclusive IP Agreements”).

Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(b) The Intellectual Property Collateral is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part and, to such Grantor’s knowledge, is valid and enforceable and has not been abandoned. Such Grantor is not aware of any uses of any item of Intellectual Property Collateral that could be expected to lead to such item becoming invalid or unenforceable.

(c) To such Grantor’s knowledge, no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes, misappropriates, dilutes, misuses or otherwise violates the Intellectual Property Collateral or the Grantor’s rights in or use thereof.

 

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(d) No breach or default of any IP Agreement shall be caused by any of the following, and none of the following shall limit or impair the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of, or any rights of such Grantor in, any Intellectual Property Collateral: (i) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any Credit Document or (ii) any holding, decision, judgment or order rendered by any Governmental Authority.

3.3. Perfected Security Interests. (a) Subject to the limitations set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.3, the Security Interests granted pursuant to this Agreement (i) will constitute valid perfected security interests in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for the Obligations, upon (A) in the case of Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code, the filing of financing statements naming each Grantor as “debtor” and the Collateral Agent as “secured party” and describing the Collateral in the applicable filing offices, (B) in the case of Instruments, Chattel Paper and certificated Securities, the earlier of the delivery thereof to the Collateral Agent and the filing of the financing statements referred to in clause (A), (C) in the case of Deposit Accounts, the execution of Deposit Account Control Agreements, (D) in the case of Securities Accounts, the execution of Securities Account Control Agreements, and/or (E) in the case of Intellectual Property Collateral, the completion of the filing, registration and recording of fully executed agreements in the form of the Intellectual Property Security Agreement set forth in Exhibit 3 hereto (x) in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and (y) in the United States Copyright Office, and (ii) subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral other than Permitted Liens having priority over the Collateral Agent’s Lien by operation of law or otherwise as permitted under the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Grantor shall be required, on or before the Closing Date, to perfect the security interests created hereby by any means other than (i) filings pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code, (ii) filings with United States’ governmental offices with respect to Registered Intellectual Property, (iii) in the case of Collateral that constitutes Tangible Chattel Paper, Instruments, Certificated Securities or Negotiable Documents, in each case, to the extent included in the Collateral, delivery to the Collateral Agent to be held in its possession in the United States. No Grantor shall be required, on or before the Closing Date, to complete any filings or other action with respect to the perfection of the security interests created hereby in any jurisdiction outside of the United States.

(c) It is understood and agreed that the security interests created hereby shall not prevent the Grantors from using the Collateral in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

(d) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein (including (i) the exact legal name of each Grantor and (ii) the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor) is correct and complete as of the Closing Date.

3.4. Accounts. No amount payable to such Grantor under or in connection with any Account is evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper that has not been delivered to the Administrative Agent, properly endorsed for transfer, to the extent delivery is required by the Term Loan Pledge Agreement.

 

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4. Covenants.

Each Grantor hereby covenants and agrees with the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Termination Date:

4.1. Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation. (a) Such Grantor shall maintain the Security Interests created hereby as perfected first priority security interests (subject to any Permitted Lien and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement) and shall defend the Security Interests created hereby and the priority thereof against the claims and demands not expressly permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement of all Persons whomsoever.

(b) Such Grantor will furnish to the Collateral Agent from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the assets and property of such Grantor and such other reports in connection therewith as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

(c) Each Grantor agrees that should it, after the date hereof, obtain an ownership interest in any Registered Intellectual Property that would, had it been owned on the date hereof, be considered a part of the Intellectual Property Collateral or should it become a party to any IP Agreement that would, had such Grantor been a party to it on the date hereof, be considered an Exclusive IP Agreement (“After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral”), such After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral shall automatically become part of the Intellectual Property Collateral, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect thereto. In addition, such Grantor shall, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent and, in any event, no more than once every fiscal quarter, execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent agreements substantially in the form of Exhibits 2 and 3 hereto covering such After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral, with the agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto to be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authorities located in the United States necessary to perfect the Security Interest hereunder in any such After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral which is United States Registered Intellectual Property.

(d) Subject to clause (e) below and Section 3.3(b), each Grantor agrees that at any time and from time to time, at the expense of such Grantor, it will execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order (x) to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created hereby or (y) to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral, including the filing of any financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby, all at the expense of such Grantor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Grantor shall comply with Section 8.14 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.1 to the contrary, (i) with respect to any assets acquired by such Grantor after the date hereof that are required by the Term Loan Credit Agreement to be subject to the Lien created hereby or (ii) with respect to any Person that, subsequent to the date hereof, becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required by the Term Loan Credit Agreement to become a party hereto, the relevant Grantor after the acquisition or creation thereof shall promptly take all actions required by the Term Loan Credit Agreement or this Section 4.1.

4.2. Changes in Locations, Name, etc. Each Grantor will furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (i) in its legal name, (ii) in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, (iii) in its identity or type of organization or corporate structure or (iv) in its Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number. Each Grantor agrees promptly to provide the Collateral Agent with certified Organizational Documents reflecting any of the changes described in the first sentence of this paragraph. Each Grantor agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement). Each Grantor also agrees to promptly notify the Collateral Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

4.3. Notices. (a) Each Grantor will advise the Collateral Agent in reasonable detail, of any Lien of which it has knowledge (other than the Security Interests created hereby and pursuant to the Revolving Credit Documents and other Permitted Liens) on any of the Collateral which would adversely affect, in any material respect, the ability of the Collateral Agent to exercise any of its remedies hereunder.

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, all insurance payments in respect of any Equipment shall be paid to and applied by the Collateral Agent as specified in Section 5.4.

4.4. Intellectual Property.

(a) With respect to each item of Intellectual Property Collateral owned by each Grantor, each Grantor agrees to take, at its expense, all commercially reasonably steps, including, as applicable, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authority located in the United States, to (i) maintain the validity and enforceability of such Intellectual Property Collateral and maintain such Intellectual Property Collateral in full force and effect, and (ii) pursue the registration and maintenance of each Patent, Trademark, or Copyright registration or application for registration, now or hereafter included in such Intellectual Property Collateral of such Grantor.

(b) Such Grantor shall (and shall cause all its licensees to), in such Grantor’s reasonable business judgment (i) (1) continue to use each Trademark included in the Intellectual

 

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Property Collateral in order to maintain such Trademark in full force and effect with respect to each class of goods for which such Trademark is currently used, free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (2) maintain at least the same standards of quality of products and services offered under such Trademark as are currently maintained, (3) use such Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration and all other notices and legends required by Applicable Law, (4) not adopt or use any other Trademark that is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless the Collateral Agent shall obtain a perfected security interest in such other Trademark pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) not do any act or omit to do any act whereby (w) such Trademark (or any goodwill associated therewith) may become destroyed, invalidated, impaired or harmed in any way, (x) any Patent included in the Intellectual Property Collateral may become forfeited, misused, unenforceable, abandoned or dedicated to the public or (y) any portion of the Copyrights included in the Intellectual Property Collateral may become invalidated, otherwise impaired or fall into the public domain.

(c) No Grantor shall discontinue use of or otherwise abandon any owned Intellectual Property Collateral unless such Grantor shall have previously determined that such use or the pursuit or maintenance of such Intellectual Property Collateral is no longer desirable in the conduct of such Grantor’s business.

(d) In the event that any Grantor becomes aware after the date hereof that any item of its material Intellectual Property Collateral is being infringed or misappropriated by a third party in any way that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent and take such actions, at its expense, as such Grantor deems reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to protect or enforce such Intellectual Property Collateral, including, if such Grantor deems it necessary, suing for infringement or misappropriation and for an injunction against such infringement or misappropriation.

(e) With respect to its United States Registered Intellectual Property owned by such Grantor in its own name on the date hereof, each Grantor agrees to execute or otherwise authenticate an agreement, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit 3 hereto (an “Intellectual Property Security Agreement”), for recording the Security Interest granted hereunder to the Collateral Agent in such United States Registered Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authorities located in the United States necessary to perfect the Security Interest hereunder in such Registered Intellectual Property.

5. Remedial Provisions.

5.1. Certain Matters Relating to Accounts. (a) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default after written notice is delivered to the Grantor, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and each Grantor shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Collateral Agent may require in connection with such test verifications. The Collateral Agent shall have the absolute right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party.

 

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(b) The Collateral Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to collect such Grantor’s Accounts and the Collateral Agent may curtail or terminate said authority at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default. If required in writing by the Collateral Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, any payments of Accounts, when collected by any Grantor, (i) shall be forthwith (and, in any event, within two Business Days) deposited by such Grantor in the exact form received, duly endorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent if required, in a Collateral Account maintained under the sole dominion and control of and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, subject to withdrawal by the Collateral Agent for the account of the Secured Parties only as provided in Section 5.4, and (ii) until so turned over, shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor. Each such deposit of Proceeds of Accounts shall be accompanied by a report identifying in reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.

(c) At the Collateral Agent’s written request at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent all original and other documents evidencing, and relating to, the agreements and transactions which gave rise to the Accounts, including all original orders, invoices and shipping receipts.

(d) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, a Grantor shall not grant any extension of the time of payment of any of the Accounts, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof, or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon if the Collateral Agent shall have instructed the Grantors in writing not to grant or make any such extension, credit, discount, compromise, or settlement under any circumstances during the continuation of such Event of Default.

5.2. Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable. (a) The Collateral Agent in its own name or in the name of others may at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, after giving reasonable written notice to the relevant Grantor of its intent to do so, communicate with obligors under the Accounts to verify with them to the Collateral Agent’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts. The Collateral Agent shall have the absolute right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party; provided, that the provisions of Section 12.16 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall apply to such information.

(b) Upon the written request of the Collateral Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall notify obligors on the Accounts that the Accounts have been assigned to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly to the Collateral Agent and may enforce such Grantor’s rights against such obligors.

(c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of

 

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any agreement giving rise thereto. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any payment relating thereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party thereunder, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

5.3. Proceeds to be Turned Over To Collateral Agent. In addition to the rights of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties specified in Section 5.1 with respect to payments of Accounts, if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Collateral Agent so requires by notice in writing to the relevant Grantor (it being understood that the exercise of remedies by the Secured Parties in connection with an Event of Default under Section 10.5 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a request by the Collateral Agent for the purposes of this sentence and in such circumstances, no such written notice shall be required), all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly endorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent, if required). All Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent hereunder shall be held by the Collateral Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and control and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. All Proceeds while held by the Collateral Agent in a Collateral Account (or by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 5.4.

5.4. Application of Proceeds. (a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement or any other Credit Document, all proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied as follows:

(i) FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with such sale, collection or realization or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, the other Security Documents or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Security Document on behalf of any Grantor and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Security Document;

(ii) SECOND, to the Secured Parties, an amount equal to all Obligations owing to them on the date of any such distribution, and, if such moneys shall be insufficient to pay such amounts in full, then ratably (without priority of any one over any other) to such Secured Parties in proportion to the unpaid amounts thereof; and

 

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(iii) THIRD, any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Grantors or their successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

(b) Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

5.5. Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the NY UCC or any other applicable law or in equity and also may without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices and upon such other terms as are commercially reasonable irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers of Collateral to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and, upon consummation of any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent or any Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, and the Collateral Agent or such Secured Party may subject to (x) the satisfaction in full in cash of all payments due pursuant to Section 5.4(a)(i) hereof and (y) the ratable satisfaction of the Obligations in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 5.4(a) hereof, pay the purchase price by crediting the amount thereof against the Obligations. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days’ notice to such Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. To the extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby waives any claim against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have

 

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been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. Each Grantor further agrees, at the Collateral Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Collateral Agent at places which the Collateral Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. The Collateral Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 5.5 in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.5 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the NY UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

5.6. Deficiency. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay the Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

5.7. Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. Each Grantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Grantor and without notice to or further assent by any Grantor, (a) any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by such party and any of the Obligations continued, (b) the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) the Secured Debt Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Document, and (d) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Agreement or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower or any other Grantor, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Grantor or any release of the Borrower or any other Grantor shall not relieve any Grantor in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or any Grantor not so released of its several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Grantor. For the purpose hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

 

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5.8. Conflict with Term Loan Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Section 5 and the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall prevail.

6. The Collateral Agent.

6.1. Collateral Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc. (a) Each Grantor hereby appoints, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, effective upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby gives the Collateral Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, either in the Collateral Agent’s name or in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, without assent by such Grantor, to do any or all of the following at the same time or at different times, in each case after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default and after written notice by the Collateral Agent of its intent to do so:

(i) take possession of and endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due under any Account or with respect to any other Collateral and file any claim or take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any Account or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable;

(ii) in the case of any Intellectual Property, execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Collateral Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interest in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;

(iii) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against any Collateral;

(iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 5.5, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral;

(v) obtain, pay and adjust insurance required to be maintained by such Grantor or paid to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement;

(vi) send verifications of Accounts to any Person who is or who may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account;

 

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(vii) direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the Collateral Agent or as the Collateral Agent shall direct;

(viii) ask or demand for, collect and receive payment of and receipt for, any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral;

(ix) sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, notices and other documents in connection with any of the Collateral;

(x) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any portion thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral;

(xi) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral (with such Grantor’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the extent such action or its resolution could materially affect such Grantor or any of its Affiliates in any manner other than with respect to its continuing rights in such Collateral; provided that such consent right shall not limit any other rights or remedies available to the Collateral Agent at law);

(xii) settle, compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate (with such Grantor’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the extent such action or its resolution could materially affect such Grantor or any of its Affiliates in any manner other than with respect to its continuing rights in such Collateral; provided that such consent right shall not limit any other rights or remedies available to the Collateral Agent at law);

(xiii) assign any Intellectual Property Collateral throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions, and in such manner, as the Collateral Agent shall in its reasonable business discretion determine; and

(xiv) generally, sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things that the Collateral Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interests therein and to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

Anything in this Section 6.l(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section 6.1(a) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

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(b) If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein, the Collateral Agent, at its option, but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement.

(c) The expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section 6.1, together with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the highest rate per annum at which interest would then be payable on any category of past due ABR Loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, from the date of payment by the Collateral Agent to the date reimbursed by the relevant Grantor, shall be payable by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent on demand.

(d) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. All powers, authorizations and agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are released.

6.2. Duty of Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the NY UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Collateral Agent deals with similar property for its own account. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property. Neither the Collateral Agent, any other Secured Party nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder are solely to protect the Collateral Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

6.3. Authority of Collateral Agent. Each Grantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Collateral Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Collateral Agent of any option, voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, be governed by this Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Collateral Agent and the Grantors, the Collateral Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Secured Parties with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

 

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6.4. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interests created hereby and all obligations of the Grantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement.

6.5. Continuing Security Interest; Assignments Under the Secured Debt Documents; Release. (a) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Grantor and the successors and assigns thereof and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns until the Termination Date.

(b) A Subsidiary Grantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interests in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Grantor created hereby shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as a result of which such Subsidiary Grantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent required by the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Grantor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (other than to another Grantor), or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interests created hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the security interests in such Collateral created hereby shall be automatically released and such Collateral sold free and clear of the Lien and security interests created hereby.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, all documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

6.6. Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Grantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Grantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

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7. Miscellaneous.

7.1. Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by the affected Grantor and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement; provided, however, that this Agreement may be supplemented (but no existing provisions may be modified and no Collateral may be released) through agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2, respectively, in each case duly executed by each Grantor directly effected thereby.

7.2. Notices. All notices, requests and demands pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Grantor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s address set forth in Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

7.3. No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof or of any other applicable Secured Debt Document. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party would otherwise have on any other occasion. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

7.4. Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Grantor agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented expenses (including all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that may be paid or incurred by any Secured Party in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, such Grantor under this Agreement.

(b) Each Grantor agrees to pay, and to save the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(c) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Credit Documents, each Grantor agrees to pay, and to save the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section 12.5 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

(d) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The agreements in this Section 7.4 shall survive termination of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 7.4 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

7.5. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e. a “pdf” or “tiff”)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.

7.7. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

7.8. Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

7.9. Integration. This Agreement represents the agreement of each of the Grantors with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Secured Debt Documents.

 

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7.10. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

7.11. Submission To Jurisdiction Waivers. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Grantor at its address referred to in Section 7.2 or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 7.11 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

7.12. Acknowledgments. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party;

(b) neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor;

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Secured Parties or among the Grantors and the Secured Parties; and

 

25


(d) upon any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may proceed without notice, against any Grantor and any Collateral to collect and recover the full amount of any Obligation then due, without first proceeding against any other Grantor, any other Credit Party or any other Collateral and without first joining any other Grantor or any other Credit Party in any proceeding.

7.13. Additional Grantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.10 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the terms hereof shall become a Grantor, with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein, for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of a Supplement substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 hereto. The execution and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Grantor as a party to this Agreement shall not require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

7.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

7.15. Intercreditor Agreement Governs. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Revolving Collateral and Revolving Liens are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement with respect to the Revolving Collateral and Revolving Liens, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall prevail.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

26


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

as Grantor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to this Agreement as a Grantor hereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Collateral Agent,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Term Loan Security Agreement]

EX-10.5 10 dex105.htm REVOLVING SECURITY AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Revolving Security Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.5

EXECUTION COPY

REVOLVING SECURITY AGREEMENT

REVOLVING SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Agreement”), among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Company surviving such merger as the borrower, the “Borrower”), each of the subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Annex A hereto (each such subsidiary, individually, a “Subsidiary Grantor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Grantors”; and, together with Holdings and the Borrower, collectively, the “Grantors”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, (1) Holdings and the Borrower have entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), with the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Bookrunners, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, pursuant to which the Lenders have severally agreed to make loans to the Borrower and the Letter of Credit Issuers have agreed to issue letters of credit for the account of the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and (2) one or more Cash Management Banks may from time to time provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (clauses (1) and (2), collectively, the “Extensions of Credit”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Revolving Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Revolving Guarantee”), Holdings and each of the Subsidiary Grantors have agreed to guarantee to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to Holdings and the Subsidiary Grantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties; and

WHEREAS, the Grantors acknowledge that they will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the Extensions of Credit and have agreed to secure their obligations with respect thereto pursuant to this Agreement, on a first priority basis (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement).


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Agents, the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to enter into the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce one or more Cash Management Banks to provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

1. Defined Terms.

(a)(i) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and used herein (including terms used in the preamble and the recitals) shall have the meanings given to them in the Revolving Credit Agreement and (ii) all terms defined in the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State of New York (the “NY UCC”) and not defined herein or in the Revolving Credit Agreement shall have the meanings specified therein (and if defined in more than one article of the NY UCC, shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 thereof).

(b) The rules of construction and other interpretive provisions specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall apply to this Agreement, including terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto.

(c) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.1(c).

Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrower” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Chattel Paper” shall mean all “chattel paper” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.

Collateral Account” shall mean any collateral account established by the Collateral Agent as provided in Section 5.1.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Commercial Tort Claims” shall mean all “commercial tort claims,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

 

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Copyrights” shall mean all (a) copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States, or of any other country or any group of countries, whether registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished, including copyrights in computer software and the content thereof, and internet web sites, (b) registrations, recordings and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office, and (c) rights to obtain all renewals thereof.

Deposit Accounts” shall mean all “deposit accounts,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Deposit Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement among the Collateral Agent, any Grantor and the relevant depository bank, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, granting control of such Grantor’s Deposit Accounts maintained at such depository bank in accordance with Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the jurisdiction of such depository bank.

Documents” shall mean all “documents,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Equipment” shall mean all “equipment,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or to which any Grantor has rights and, in any event, shall include all machinery, equipment, furnishings, movable trade fixtures and vehicles now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or to which any Grantor has rights and any and all additions, substitutions and replacements of any of the foregoing, wherever located, together with all attachments, components, parts, equipment and accessories installed thereon or affixed thereto.

Excluded Property” shall mean (a) any Subject Property (as defined in Section 2(a)(A)), (b) any property included in the definition of “Collateral” in the Revolving Pledge Agreement, (c) any Excluded Capital Stock, (d) any property that is subject to a Lien permitted pursuant to Section 10.2(c) of the Revolving Credit Agreement if the contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted (or the documentation providing for such Indebtedness) validly prohibits the creation of any other Lien on such property; provided that such property shall be Excluded Property only to the extent and for so long as such prohibition is in effect, (e) any Vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title the perfection of a security interest in which is excluded from the Uniform Commercial Code in the relevant jurisdiction, (f) any property with respect to which the Collateral Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the costs or other consequences (including adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of granting or perfecting a security interest in is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties, and (g) United States intent-to-use trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark applications under applicable United States federal law.

Exclusive IP Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2(a).

 

3


Extensions of Credit” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Fixtures” shall mean all “fixtures,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

General Intangibles” shall mean all “general intangibles” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC and, in any event, including with respect to any Grantor, all contracts, agreements, instruments and indentures in any form, and portions thereof, to which such Grantor is a party or under which such Grantor has any right, title or interest or to which such Grantor or any property of such Grantor is subject, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, including (a) all rights of such Grantor to receive moneys due and to become due to it thereunder or in connection therewith, (b) all rights of such Grantor to receive proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guarantee with respect thereto, (c) all claims of such Grantor for damages arising out of any breach of or default thereunder and (d) all rights of such Grantor to terminate, amend, supplement, modify or exercise rights or options thereunder, to perform thereunder and to compel performance and otherwise exercise all remedies thereunder.

Grantor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Instruments” shall mean all “instruments,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Intellectual Property” shall mean any and all intellectual property, including Trade Secrets, Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and the IP Agreements, all rights therein, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any past, present, or future infringement, misappropriation, violation, misuse or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive injunctive relief and all Proceeds and damages therefrom.

Intellectual Property Collateral” shall mean the Collateral constituting Intellectual Property, including the Intellectual Property set forth in Schedules 1 and 2 hereto.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(e).

Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Inventory” shall mean all “inventory,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Investment Property” shall mean all “investment property,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

IP Agreements” shall mean any and all agreements, permits, consents, orders and franchises, now or hereafter in effect, relating to the license, development, use, manufacture, distribution, sale or disclosure of any Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, or Trade Secrets to which any Grantor, now or hereafter, is a party.

 

4


Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Letter-of-Credit Rights” shall mean all “letter-of-credit rights,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

NY UCC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1(a)(ii).

Patents” shall mean (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country or group of countries, all registrations, recordings and extensions thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including patent registrations, statutory invention registrations, utility models, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof, and in the case of (a) and (b), all the inventions disclosed or claimed therein and all improvements thereto, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Perfection Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Permitted Lien” shall mean any Lien on the Collateral expressly permitted to be granted pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Proceeds” shall mean all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC and, in any event, shall include with respect to any Grantor, any consideration received from the sale, exchange, license, lease or other disposition of any asset or property that constitutes Collateral, any value received as a consequence of the possession of any Collateral and any payment received from any insurer or other person or entity as a result of the destruction, loss, theft, damage or other involuntary conversion of whatever nature of any asset or property that constitutes Collateral, and shall include (a) all cash and negotiable instruments received by or held on behalf of the Collateral Agent, (b) any claim of any Grantor against any third party for (and the right to sue and recover for and the rights to damages or profits due or accrued arising out of or in connection with) (i) past, present or future infringement or dilution, where applicable, of any Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Trade Secret, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, or licensed under an IP Agreement or injury to the goodwill associated with or symbolized by any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, and (ii) past, present or future breach of any IP Agreement and (c) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.

Registered Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

Revolving Credit Documents” shall mean the “Credit Documents” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

5


Secured Debt Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Documents and each Secured Cash Management Agreement entered into with a Cash Management Bank.

Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Secured Parties” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Security Interest” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(a).

Securities Account” shall mean all “securities account,” as such term is defined in Article 8 of the NY UCC.

Securities Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement among the Collateral Agent, any Grantor and the relevant securities intermediary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, granting control of such Grantor’s Securities Accounts maintained with such securities intermediary.

Subject Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the proviso to Section 2(a).

Subsidiary Grantor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Revolving Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Revolving Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Revolving Pledge Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Pledge Agreement” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Term Loan Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Loan Credit Documents” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Credit Documents” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall mean the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, GECC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC and Calyon New York Branch, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as Joint Bookrunners, as such agreement may be amended, restated, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), refinanced, restructured, renewed, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Term Loan Liens” shall mean Liens granted in favor of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Documents.

Termination Date” shall mean the date on which all Obligations are paid in full in cash (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management or contingent indemnification obligations) and the Total Commitments and all Letters of Credit are terminated (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized on terms satisfactory to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer following the termination of the Commitments).

Trademarks” shall mean (a) all trademarks, service marks, domain names, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, slogans, other source or business identifiers, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, whether registered or unregistered, and all registrations, recordings and applications for registration filed in connection with the foregoing, including registrations, recordings and applications for registration in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country, group of countries or any political subdivision thereof, and all common-law rights related thereto, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all extensions or renewals thereof.

Trade Secrets” shall mean all confidential and proprietary information, including know-how, trade secrets, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, inventions, research and development information, databases and data, including, without limitation, technical data, financial, marketing and business data, pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and information.

Vehicles” shall mean all cars, trucks, trailers, and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title law of any state and all tires and other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.

(d) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

2. Grant of Security Interest.

(a) Each Grantor hereby assigns, pledges, mortgages and hypothecates to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on (the “Security Interest”) all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in (subject only to Permitted Liens) and to all of the following assets and properties now owned or anytime hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Collateral”) as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations:

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all cash;

 

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(iii) all Chattel Paper;

(iv) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(v) all Deposit Accounts;

(vi) all Documents;

(vii) all Equipment;

(viii) all Fixtures;

(ix) all General Intangibles;

(x) all Goods;

(xi) all Instruments;

(xii) all Intellectual Property;

(xiii) all Inventory;

(xiv) all Investment Property;

(xv) all letters of credit and Letter of Credit Rights;

(xvi) all Money;

(xvii) all Securities Accounts;

(xviii) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and

(xix) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to the foregoing;

provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

(A) this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any property to the extent that such grant of a security interest (1) is prohibited by any Applicable Law of a Governmental Authority or requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Applicable Law, (2) is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under, or results in the termination of, or requires any consent not obtained under, any contract, license, lease, agreement, instrument or other document or, in the case of any Investment Property, any applicable shareholder or similar agreement (3) constitutes or results in the abandonment, invalidation or unenforceability of any right, title or interest of any Grantor under any contract, license, lease, agreement, instrument or other document, except to the extent that such Applicable Law or the term in such contract, license, lease, agreement, instrument or other document

 

8


or shareholder or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under Applicable Law or (4) or would result in the forfeiture of the Grantor’s rights in the property including, without limitation, any Trademark applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the basis of such Grantor’s “intent-to-use” such trademark, unless and until acceptable evidence of use of the Trademark has been filed with and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to Section 1(c) or Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1051, et seq.), to the extent that granting a lien in such trademark application prior to such filing would adversely affect the enforceability or validity of such Trademark application (any such property subject to the exclusions described in clause (1), (2), (3) or (4), “Subject Property”); provided, however, that the foregoing exclusions shall not apply to the extent that any such prohibition, default or other term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the NY UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other Applicable Law or principles of equity; and provided, further, that the security interest shall attach immediately to any portion of such Subject Property that does not result in any of the consequences specified above including, without limitation, any Proceeds of such Subject Property; and

(B) the Collateral shall not include any other Excluded Property.

(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto and continuations thereof that contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment or continuation, including whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor. Such financing statements may describe the Collateral in the same manner as described herein or may contain an indication or description of collateral that describes such property in any other manner such as “all assets” or “all personal property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired” of such Grantor or words of similar effort as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail and in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or covering the Collateral constituting minerals or the like to be extracted or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

Each Grantor also ratifies any authorization previously given in writing to the Collateral Agent to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto or continuations thereof if filed prior to the date hereof.

The Collateral Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing, protecting or providing notice of the Security Interests granted by each Grantor hereunder, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

 

9


This Agreement secures the payment of all the Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement secures the payment of all amounts that constitute part of the Obligations and would be owed to the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving any Grantor.

The Security Interests created hereby are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Collateral.

3. Representations And Warranties.

Each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party that:

3.1. Title; No Other Liens. Except for (a) the Security Interest granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement, (b) the Term Loan Liens, and (c) other Permitted Liens, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. To the knowledge of such Grantor, no action or proceeding seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of such Grantor’s ownership interest in the Collateral, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is pending or threatened. None of the Grantors has filed or consented to the filing of any (x) security agreement, financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other Applicable Laws covering any Collateral, (y) assignment for security in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, which security agreement, financing statement or similar instrument or assignment is still in effect or (z) assignment for security in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except in the case of each of clauses (x), (y) and (z) above, such as have been filed in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the other Revolving Credit Documents, the Term Loan Credit Documents or are filed in respect of Permitted Liens.

3.2. Intellectual Property. (a) The Intellectual Property Collateral set forth on (i) Schedule 1 hereto is a true and correct list of all patents, patent applications, trademark registrations and applications for registration, copyright registrations and applications for registration, and domain names (collectively, the “Registered Intellectual Property”), in each case, owned by a Grantor in its name as of the date hereof, and indicating for each such item, as applicable, the application and/or registration number, date and jurisdiction of filing and/or issuance, the identity of the current applicant or registered owner, and (ii) Schedule 2 hereto is a true and correct list of all IP Agreements (other than non-exclusive license agreements or licenses of commercially available off-the-shelf software), in which a Grantor is, as of the date hereof, the exclusive licensee of any United States patent, patent application, trademark registration or application for registration, copyright registration or application for registration (collectively, the “Exclusive IP Agreements”).

 

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Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(b) The Intellectual Property Collateral is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part and, to such Grantor’s knowledge, is valid and enforceable and has not been abandoned. Such Grantor is not aware of any uses of any item of Intellectual Property Collateral that could be expected to lead to such item becoming invalid or unenforceable.

(c) To such Grantor’s knowledge, no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes, misappropriates, dilutes, misuses or otherwise violates the Intellectual Property Collateral or the Grantor’s rights in or use thereof.

(d) No breach or default of any IP Agreement shall be caused by any of the following, and none of the following shall limit or impair the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of, or any rights of such Grantor in, any Intellectual Property Collateral: (i) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any Revolving Credit Document or (ii) any holding, decision, judgment or order rendered by any Governmental Authority.

3.3. Perfected Security Interests. (a) Subject to the limitations set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.3, the Security Interests granted pursuant to this Agreement (i) will constitute valid perfected security interests in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for the Obligations, upon (A) in the case of Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code, the filing of financing statements naming each Grantor as “debtor” and the Collateral Agent as “secured party” and describing the Collateral in the applicable filing offices, (B) in the case of Instruments, Chattel Paper and certificated Securities, the earlier of the delivery thereof to the Collateral Agent and the filing of the financing statements referred to in clause (A), (C) in the case of Deposit Accounts, the execution of Deposit Account Control Agreements, (D) in the case of Securities Accounts, the execution of Securities Account Control Agreements, and/or (E) in the case of Intellectual Property Collateral, the completion of the filing, registration and recording of fully executed agreements in the form of the Intellectual Property Security Agreement set forth in Exhibit 3 hereto (x) in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and (y) in the United States Copyright Office, and (ii) subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral other than Permitted Liens having priority over the Collateral Agent’s Lien by operation of law or otherwise as permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Grantor shall be required, on or before the Closing Date, to perfect the security interests created hereby by any means other than (i) filings pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code, (ii) filings with United States’ governmental offices with respect to Registered Intellectual Property, (iii) in the case of Collateral that constitutes Tangible Chattel Paper, Instruments, Certificated Securities or Negotiable Documents, in each case, to the extent included in the Collateral, delivery to the Collateral Agent to be held in its possession in the United States. No Grantor shall be required, on or before the Closing Date, to complete any filings or other action with respect to the perfection of the security interests created hereby in any jurisdiction outside of the United States.

 

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(c) It is understood and agreed that the security interests created hereby shall not prevent the Grantors from using the Collateral in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

(d) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein (including (i) the exact legal name of each Grantor and (ii) the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor) is correct and complete as of the Closing Date.

3.4. Accounts. No amount payable to such Grantor under or in connection with any Account is evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper that has not been delivered to the Administrative Agent, properly endorsed for transfer, to the extent delivery is required by the Revolving Pledge Agreement.

4. Covenants.

Each Grantor hereby covenants and agrees with the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Termination Date:

4.1. Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation. (a) Such Grantor shall maintain the Security Interests created hereby as perfected first priority security interests (subject to any Permitted Lien and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement) and shall defend the Security Interests created hereby and the priority thereof against the claims and demands not expressly permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement of all Persons whomsoever.

(b) Such Grantor will furnish to the Collateral Agent from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the assets and property of such Grantor and such other reports in connection therewith as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

(c) Each Grantor agrees that should it, after the date hereof, obtain an ownership interest in any Registered Intellectual Property that would, had it been owned on the date hereof, be considered a part of the Intellectual Property Collateral or should it become a party to any IP Agreement that would, had such Grantor been a party to it on the date hereof, be considered an Exclusive IP Agreement (“After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral”), such After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral shall automatically become part of the Intellectual Property Collateral, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect thereto. In addition, such Grantor shall, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent and, in any event, no more than once every fiscal quarter, execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent agreements substantially in the form of Exhibits 2 and 3 hereto covering such After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral, with the agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto to be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authorities located in the United States necessary to perfect the Security Interest hereunder in any such After-Acquired Intellectual Property Collateral which is United States Registered Intellectual Property.

 

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(d) Subject to clause (e) below and Section 3.3(b), each Grantor agrees that at any time and from time to time, at the expense of such Grantor, it will execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order (x) to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created hereby or (y) to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral, including the filing of any financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby, all at the expense of such Grantor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Grantor shall comply with Section 9.14 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.1 to the contrary, (i) with respect to any assets acquired by such Grantor after the date hereof that are required by the Revolving Credit Agreement to be subject to the Lien created hereby or (ii) with respect to any Person that, subsequent to the date hereof, becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required by the Revolving Credit Agreement to become a party hereto, the relevant Grantor after the acquisition or creation thereof shall promptly take all actions required by the Revolving Credit Agreement or this Section 4.1.

4.2. Changes in Locations, Name, etc. Each Grantor will furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (i) in its legal name, (ii) in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, (iii) in its identity or type of organization or corporate structure or (iv) in its Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number. Each Grantor agrees promptly to provide the Collateral Agent with certified Organizational Documents reflecting any of the changes described in the first sentence of this paragraph. Each Grantor agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement). Each Grantor also agrees to promptly notify the Collateral Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

4.3. Notices. (a) Each Grantor will advise the Collateral Agent in reasonable detail, of any Lien of which it has knowledge (other than the Security Interests created hereby and pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Documents and other Permitted Liens) on any of the Collateral which would adversely affect, in any material respect, the ability of the Collateral Agent to exercise any of its remedies hereunder.

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, all insurance payments in respect of any Equipment shall be paid to and applied by the Collateral Agent as specified in Section 5.4.

 

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4.4. Intellectual Property.

(a) With respect to each item of Intellectual Property Collateral owned by each Grantor, each Grantor agrees to take, at its expense, all commercially reasonably steps, including, as applicable, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authority located in the United States, to (i) maintain the validity and enforceability of such Intellectual Property Collateral and maintain such Intellectual Property Collateral in full force and effect, and (ii) pursue the registration and maintenance of each Patent, Trademark, or Copyright registration or application for registration, now or hereafter included in such Intellectual Property Collateral of such Grantor.

(b) Such Grantor shall (and shall cause all its licensees to), in such Grantor’s reasonable business judgment (i) (1) continue to use each Trademark included in the Intellectual Property Collateral in order to maintain such Trademark in full force and effect with respect to each class of goods for which such Trademark is currently used, free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (2) maintain at least the same standards of quality of products and services offered under such Trademark as are currently maintained, (3) use such Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration and all other notices and legends required by Applicable Law, (4) not adopt or use any other Trademark that is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless the Collateral Agent shall obtain a perfected security interest in such other Trademark pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) not do any act or omit to do any act whereby (w) such Trademark (or any goodwill associated therewith) may become destroyed, invalidated, impaired or harmed in any way, (x) any Patent included in the Intellectual Property Collateral may become forfeited, misused, unenforceable, abandoned or dedicated to the public or (y) any portion of the Copyrights included in the Intellectual Property Collateral may become invalidated, otherwise impaired or fall into the public domain.

(c) No Grantor shall discontinue use of or otherwise abandon any owned Intellectual Property Collateral unless such Grantor shall have previously determined that such use or the pursuit or maintenance of such Intellectual Property Collateral is no longer desirable in the conduct of such Grantor’s business.

(d) In the event that any Grantor becomes aware after the date hereof that any item of its material Intellectual Property Collateral is being infringed or misappropriated by a third party in any way that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent and take such actions, at its expense, as such Grantor deems reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to protect or enforce such Intellectual Property Collateral, including, if such Grantor deems it necessary, suing for infringement or misappropriation and for an injunction against such infringement or misappropriation.

(e) With respect to its United States Registered Intellectual Property owned by such Grantor in its own name on the date hereof, each Grantor agrees to execute or otherwise authenticate an agreement, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit 3 hereto (an “Intellectual Property Security Agreement”), for recording the Security Interest granted hereunder to the Collateral Agent in such United States Registered Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authorities located in the United States necessary to perfect the Security Interest hereunder in such Registered Intellectual Property.

 

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5. Remedial Provisions.

5.1. Certain Matters Relating to Accounts. (a) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default after written notice is delivered to the Grantor, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and each Grantor shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Collateral Agent may require in connection with such test verifications. The Collateral Agent shall have the absolute right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party.

(b) The Collateral Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to collect such Grantor’s Accounts and the Collateral Agent may curtail or terminate said authority at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default. If required in writing by the Collateral Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, any payments of Accounts, when collected by any Grantor, (i) shall be forthwith (and, in any event, within two Business Days) deposited by such Grantor in the exact form received, duly endorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent if required, in a Collateral Account maintained under the sole dominion and control of and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, subject to withdrawal by the Collateral Agent for the account of the Secured Parties only as provided in Section 5.4, and (ii) until so turned over, shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor. Each such deposit of Proceeds of Accounts shall be accompanied by a report identifying in reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.

(c) At the Collateral Agent’s written request at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent all original and other documents evidencing, and relating to, the agreements and transactions which gave rise to the Accounts, including all original orders, invoices and shipping receipts.

(d) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, a Grantor shall not grant any extension of the time of payment of any of the Accounts, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof, or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon if the Collateral Agent shall have instructed the Grantors in writing not to grant or make any such extension, credit, discount, compromise, or settlement under any circumstances during the continuation of such Event of Default.

5.2. Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable. (a) The Collateral Agent in its own name or in the name of others may at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, after giving reasonable written notice to the relevant Grantor of its intent to do so, communicate with obligors under the Accounts to verify with them to the Collateral Agent’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any

 

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Accounts. The Collateral Agent shall have the absolute right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party; provided, that the provisions of Section 13.16 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall apply to such information.

(b) Upon the written request of the Collateral Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall notify obligors on the Accounts that the Accounts have been assigned to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly to the Collateral Agent and may enforce such Grantor’s rights against such obligors.

(c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise thereto. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any payment relating thereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party thereunder, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

5.3. Proceeds to be Turned Over To Collateral Agent. In addition to the rights of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties specified in Section 5.1 with respect to payments of Accounts, if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Collateral Agent so requires by notice in writing to the relevant Grantor (it being understood that the exercise of remedies by the Secured Parties in connection with an Event of Default under Section 11.5 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a request by the Collateral Agent for the purposes of this sentence and in such circumstances, no such written notice shall be required), all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly endorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent, if required). All Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent hereunder shall be held by the Collateral Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and control and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. All Proceeds while held by the Collateral Agent in a Collateral Account (or by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 5.4.

5.4. Application of Proceeds. (a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement or any other Revolving Credit Document, all proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied as follows:

 

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(i) FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with such sale, collection or realization or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, the other Security Documents or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Security Document on behalf of any Grantor and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Security Document;

(ii) SECOND, to the Secured Parties, an amount equal to all Obligations owing to them on the date of any such distribution, and, if such moneys shall be insufficient to pay such amounts in full, then ratably (without priority of any one over any other) to such Secured Parties in proportion to the unpaid amounts thereof; and

(iii) THIRD, any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Grantors or their successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

(b) Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

5.5. Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the NY UCC or any other applicable law or in equity and also may without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices and upon such other terms as are commercially reasonable irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers of Collateral to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and, upon consummation of any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent or any Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, and the

 

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Collateral Agent or such Secured Party may subject to (x) the satisfaction in full in cash of all payments due pursuant to Section 5.4(a)(i) hereof and (y) the ratable satisfaction of the Obligations in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 5.4(a) hereof, pay the purchase price by crediting the amount thereof against the Obligations. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days’ notice to such Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. To the extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby waives any claim against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. Each Grantor further agrees, at the Collateral Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Collateral Agent at places which the Collateral Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. The Collateral Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 5.5 in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.5 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the NY UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

5.6. Deficiency. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay the Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

5.7. Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. Each Grantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Grantor and without notice to or further assent by any Grantor, (a) any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by such party and any of the Obligations continued, (b) the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) the Secured Debt Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Document, and (d) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Agreement or any property

 

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subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower or any other Grantor, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Grantor or any release of the Borrower or any other Grantor shall not relieve any Grantor in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or any Grantor not so released of its several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Grantor. For the purpose hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

5.8. Conflict with Revolving Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Section 5 and the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Revolving Credit Agreement shall prevail.

6. The Collateral Agent.

6.1. Collateral Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc. (a) Each Grantor hereby appoints, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, effective upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement and the other Revolving Credit Documents, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the other Revolving Credit Documents, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby gives the Collateral Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, either in the Collateral Agent’s name or in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, without assent by such Grantor, to do any or all of the following at the same time or at different times, in each case after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default and after written notice by the Collateral Agent of its intent to do so:

(i) take possession of and endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due under any Account or with respect to any other Collateral and file any claim or take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any Account or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable;

(ii) in the case of any Intellectual Property, execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Collateral Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interest in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;

 

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(iii) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against any Collateral;

(iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 5.5, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral;

(v) obtain, pay and adjust insurance required to be maintained by such Grantor or paid to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement;

(vi) send verifications of Accounts to any Person who is or who may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account;

(vii) direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the Collateral Agent or as the Collateral Agent shall direct;

(viii) ask or demand for, collect and receive payment of and receipt for, any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral;

(ix) sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, notices and other documents in connection with any of the Collateral;

(x) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any portion thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral;

(xi) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral (with such Grantor’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the extent such action or its resolution could materially affect such Grantor or any of its Affiliates in any manner other than with respect to its continuing rights in such Collateral; provided that such consent right shall not limit any other rights or remedies available to the Collateral Agent at law);

(xii) settle, compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate (with such Grantor’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the extent such action or its resolution could materially affect such Grantor or any of its Affiliates in any manner other than with respect to its continuing rights in such Collateral; provided that such consent right shall not limit any other rights or remedies available to the Collateral Agent at law);

(xiii) assign any Intellectual Property Collateral throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions, and in such manner, as the Collateral Agent shall in its reasonable business discretion determine; and

 

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(xiv) generally, sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things that the Collateral Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interests therein and to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

Anything in this Section 6.l(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section 6.1(a) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b) If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein, the Collateral Agent, at its option, but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement.

(c) The expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section 6.1, together with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the highest rate per annum at which interest would then be payable on any category of past due ABR Loans under the Revolving Credit Agreement, from the date of payment by the Collateral Agent to the date reimbursed by the relevant Grantor, shall be payable by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent on demand.

(d) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. All powers, authorizations and agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are released.

6.2. Duty of Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the NY UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Collateral Agent deals with similar property for its own account. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property. Neither the Collateral Agent, any other Secured Party nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder are solely to protect the Collateral Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

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6.3. Authority of Collateral Agent. Each Grantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Collateral Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Collateral Agent of any option, voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, be governed by this Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Collateral Agent and the Grantors, the Collateral Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Secured Parties with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

6.4. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interests created hereby and all obligations of the Grantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Revolving Credit Agreement, any other Revolving Credit Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Revolving Credit Agreement, any other Revolving Credit Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement.

6.5. Continuing Security Interest; Assignments Under the Secured Debt Documents; Release. (a) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Grantor and the successors and assigns thereof and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns until the Termination Date.

(b) A Subsidiary Grantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interests in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Grantor created hereby shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement, as a result of which such Subsidiary Grantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent required by the Revolving Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Grantor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement (other than to another Grantor), or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interests created hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 13.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the security interests in such Collateral created hereby shall be automatically released and such Collateral sold free and clear of the Lien and security interests created hereby.

 

22


(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, all documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

6.6. Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Grantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Grantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1. Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by the affected Grantor and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 13.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement; provided, however, that this Agreement may be supplemented (but no existing provisions may be modified and no Collateral may be released) through agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2, respectively, in each case duly executed by each Grantor directly effected thereby.

7.2. Notices. All notices, requests and demands pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Grantor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s address set forth in Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

7.3. No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof or of any other applicable Secured Debt Document. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party would otherwise have on any other occasion. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

 

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7.4. Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Grantor agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented expenses (including all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that may be paid or incurred by any Secured Party in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, such Grantor under this Agreement.

(b) Each Grantor agrees to pay, and to save the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Revolving Credit Documents, each Grantor agrees to pay, and to save the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section 13.5 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(d) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The agreements in this Section 7.4 shall survive termination of this Agreement or any other Revolving Credit Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Revolving Credit Document or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 7.4 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

7.5. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement.

7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e. a “pdf” or “tiff’)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.

7.7. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in

 

24


good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

7.8. Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

7.9. Integration. This Agreement represents the agreement of each of the Grantors with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Secured Debt Documents.

7.10. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

7.11. Submission To Jurisdiction Waivers. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Revolving Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Grantor at its address referred to in Section 7.2 or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 7.11 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

25


7.12. Acknowledgments. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Revolving Credit Documents to which it is a party;

(b) neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Revolving Credit Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor;

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Revolving Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Secured Parties or among the Grantors and the Secured Parties; and

(d) upon any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may proceed without notice, against any Grantor and any Collateral to collect and recover the full amount of any Obligation then due, without first proceeding against any other Grantor, any other Credit Party or any other Collateral and without first joining any other Grantor or any other Credit Party in any proceeding.

7.13. Additional Grantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.10 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and the terms hereof shall become a Grantor, with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein, for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of a Supplement substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 hereto. The execution and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Grantor as a party to this Agreement shall not require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

7.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER REVOLVING CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

7.15. Intercreditor Agreement Governs. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Term Loan Collateral and Term Loan Liens are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement with respect to the Term Loan Collateral and Term Loan Liens, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall prevail.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

26


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

as Grantor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

as Grantor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to this Agreement as a Grantor hereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Security Agreement]


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Collateral Agent,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
EX-10.6 11 dex106.htm TERM LOAN GUARANTEE, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Term Loan Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.6

EXECUTION COPY

TERM LOAN GUARANTEE

TERM LOAN GUARANTEE, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Guarantee”), made among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), each of the subsidiaries of CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation, with GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the borrower, the “Borrower”) listed on Annex A hereto (each such subsidiary, individually, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”; and together with Holdings and the Borrower, collectively, the “Guarantors”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, (a) pursuant to the term loan credit agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Bookrunners, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, the Lenders have severally agreed to make Loans to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, (b) one or more Hedge Banks may from time to time enter into Secured Hedging Agreements with any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and (c) one or more Cash Management Banks may from time to time provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (clauses (a), (b) and (c), collectively, the “Extensions of Credit”);

WHEREAS, Holdings is an affiliate of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to the Guarantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

WHEREAS, each Guarantor acknowledges that it will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the Extensions of Credit; and

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Term Loan Credit Agreement that the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Guarantee to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined below).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into the Term Loan Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, to


EXECUTION VERSION

 

induce one or more Hedge Banks to enter into Secured Hedging Agreements with any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and to induce one or more Cash Management Banks pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to provide Cash Management Services to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Guarantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

1. Defined Terms. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein (including terms used in the preamble and recitals hereto) shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

(b) The rules of construction and other interpretative provisions specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall apply to this Guarantee, including terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto.

(c) As used herein, the term “Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Obligations” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

(d) As used herein, the term “Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Secured Parties” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

(e) As used herein, the term “Termination Date” means the date on which all Obligations are paid in full in cash (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations).

2. Guarantee. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b), each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Credit Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Sections 3 and 5 hereof.

(b) Anything herein or in any other Credit Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder and under the other Credit Documents shall in no event exceed the amount that can be guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor under Applicable Laws relating to the insolvency of debtors.

(c) To the extent required by Section 12.5 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, each Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that may


EXECUTION VERSION

 

be paid or incurred by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, such Guarantor under this Guarantee.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor hereunder without impairing this Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party hereunder.

(e) No payment or payments made by the Borrower, any other Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party from the Borrower, any other Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments other than payments made by such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations or payments received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations, remain liable for the Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Termination Date.

(f) Each Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time, or from time to time, it shall make any payment to the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party on account of its liability hereunder, it will notify the Collateral Agent in writing that such payment is made under this Guarantee for such purpose.

(g) Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s and each other Credit Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

3. Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder that has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5 hereof. The provisions of this Section 3 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

4. Right of Set-off. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Secured Parties provided by Applicable Law, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes each Secured Party at any time and from time to time following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default without notice to such Guarantor or any other Guarantor, any such notice


EXECUTION VERSION

 

being expressly waived by each Guarantor, upon any amount becoming due and payable by such Guarantor hereunder (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Secured Party to or for the credit or the account of such Guarantor. Each Secured Party shall notify such Guarantor promptly of any such set-off and the appropriation and application made by such Secured Party; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and appropriation and application.

5. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by any of the Guarantors hereunder or any set-off or appropriation and application of funds of any of the Guarantors by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until the Termination Date. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time prior to the Termination Date, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Collateral Agent, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether due or to become due, in such order as the Collateral Agent may determine, subject to the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

6. Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. Except for termination of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 25, each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to or further assent by any Guarantor, (a) any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by such party and any of the Obligations continued, (b) the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith, the Secured Hedging Agreements and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith and the Secured Cash Management Agreements and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith, may be amended, waived, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the applicable document and (d) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Guarantee or any property subject thereto.


EXECUTION VERSION

 

When making any demand hereunder against any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower or any other Guarantor or other guarantor, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Guarantor or other guarantor or any release of the Borrower or any other Guarantor or other guarantor shall not relieve any Guarantor in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or any Guarantor not so released of its several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof, “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

7. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, contraction, incurrence, renewal, extension, amendment, waiver or accrual of any of the Obligations, and notice of or proof of reliance by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee, the Obligations or any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended, waived or accrued, in reliance upon this Guarantee; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee. Each Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, presentment, protest, notice of protest, demand for payment and notice of default, acceleration or nonpayment and any other notice to or upon the Borrower or any other Guarantor with respect to the Obligations. Each Guarantor understands and agrees that this Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document, any Secured Hedging Agreement or any Secured Cash Management Agreement, any of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) that may at any time be available to or be asserted by the Borrower against the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor) that constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Borrower for the Obligations, or of such Guarantor under this Guarantee, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent and any other Secured Party may elect, but shall be under no obligation, to pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any such other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve such Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties against such Guarantor. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to Applicable Law, to impair or to


EXECUTION VERSION

 

extinguish any right of reimbursement, subrogation, exoneration, contribution or indemnification or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor, as the case may be, or any security. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Guarantor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, until the Termination Date, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and any Secured Hedging Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement the Credit Parties may be free from any Obligations.

8. Subordination. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that any Indebtedness of any Guarantor now or hereafter owing to any other Guarantor, whether heretofore, now or hereafter created (the “Guarantor Subordinated Debt”), is hereby subordinated to all of the Obligations until the Termination Date and that the Guarantor Subordinated Debt shall not be paid in whole or in part during the continuance of any Event of Default. In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to any Guarantor or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of such Guarantor (except as expressly permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement), whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, then, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (a) the Collateral Agent shall be paid irrevocably in full in cash in immediately available funds in respect of all amounts constituting the Obligations (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations) before any payee is entitled to received (whether directly or indirectly), or make any demands for, any payment on account of the Guarantor Subordinated Debt and (b) until the Collateral Agent is paid irrevocably in full in cash in immediately available funds in respect of all amounts constituting the Obligations (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), any payment or distribution to which such payee would otherwise be entitled (other than debt securities of such Guarantor that are subordinated, to at least the same extent as this Section 8, to the payment of all Guarantor Subordinated Debt then outstanding (such securities being hereinafter referred to as “Restructured Debt Securities”)) shall be made to the Collateral Agent. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then no payment or distribution of any kind or character shall be accepted by or on behalf of the Guarantor or any other Person on its behalf with respect to the Guarantor Subordinated Debt. If any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), in respect of the Guarantor Subordinated Debt shall be received by any Payee in violation of this Section 8 before all Obligations shall have been paid irrevocably in full in cash in immediately available funds (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be paid over the Collateral Agent.

9. Representations and Warranties; Covenants. Each Guarantor hereby (a) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties as to it made by the Borrower in Section 7 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement are true and correct on each date as required by


EXECUTION VERSION

 

Section 6.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and (b) agrees to take, or refrain from taking, as the case may be, each action necessary to be taken or not taken, as the case may be, so that no Default or Event of Default is caused by the failure to take such action or to refrain from taking such action by such Guarantor.

10. Reinstatement. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

11. Payments. Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Collateral Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars at the Collateral Agent’s office specified in Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

12. Authority of Agent. Each Guarantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent under this Guarantee with respect to any action taken by the Collateral Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Collateral Agent of any option, right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Guarantee shall, as between the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, be governed by the Term Loan Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Collateral Agent and such Guarantor, the Collateral Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Secured Parties with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Guarantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

13. Notices. All notices, requests and demands pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to each Guarantor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s address set forth in Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

14. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Guarantee on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “PDF” or “TIFF” file)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Guarantee signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.

15. Severability. Any provision of this Guarantee that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.


EXECUTION VERSION

 

16. Integration. This Guarantee represents the agreement of each Guarantor and the Collateral Agent with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

17. Amendments in Writing; No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

(a) None of the terms or provisions of this Guarantee may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by the affected Guarantor(s) and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

(b) Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 17(a) hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion.

(c) The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

18. Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Guarantee are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

19. Entire Agreement. This Guarantee, taken together with all of the other Credit Documents executed and delivered by the Guarantors, represents the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and supersedes all prior understandings, written and oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.

20. Successors and Assigns. This Guarantee shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Guarantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Guarantee without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.


EXECUTION VERSION

 

21. Additional Guarantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Guarantee pursuant to Section 8.10 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall become a Guarantor, with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Guarantor herein, for all purposes of this Guarantee upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of a Supplement in the form of Annex B hereto or in such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The execution and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Guarantor as a party to this Guarantee shall not require the consent of any other Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Guarantor as a party to this Guarantee.

22. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTEE, ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

23. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Guarantee and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Guarantor at its address referred to in Section 13 hereof or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 23 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

24. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTEE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


EXECUTION VERSION

 

25. Termination or Release.

(a) This Guarantee shall terminate on the Termination Date.

(b) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Domestic Subsidiary or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent required by the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) In connection with any termination or release, the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Guarantor, at such Guarantor’s expense, all documents that such Guarantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 25 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

[Signature Pages Follow]


EXECUTION COPY

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Term Loan Guarantee]


EXECUTION COPY

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Term Loan Guarantee]


EXECUTION COPY

 

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Term Loan Guarantee]


EXECUTION COPY

 

GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Term Loan Guarantee]


EXECUTION COPY

 

NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Guarantee (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to this Guarantee as a Guarantor hereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Term Loan Guarantee]


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Collateral Agent,
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO TERM LOAN GUARANTEE SUPPLEMENT]

EX-10.7 12 dex107.htm REVOLVING GUARANTEE, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Revolving Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.7

EXECUTION COPY

REVOLVING GUARANTEE

REVOLVING GUARANTEE, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Guarantee”), made among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), each of the subsidiaries of CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation, with GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the borrower, the “Borrower”) listed on Annex A hereto (each such subsidiary, individually, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”; and together with Holdings and the Borrower, collectively, the “Guarantors”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, (a) pursuant to the revolving loan credit agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Bookrunners, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, the Lenders have severally agreed to make Loans to the Borrower and the Letter of Credit Issuers have agreed to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and (b) one or more Cash Management Banks may from time to time provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (clauses (a) and (b) collectively, the “Extensions of Credit”);

WHEREAS, Holdings is an affiliate of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to the Guarantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

WHEREAS, each Guarantor acknowledges that it will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the Extensions of Credit; and

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement that the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Guarantee to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined below).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the


Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce one or more Cash Management Banks pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to provide Cash Management Services to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Guarantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

1. Defined Terms. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and used herein (including terms used in the preamble and recitals hereto) shall have the meanings given to them in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(b) The rules of construction and other interpretative provisions specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall apply to this Guarantee, including terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto.

(c) As used herein, the term “Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Obligations” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(d) As used herein, the term “Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Secured Parties” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(e) As used herein, the term “Termination Date” means the date on which all Obligations are paid in full in cash (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations) and the Total Commitments and all Letters of Credit are terminated (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized on terms satisfactory to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer following the termination of the Commitments).

2. Guarantee. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b), each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Credit Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Sections 3 and 5 hereof.

(b) Anything herein or in any other Credit Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder and under the other Credit Documents shall in no event exceed the amount that can be guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor under Applicable Laws relating to the insolvency of debtors.

(c) To the extent required by Section 13.5 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, each Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket

 

2


costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that may be paid or incurred by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, such Guarantor under this Guarantee.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor hereunder without impairing this Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party hereunder.

(e) No payment or payments made by the Borrower, any other Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party from the Borrower, any other Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments other than payments made by such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations or payments received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Obligations, remain liable for the Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Termination Date.

(f) Each Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time, or from time to time, it shall make any payment to the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party on account of its liability hereunder, it will notify the Collateral Agent in writing that such payment is made under this Guarantee for such purpose.

(g) Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s and each other Credit Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

3. Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder that has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5 hereof. The provisions of this Section 3 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

4. Right of Set-off. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Secured Parties provided by Applicable Law, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes each Secured Party at any time and from time to time following the occurrence and during the continuance of

 

3


an Event of Default without notice to such Guarantor or any other Guarantor, any such notice being expressly waived by each Guarantor, upon any amount becoming due and payable by such Guarantor hereunder (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Secured Party to or for the credit or the account of such Guarantor. Each Secured Party shall notify such Guarantor promptly of any such set-off and the appropriation and application made by such Secured Party; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and appropriation and application.

5. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by any of the Guarantors hereunder or any set-off or appropriation and application of funds of any of the Guarantors by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until the Termination Date. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time prior to the Termination Date, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Collateral Agent, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether due or to become due, in such order as the Collateral Agent may determine, subject to the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

6. Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. Except for termination of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 25, each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to or further assent by any Guarantor, (a) any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by such party and any of the Obligations continued, (b) the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) the Revolving Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith, any Letter of Credit and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith and the Secured Cash Management Agreements and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith, may be amended, waived, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the applicable document and (d) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by

 

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it as security for the Obligations or for this Guarantee or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower or any other Guarantor or other guarantor, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Guarantor or other guarantor or any release of the Borrower or any other Guarantor or other guarantor shall not relieve any Guarantor in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or any Guarantor not so released of its several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof, “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

7. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, contraction, incurrence, renewal, extension, amendment, waiver or accrual of any of the Obligations, and notice of or proof of reliance by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee, the Obligations or any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended, waived or accrued, in reliance upon this Guarantee; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee. Each Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, presentment, protest, notice of protest, demand for payment and notice of default, acceleration or nonpayment and any other notice to or upon the Borrower or any other Guarantor with respect to the Obligations. Each Guarantor understands and agrees that this Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Revolving Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document, any Letter of Credit or any Secured Cash Management Agreement, any of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) that may at any time be available to or be asserted by the Borrower against the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor) that constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Borrower for the Obligations, or of such Guarantor under this Guarantee, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent and any other Secured Party may elect, but shall be under no obligation, to pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any such other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve such Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties against such Guarantor. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election

 

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operates, pursuant to Applicable Law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement, subrogation, exoneration, contribution or indemnification or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor, as the case may be, or any security. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Guarantor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, until the Termination Date, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Revolving Credit Agreement and any Secured Cash Management Agreement the Credit Parties may be free from any Obligations.

8. Subordination. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that any Indebtedness of any Guarantor now or hereafter owing to any other Guarantor, whether heretofore, now or hereafter created (the “Guarantor Subordinated Debt”), is hereby subordinated to all of the Obligations until the Termination Date and that the Guarantor Subordinated Debt shall not be paid in whole or in part during the continuance of any Event of Default. In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to any Guarantor or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of such Guarantor (except as expressly permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement), whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, then, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (a) the Collateral Agent shall be paid irrevocably in full in cash in immediately available funds in respect of all amounts constituting the Obligations (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations) before any payee is entitled to received (whether directly or indirectly), or make any demands for, any payment on account of the Guarantor Subordinated Debt and (b) until the Collateral Agent is paid irrevocably in full in cash in immediately available funds in respect of all amounts constituting the Obligations (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), any payment or distribution to which such payee would otherwise be entitled (other than debt securities of such Guarantor that are subordinated, to at least the same extent as this Section 8, to the payment of all Guarantor Subordinated Debt then outstanding (such securities being hereinafter referred to as “Restructured Debt Securities”)) shall be made to the Collateral Agent. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then no payment or distribution of any kind or character shall be accepted by or on behalf of the Guarantor or any other Person on its behalf with respect to the Guarantor Subordinated Debt. If any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), in respect of the Guarantor Subordinated Debt shall be received by any Payee in violation of this Section 8 before all Obligations shall have been paid irrevocably in full in cash in immediately available funds (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations), such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be paid over the Collateral Agent.

9. Representations and Warranties; Covenants. Each Guarantor hereby (a) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties as to it made by the Borrower in Section 8 of the Revolving Credit Agreement are true and correct on each date as required by Section 7.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) agrees to take, or refrain from taking, as the case may be, each action necessary to be taken or not taken, as the case may be, so that no Default or Event of Default is caused by the failure to take such action or to refrain from taking such action by such Guarantor.

 

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10. Reinstatement. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

11. Payments. Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Collateral Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars at the Collateral Agent’s office specified in Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

12. Authority of Agent. Each Guarantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent under this Guarantee with respect to any action taken by the Collateral Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Collateral Agent of any option, right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Guarantee shall, as between the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, be governed by the Revolving Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Collateral Agent and such Guarantor, the Collateral Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Secured Parties with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Guarantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

13. Notices. All notices, requests and demands pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to each Guarantor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s address set forth in Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

14. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Guarantee on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “PDF” or “TIFF” file)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Guarantee signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.

15. Severability. Any provision of this Guarantee that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

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16. Integration. This Guarantee represents the agreement of each Guarantor and the Collateral Agent with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

17. Amendments in Writing; No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

(a) None of the terms or provisions of this Guarantee may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by the affected Guarantor(s) and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 13.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(b) Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 17(a) hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion.

(c) The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

18. Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Guarantee are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

19. Entire Agreement. This Guarantee, taken together with all of the other Credit Documents executed and delivered by the Guarantors, represents the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and supersedes all prior understandings, written and oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.

20. Successors and Assigns. This Guarantee shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Guarantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Guarantee without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

21. Additional Guarantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Guarantee pursuant to Section 9.10 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall become a Guarantor, with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Guarantor herein, for all purposes of this Guarantee upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of a

 

8


Supplement in the form of Annex B hereto or in such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The execution and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Guarantor as a party to this Guarantee shall not require the consent of any other Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Guarantor as a party to this Guarantee.

22. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTEE, ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

23. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Guarantee and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Guarantor at its address referred to in Section 13 hereof or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 23 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

24. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTEE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

25. Termination or Release.

(a) This Guarantee shall terminate on the Termination Date.

 

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(b) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Domestic Subsidiary or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent required by the Revolving Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) In connection with any termination or release, the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Guarantor, at such Guarantor’s expense, all documents that such Guarantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 25 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to the ABL Guarantee]


CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to the ABL Guarantee]


GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to the ABL Guarantee]


GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to the ABL Guarantee]


NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Guarantor,

By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Guarantee (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to this Guarantee as a Guarantor hereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:

[Signature Page to the ABL Guarantee]


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Collateral Agent,
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL GUARANTEE SUPPLEMENT]

EX-10.8 13 dex108.htm TERM LOAN PLEDGE AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Term Loan Pledge Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.8

EXECUTION COPY

TERM LOAN PLEDGE AGREEMENT

TERM LOAN PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Agreement”), among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation, with GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the borrower, the “Borrower”), each of the subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1 hereto (each such subsidiary, individually, a “Subsidiary Pledgor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Pledgors”; and together with Holdings and the Borrower, collectively, the “Pledgors”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, (1) Holdings and the Borrower have entered into a term loan credit agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), with the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Bookrunners, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Administrative and Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the Lenders have severally agreed to make loans to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, (2) one or more Hedge Banks may from time to time enter into Secured Hedging Agreements with any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and (3) one or more Cash Management Banks may from time to time provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (clauses (1), (2) and (3), collectively, the “Extensions of Credit”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Term Loan Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Term Loan Guarantee”), Holdings and each of the Subsidiary Pledgors has agreed to guarantee, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations;

WHEREAS, each Subsidiary Pledgor is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to Holdings and the Subsidiary Pledgors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

WHEREAS, each Pledgor acknowledges that it will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the Extensions of Credit;

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Term Loan Credit Agreement that the Pledgors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties; and


WHEREAS, (1) the Pledgors are the legal and beneficial owners of the Equity Interests described in Schedule 2 and issued by the entities named therein (such Equity Interests, together with all other Equity Interests required to be pledged pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “After-acquired Shares”), are referred to collectively herein as the “Pledged Shares”), and (2) each of the Pledgors is the legal and beneficial owner of the promissory notes, chattel paper and instruments evidencing Indebtedness owed to it described in Schedule 2 and issued by the entities named therein (such notes and instruments, together with any other Indebtedness owed to any Pledgor hereafter and required to be pledged pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “After-acquired Debt”), are referred to collectively herein as the “Pledged Debt”), in each case as such schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into the Term Loan Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, to induce one or more Hedge Banks to enter into Secured Hedging Agreements with any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and to induce one or more Cash Management Banks to provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Pledgors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

1. Defined Terms.

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein (including terms used in the preamble and the recitals) shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and all terms defined in the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State of New York (the “NY UCC”) and not defined herein or in the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall have the meanings specified therein (and if defined in more than one article of the NY UCC, shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 thereof); the term “instrument” shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

(b) The rules of construction and other interpretive provisions specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall apply to this Pledge Agreement, including terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto.

(c) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

After-acquired Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

After-acquired Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

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Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrower” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Credit Documents” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Credit Documents” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Equity Interests” shall mean shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person of whatever nature, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

Excluded Capital Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Excluded Capital Stock” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Extensions of Credit” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Obligations” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Pledged Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Pledged Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Pledgors” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Revolving Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Revolving Credit Documents” shall mean the “Credit Documents” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Revolving Liens” shall mean Liens granted in favor of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Revolving Credit Documents.

 

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Revolving Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Revolving Pledge Agreement dated as of February 13, 2008 , among Holdings, the Borrower, each of the subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Revolving Pledge Agreement).

Secured Debt Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Credit Documents, each Secured Hedging Agreement entered into with a Hedge Bank and each Secured Cash Management Agreement entered into with a Cash Management Bank.

Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Secured Parties” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement. “Subsidiary Pledgors” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Securities Act” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12(e).

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Term Loan Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Termination Date” shall mean the date on which all Obligations are paid in full in cash (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedging Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations).

(d) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Pledgor, shall refer to such Pledgor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

2. Grant of Security. As security for the prompt and complete payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby transfers, assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or existing (collectively, the “Collateral”):

(a) the Pledged Shares held by such Pledgor and the certificates, if any, representing such Pledged Shares and any interest of such Pledgor, including all interests documented in the entries on the books of the issuer of the Pledged Shares or any financial intermediary pertaining to the Pledged Shares and all dividends, cash, warrants, rights, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any or all of the Pledged Shares; provided that the Pledged Shares under this Agreement shall not include any Excluded Capital Stock;

(b) the Pledged Debt and the instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt owed to such Pledgor, and all payments of principal or interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Pledged Debt;

 

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(c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Section 2;

(d) subject to Section 8, all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above; and

(e) to the extent not covered by clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, respectively, all proceeds of any or all of the foregoing Collateral. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “proceeds” includes whatever is receivable or received when Collateral or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected or otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and includes proceeds of any indemnity or guarantee payable to any Pledgor or the Collateral Agent from time to time with respect to any of the Collateral.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

3. Security for the Obligations. This Agreement secures the full and prompt payment when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of, and the performance of, all the Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement secures the payment of all amounts that constitute part of the Obligations and would be owed to the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties under the Secured Debt Documents but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving any Pledgor.

4. Delivery of the Collateral. (a) All certificates or instruments, if any, representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be promptly delivered to and held by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall have the right, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default and without notice to any Pledgor (except as otherwise expressly provided herein), to transfer to or to register in the name of the Collateral Agent or any of its nominees any or all of the Pledged Shares. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Pledgor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Shares registered in the name of such Pledgor. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Shares for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each delivery of Collateral (including any After-acquired Shares and After-acquired Debt) shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities theretofore and then being pledged hereunder, which shall be attached hereto as part of Schedule 2 and made a part hereof; provided that the failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supersede any prior schedules so delivered.

 

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(b) As soon as practicable and in any event within 60 days of the Closing Date, or such later date as the Collateral Agent may reasonably determine after any request for extension by the Borrower, each relevant Pledgor shall execute any document or agreement and shall carry out any formality or perfection steps that are required in connection with the pledge over Pledged Shares issued by Goodman Company Canada which the Collateral Agent reasonably determines is necessary under any relevant Applicable Law to create a perfected first priority security interest in such Collateral, securing the payment of the Obligations, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties enforceable vis-à-vis third parties.

5. Representations and Warranties. Each Pledgor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party that:

(a) Schedule 2 hereto (i) correctly represents as of the date hereof (A) the issuer, the issuer’s jurisdiction of formation, the certificate number, if any, the Pledgor and the record and beneficial owner, the number and class and the percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such class of all Pledged Shares and (B) the issuer, the issuer’s jurisdiction, the initial principal amount, the Pledgor and holder, date of issuance and maturity date of all Pledged Debt and (ii) together with the comparable schedule to each supplement hereto, includes, all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes required to be pledged pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and Section 9(b) hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 2, the Pledged Shares represent all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each class of Equity Interests (or 65% of all of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests in the case of pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries) in the issuer on the date hereof.

(b) Such Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral pledged or assigned by such Pledgor hereunder free and clear of any Lien, except for the Liens created by this Agreement and the Liens created by the Revolving Pledge Agreement.

(c) As of the date of this Agreement, the Pledged Shares pledged by such Pledgor hereunder have been duly authorized and validly issued and, in the case of Pledged Shares issued by a corporation, are fully paid and non-assessable.

(d) Except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents or securities laws generally and except as described in the Perfection Certificate, the Collateral is freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Collateral is subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder.

 

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(e) No consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect).

(f) The execution and delivery by such Pledgor of this Agreement and the pledge of the Collateral pledged by such Pledgor hereunder pursuant hereto create a valid and enforceable security interest in such Collateral and, upon the earlier of (i) delivery of such Collateral to the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) the filing of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code financing statements described in Section 3.3(a) of the Security Agreement, shall create a perfected first priority security interest in such Collateral, securing the payment of the Obligations, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

(g) The pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein.

(h) Such Pledgor has full power, authority and legal right to pledge all the Collateral pledged by such Pledgor pursuant to this Agreement and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Pledgor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

(i) The issuers listed on Schedule 2 are the only Subsidiaries of such Pledgor as of the Closing Date (with the exception of AsureCare Corp., a Florida corporation, which is a direct subsidiary of Goodman Company, L.P.).

(j) The Pledged Debt constitutes all of the outstanding Indebtedness for money borrowed or for the deferred purchase price of property owed to such Pledgor as of the Closing Date and required to be pledge hereunder or pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

6. Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests, Limited Partnership Interests and Pledged Debt. (a) Unless otherwise consented to by the Collateral Agent, Equity Interests required to be pledged hereunder in any Domestic Subsidiary that is organized as a limited liability company or limited partnership and pledged hereunder shall either (i) be represented by a certificate, and in the Organizational Documents of such Domestic Subsidiary the applicable Pledgor shall cause the issuer of such interests to elect to treat such interests as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, as applicable, by including in its organizational documents language substantially similar to the following and, accordingly, such interests shall be governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code:

 

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“The [partnership/limited liability company] hereby irrevocably elects that all [partnership/membership] interests in the [partnership/limited liability company] shall be securities governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of [jurisdiction of organization or formation, as applicable]. Each certificate evidencing [partnership/membership] interests in the [partnership/limited liability company] shall bear the following legend: “This certificate evidences an interest in [name of [partnership/limited liability company]] and shall be a security for purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.” No change to this provision shall be effective until all outstanding certificates have been surrendered for cancellation and any new certificates thereafter issued shall not bear the foregoing legend.”

or (ii) not have elected to be treated as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code and shall not be represented by a certificate.

(b) Subject to the limitations set forth herein and in Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) owed to any Pledgor and required to be pledged pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof.

7. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees that at any time and from time to time, at the expense of such Pledgor, it will execute or otherwise authorize the filing of any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order (x) to perfect and protect any pledge, assignment or security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby (including the priority thereof) or (y) to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral.

8. Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions; Etc. (a) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or the other Secured Debt Documents; provided that such voting and other rights shall not be exercised in any manner that could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Shares or the rights and remedies of any of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement, the Term Loan Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

(ii) The Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to each Pledgor all such proxies and other instruments as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Pledgor to exercise the voting and other rights that it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) above.

 

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(b) Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain and use, free and clear of the Lien of this Agreement, any and all dividends, distributions, redemptions, principal and interest made or paid in respect of the Collateral to the extent not prohibited by any Secured Debt Document; provided, however, that any and all noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Shares or Pledged Debt, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Shares or received in exchange for Pledged Shares or Pledged Debt or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent to hold as, Collateral and shall, if received by such Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of such Pledgor and be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).

(c) Upon written notice to the Pledgors by the Collateral Agent following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default:

(i) all rights of such Pledgor to exercise or refrain from exercising the voting and other consensual rights that it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 8(a)(i) shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise or refrain from exercising such voting and other consensual rights during the continuation of such Event of Default; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default to permit the Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived or otherwise cease to be continuing and the Borrower has delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate to that effect, each Pledgor will have the right to exercise the voting and consensual rights that such Pledgor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of Section 8(a)(i) (and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under Section 8(a)(ii) shall be reinstated);

(ii) all rights of such Pledgor to receive the dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that such Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to Section 8(b) shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall thereupon have the sole right to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments during the continuation of such Event of Default. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived or otherwise cease to be continuing and the Borrower has delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate to that effect, the Collateral Agent shall repay to each Pledgor (without interest) and each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive, retain and use all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to receive, retain and use pursuant to the terms of Section 8(b);

 

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(iii) all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that are received by such Pledgor contrary to the provisions of Section 8(b) shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall forthwith be delivered to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsements); and

(iv) in order to permit the Collateral Agent to receive all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments to which it may be entitled under Section 8(b) above, to exercise the voting and other consensual rights that it may be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 8(c)(i), and to receive all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that it may be entitled to under Sections 8(c)(ii) and (c)(iii), such Pledgor shall from time to time execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, appropriate proxies, dividend payment orders and other instruments as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

(d) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Pledgors suspending their rights under paragraph (c) of this Section 8 (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Pledgors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Pledgors under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (b) of this Section 9 in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

9. Transfers and Other Liens; Additional Collateral; Etc. Each Pledgor shall:

(a) not (i) except as expressly permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement (including pursuant to waivers and consents thereunder), sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option or warrant with respect to, any of the Collateral or (ii) create or suffer to exist any consensual Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, except for the Lien created by this Agreement and the Revolving Pledge Agreement; provided that in the event such Pledgor sells or otherwise disposes of assets as permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement (including pursuant to waivers and consents thereunder) and such assets are or include any of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall release such Collateral to such Pledgor free and clear of the Lien created by this Agreement concurrently with the consummation of such sale in accordance with Section 12.17 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and with Section 14 hereof;

(b) pledge and, if applicable, cause each Domestic Subsidiary required to become a party hereto to pledge, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, immediately upon acquisition thereof, all After-acquired Shares and After-acquired Debt required to be pledged pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, in each case pursuant to a supplement to this Agreement substantially in the form of Annex A hereto or such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (it being understood that the execution and delivery of such a supplement shall not require the consent of any Pledgor hereunder and that the rights and obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary Pledgor as a party to this Agreement); and

 

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(c) defend its and the Collateral Agent’s title or interest in and to all the Collateral (and in the Proceeds thereof) against any and all Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement and the Lien created by the Revolving Pledge Agreement), however arising, and any and all Persons whomsoever and, subject to Section 12.17 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and Section 14 hereof, to maintain and preserve the Lien and security interest created by this Agreement until the Termination Date.

10. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Pledgor hereby appoints, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, the Collateral Agent as such Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Pledgor and in the name of such Pledgor or otherwise, to take any action and to execute any instrument, in each case after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, that the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including to receive, indorse and collect all instruments made payable to such Pledgor representing any dividend, distribution or principal or interest payment in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same.

11. The Collateral Agent’s Duties. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral, as to ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Pledged Shares, whether or not the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property.

12. Remedies. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the NY UCC (whether or not the NY UCC applies to the affected Collateral) and also may without notice, except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers of Collateral to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and, upon consummation of

 

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any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Pledgor, and each Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale, to purchase all or any part of the Collateral so sold, and the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party may, subject to (x) the satisfaction in full of all payments due pursuant to Section 12(b)(i) and (y) the ratable satisfaction of the Obligations in accordance with Section 12(b), pay the purchase price by crediting the amount thereof against the Obligations. Each Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days’ notice to such Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. To the extent permitted by law, each Pledgor hereby waives any claim against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

(b) The Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral at any time after receipt as follows:

(i) first, to the payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, the other Security Documents or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Security Document on behalf of any Pledgor and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Security Document;

(ii) second, to the Secured Parties, an amount equal to all Obligations owing to them on the date of any such distribution, and, if such moneys shall be insufficient to pay such amounts in full, then ratably (without priority of any one over any other) to such Secured Parties in proportion to the unpaid amounts thereof; and

 

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(iii) third, any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Pledgors or their successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

(c) The Collateral Agent may exercise any and all rights and remedies of each Pledgor in respect of the Collateral.

(d) All payments received by any Pledgor after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default in respect of the Collateral shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).

(e) If the Collateral Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell all or any of the Pledged Shares pursuant to this Section 12, each Pledgor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all of the Pledged Shares, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended (the “Securities Act”) and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Shares for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer thereof to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if such issuer would agree to do so.

(f) If the Collateral Agent determines to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Collateral, upon written request, each Pledgor shall, from time to time, furnish to the Collateral Agent all such information as the Collateral Agent may request in order to determine the number of shares and other instruments included in the Collateral which may be sold by the Collateral Agent as exempt transactions under the Securities Act and rules of the SEC, as the same are from time to time in effect.

13. Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. Except for the termination of a Pledgor’s Obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 14, each Pledgor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Pledgor and without notice to or further assent by any Pledgor, (a) any

 

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demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by such party and any of the Obligations continued, (b) the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) the Secured Debt Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Document, and (d) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Agreement or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any Pledgor, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower (to the extent such demand is in respect of any Obligations owing by the Borrower) or any other Pledgor or pledgor, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Pledgor or pledgor or any release of the Borrower or any other Pledgor or pledgor shall not relieve any Pledgor in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or any Pledgor not so released of its several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Pledgor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuation of any legal proceedings.

14. Continuing Security Interest; Assignments Under the Secured Debt Documents; Release. (a) This Agreement and the security interests granted hereunder shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Pledgor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, until the Termination Date, notwithstanding that from time to time prior to the Termination Date the Pledgors may be free from any Obligations.

(b) A Subsidiary Pledgor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the pledge of such Subsidiary Pledgor shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Pledgor ceases to be a Restricted Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent required by the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Pledgor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (other than to another Pledgor), or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the obligations of such Pledgor with respect to such Collateral shall be automatically released and such Collateral sold free and clear of the Lien and security interests created hereby.

 

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(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor or authorize the filing of, at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 14 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

15. Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Pledgor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Pledgor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

16. Notices. All notices, requests and demands pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Pledgor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s address set forth in Section 12.2 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “PDF” or “TIFF” file)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.

18. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

19. Integration. This Agreement represents the agreement of each of the Pledgors with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Secured Debt Documents.

20. Amendments in Writing; No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

(a) None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by the affected Pledgor(s) and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

15


(b) Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 20(a) hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion.

(c) The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

21. Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

22. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Pledgor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

23. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

24. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of the Pledgors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Pledgor at its address referred to in Section 16 or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

 

16


(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 24 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

25. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

26. Intercreditor Agreement Governs. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Revolving Collateral and the Revolving Liens are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement with respect to the Revolving Collateral and the Revolving Liens, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

17


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,
as Pledgor,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C. ,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC. ,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C. ,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P. ,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY,
as Pledgor
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to this Agreement as a Pledgor hereunder

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]


SCHEDULE 1

TO SUPPLEMENT NO. [    ]

TO THE TERM LOAN

PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Collateral Agent,

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

[Term Loan Pledge Agreement]

EX-10.9 14 dex109.htm REVOLVING PLEDGE AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Revolving Pledge Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.9

EXECUTION COPY

REVOLVING PLEDGE AGREEMENT

REVOLVING PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Agreement”), among CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), CHILL ACQUISITION, INC., a Delaware corporation (which on the Closing Date shall be merged with and into GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation, with GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC. surviving such merger as the borrower, the “Borrower”), each of the subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1 hereto (each such subsidiary, individually, a “Subsidiary Pledgor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Pledgors”; and together with Holdings and the Borrower, collectively, the “Pledgors”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, (1) Holdings and the Borrower have entered into a revolving loan credit agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), with the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Lead Arrangers, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Joint Bookrunners, and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, pursuant to which the Lenders have severally agreed to make loans to the Borrower and the Letter of Credit Issuers have agreed to issue letters of credit for the account of the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and (2) one or more Cash Management Banks may from time to time provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (clauses (1) and (2), collectively, the “Extensions of Credit”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Revolving Guarantee, dated as of February 13, 2008 (the “Revolving Guarantee”), Holdings and each of the Subsidiary Pledgors has agreed to guarantee, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations;

WHEREAS, each Subsidiary Pledgor is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to Holdings and the Subsidiary Pledgors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

WHEREAS, each Pledgor acknowledges that it will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the Extensions of Credit;

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement that the Pledgors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties; and


WHEREAS, (1) the Pledgors are the legal and beneficial owners of the Equity Interests described in Schedule 2 and issued by the entities named therein (such Equity Interests, together with all other Equity Interests required to be pledged pursuant to Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement (the “After-acquired Shares”), are referred to collectively herein as the “Pledged Shares”), and (2) each of the Pledgors is the legal and beneficial owner of the promissory notes, chattel paper and instruments evidencing Indebtedness owed to it described in Schedule 2 and issued by the entities named therein (such notes and instruments, together with any other Indebtedness owed to any Pledgor hereafter and required to be pledged pursuant to Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement (the “After-acquired Debt”), are referred to collectively herein as the “Pledged Debt”), in each case as such schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Agents and the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to enter into the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuers to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce one or more Cash Management Banks to provide Cash Management Services pursuant to Secured Cash Management Agreements to any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Pledgors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

1. Defined Terms.

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and used herein (including terms used in the preamble and the recitals) shall have the meanings given to them in the Revolving Credit Agreement and all terms defined in the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State of New York (the “NY UCC”) and not defined herein or in the Revolving Credit Agreement shall have the meanings specified therein (and if defined in more than one article of the NY UCC, shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 thereof); the term “instrument” shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

(b) The rules of construction and other interpretive provisions specified in Sections 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall apply to this Pledge Agreement, including terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto.

(c) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

After-acquired Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

After-acquired Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

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Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrower” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Equity Interests” shall mean shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person of whatever nature, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

Excluded Capital Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Excluded Capital Stock” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Extensions of Credit” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Obligations” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Pledged Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Pledged Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Pledgors” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Revolving Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Revolving Credit Documents” shall mean the “Credit Documents” as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Revolving Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

3


Secured Debt Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Documents and each Secured Cash Management Agreement entered into with a Cash Management Bank.

Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Secured Parties” in the Revolving Credit Agreement. “Subsidiary Pledgors” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Securities Act” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12(e).

Term Loan Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Term Loan Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Collateral Agent” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Term Loan Credit Documents” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “Credit Documents” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

Term Loan Credit Agreement” shall mean the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, GECC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC and Calyon New York Branch, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as Joint Bookrunners, as such agreement may be amended, restated, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), refinanced, restructured, renewed, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.

Term Loan Liens” shall mean Liens granted in favor of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Documents.

Term Loan Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Term Loan Pledge Agreement dated as of February 13, 2008 , among Holdings, the Borrower, each of the subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto and General Electric Capital Corporation, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Term Loan Pledge Agreement).

Termination Date” shall mean the date on which all Obligations are paid in full in cash (other than Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations) and the Total Commitments and all Letters of Credit are terminated (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized on terms satisfactory to the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer following the termination of the Commitments).

(d) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Pledgor, shall refer to such Pledgor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

 

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2. Grant of Security. As security for the prompt and complete payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby transfers, assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or existing (collectively, the “Collateral”):

(a) the Pledged Shares held by such Pledgor and the certificates, if any, representing such Pledged Shares and any interest of such Pledgor, including all interests documented in the entries on the books of the issuer of the Pledged Shares or any financial intermediary pertaining to the Pledged Shares and all dividends, cash, warrants, rights, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any or all of the Pledged Shares; provided that the Pledged Shares under this Agreement shall not include any Excluded Capital Stock;

(b) the Pledged Debt and the instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt owed to such Pledgor, and all payments of principal or interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Pledged Debt;

(c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Section 2;

(d) subject to Section 8, all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above; and

(e) to the extent not covered by clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, respectively, all proceeds of any or all of the foregoing Collateral. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “proceeds” includes whatever is receivable or received when Collateral or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected or otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and includes proceeds of any indemnity or guarantee payable to any Pledgor or the Collateral Agent from time to time with respect to any of the Collateral.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

3. Security for the Obligations. This Agreement secures the full and prompt payment when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of, and the performance of, all the Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement secures the payment of all amounts that constitute part of the Obligations and would be owed to the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties under the Secured Debt Documents but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving any Pledgor.

 

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4. Delivery of the Collateral. (a) All certificates or instruments, if any, representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be promptly delivered to and held by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall have the right, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default and without notice to any Pledgor (except as otherwise expressly provided herein), to transfer to or to register in the name of the Collateral Agent or any of its nominees any or all of the Pledged Shares. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Pledgor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Shares registered in the name of such Pledgor. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Shares for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each delivery of Collateral (including any After-acquired Shares and After-acquired Debt) shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities theretofore and then being pledged hereunder, which shall be attached hereto as part of Schedule 2 and made a part hereof; provided that the failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supersede any prior schedules so delivered.

(b) As soon as practicable and in any event within 60 days of the Closing Date, or such later date as the Collateral Agent may reasonably determine after any request for extension by the Borrower, each relevant Pledgor shall execute any document or agreement and shall carry out any formality or perfection steps that are required in connection with the pledge over Pledged Shares issued by Goodman Company Canada which the Collateral Agent reasonably determines is necessary under any relevant Applicable Law to create a perfected first priority security interest in such Collateral, securing the payment of the Obligations, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties enforceable vis-à-vis third parties.

5. Representations and Warranties. Each Pledgor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party that:

(a) Schedule 2 hereto (i) correctly represents as of the date hereof (A) the issuer, the issuer’s jurisdiction of formation, the certificate number, if any, the Pledgor and the record and beneficial owner, the number and class and the percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such class of all Pledged Shares and (B) the issuer, the issuer’s jurisdiction, the initial principal amount, the Pledgor and holder, date of issuance and maturity date of all Pledged Debt and (ii) together with the comparable schedule to each supplement hereto, includes, all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes required to be pledged pursuant to Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and Section 9(b) hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 2, the Pledged Shares represent all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each class of Equity Interests (or 65% of all of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests in the case of pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries) in the issuer on the date hereof.

 

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(b) Such Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral pledged or assigned by such Pledgor hereunder free and clear of any Lien, except for the Liens created by this Agreement and the Liens created by the Term Loan Pledge Agreement.

(c) As of the date of this Agreement, the Pledged Shares pledged by such Pledgor hereunder have been duly authorized and validly issued and, in the case of Pledged Shares issued by a corporation, are fully paid and non-assessable.

(d) Except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Term Loan Credit Documents, the Revolving Credit Documents or securities laws generally and except as described in the Perfection Certificate, the Collateral is freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Collateral is subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder.

(e) No consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect).

(f) The execution and delivery by such Pledgor of this Agreement and the pledge of the Collateral pledged by such Pledgor hereunder pursuant hereto create a valid and enforceable security interest in such Collateral and, upon the earlier of (i) delivery of such Collateral to the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) the filing of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code financing statements described in Section 3.3(a) of the Security Agreement, shall create a perfected first priority security interest in such Collateral, securing the payment of the Obligations, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

(g) The pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein.

(h) Such Pledgor has full power, authority and legal right to pledge all the Collateral pledged by such Pledgor pursuant to this Agreement and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Pledgor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

(i) The issuers listed on Schedule 2 are the only Subsidiaries of such Pledgor as of the Closing Date (with the exception of AsureCare Corp., a Florida corporation, which is a direct subsidiary of Goodman Company, L.P.).

(j) The Pledged Debt constitutes all of the outstanding Indebtedness for money borrowed or for the deferred purchase price of property owed to such Pledgor as of the Closing Date and required to be pledge hereunder or pursuant to Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

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6. Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests, Limited Partnership Interests and Pledged Debt. (a) Unless otherwise consented to by the Collateral Agent, Equity Interests required to be pledged hereunder in any Domestic Subsidiary that is organized as a limited liability company or limited partnership and pledged hereunder shall either (i) be represented by a certificate, and in the Organizational Documents of such Domestic Subsidiary the applicable Pledgor shall cause the issuer of such interests to elect to treat such interests as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, as applicable, by including in its organizational documents language substantially similar to the following and, accordingly, such interests shall be governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code:

“The [partnership/limited liability company] hereby irrevocably elects that all [partnership/membership] interests in the [partnership/limited liability company] shall be securities governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of [jurisdiction of organization or formation, as applicable]. Each certificate evidencing [partnership/membership] interests in the [partnership/limited liability company] shall bear the following legend: “This certificate evidences an interest in [name of [partnership/limited liability company]] and shall be a security for purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.” No change to this provision shall be effective until all outstanding certificates have been surrendered for cancellation and any new certificates thereafter issued shall not bear the foregoing legend.”

or (ii) not have elected to be treated as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code and shall not be represented by a certificate.

(b) Subject to the limitations set forth herein and in Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,500,000 (individually) owed to any Pledgor and required to be pledged pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof.

7. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees that at any time and from time to time, at the expense of such Pledgor, it will execute or otherwise authorize the filing of any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order (x) to perfect and protect any pledge, assignment or security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby (including the priority thereof) or (y) to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral.

 

8


8. Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions; Etc. (a) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or the other Secured Debt Documents; provided that such voting and other rights shall not be exercised in any manner that could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Shares or the rights and remedies of any of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Revolving Credit Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

(ii) The Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to each Pledgor all such proxies and other instruments as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Pledgor to exercise the voting and other rights that it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) above.

(b) Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain and use, free and clear of the Lien of this Agreement, any and all dividends, distributions, redemptions, principal and interest made or paid in respect of the Collateral to the extent not prohibited by any Secured Debt Document; provided, however, that any and all noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Shares or Pledged Debt, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Shares or received in exchange for Pledged Shares or Pledged Debt or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent to hold as, Collateral and shall, if received by such Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of such Pledgor and be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).

(c) Upon written notice to the Pledgors by the Collateral Agent following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default:

(i) all rights of such Pledgor to exercise or refrain from exercising the voting and other consensual rights that it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 8(a)(i) shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise or refrain from exercising such voting and other consensual rights during the continuation of such Event of Default; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default to permit the Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived or otherwise cease to be continuing and the Borrower has delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate to that effect, each Pledgor will have the right to exercise the voting and consensual rights that such Pledgor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of Section 8(a)(i) (and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under Section 8(a)(ii) shall be reinstated);

 

9


(ii) all rights of such Pledgor to receive the dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that such Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to Section 8(b) shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall thereupon have the sole right to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments during the continuation of such Event of Default. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived or otherwise cease to be continuing and the Borrower has delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate to that effect, the Collateral Agent shall repay to each Pledgor (without interest) and each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive, retain and use all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to receive, retain and use pursuant to the terms of Section 8(b);

(iii) all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that are received by such Pledgor contrary to the provisions of Section 8(b) shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall forthwith be delivered to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsements); and

(iv) in order to permit the Collateral Agent to receive all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments to which it may be entitled under Section 8(b) above, to exercise the voting and other consensual rights that it may be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 8(c)(i), and to receive all dividends, distributions and principal and interest payments that it may be entitled to under Sections 8(c)(ii) and (c)(iii), such Pledgor shall from time to time execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, appropriate proxies, dividend payment orders and other instruments as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

(d) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Pledgors suspending their rights under paragraph (c) of this Section 8 (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Pledgors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Pledgors under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (b) of this Section 9 in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

9. Transfers and Other Liens; Additional Collateral; Etc. Each Pledgor shall:

(a) not (i) except as expressly permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement (including pursuant to waivers and consents thereunder), sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option or warrant with respect to, any of the Collateral or (ii) create or suffer to exist any consensual Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, except for the Lien created by this Agreement and the Term Loan Pledge Agreement; provided that in the event such Pledgor sells

 

10


or otherwise disposes of assets as permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement (including pursuant to waivers and consents thereunder) and such assets are or include any of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall release such Collateral to such Pledgor free and clear of the Lien created by this Agreement concurrently with the consummation of such sale in accordance with Section 13.17 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and with Section 14 hereof;

(b) pledge and, if applicable, cause each Domestic Subsidiary required to become a party hereto to pledge, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, immediately upon acquisition thereof, all After-acquired Shares and After-acquired Debt required to be pledged pursuant to Section 9.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, in each case pursuant to a supplement to this Agreement substantially in the form of Annex A hereto or such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (it being understood that the execution and delivery of such a supplement shall not require the consent of any Pledgor hereunder and that the rights and obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary Pledgor as a party to this Agreement); and

(c) defend its and the Collateral Agent’s title or interest in and to all the Collateral (and in the Proceeds thereof) against any and all Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement and the Lien created by the Term Loan Pledge Agreement), however arising, and any and all Persons whomsoever and, subject to Section 13.17 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and Section 14 hereof, to maintain and preserve the Lien and security interest created by this Agreement until the Termination Date.

10. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Pledgor hereby appoints, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, the Collateral Agent as such Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Pledgor and in the name of such Pledgor or otherwise, to take any action and to execute any instrument, in each case after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, that the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including to receive, indorse and collect all instruments made payable to such Pledgor representing any dividend, distribution or principal or interest payment in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same.

11. The Collateral Agent’s Duties. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral, as to ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Pledged Shares, whether or not the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property.

12. Remedies. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

11


(a) The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the NY UCC (whether or not the NY UCC applies to the affected Collateral) and also may without notice, except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers of Collateral to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and, upon consummation of any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Pledgor, and each Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale, to purchase all or any part of the Collateral so sold, and the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party may, subject to (x) the satisfaction in full of all payments due pursuant to Section 12(b)(i) and (y) the ratable satisfaction of the Obligations in accordance with Section 12(b), pay the purchase price by crediting the amount thereof against the Obligations. Each Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days’ notice to such Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. To the extent permitted by law, each Pledgor hereby waives any claim against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

(b) The Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral at any time after receipt as follows:

(i) first, to the payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, the other Security Documents or any of

 

12


the Obligations, including all court costs and the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Security Document on behalf of any Pledgor and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Security Document;

(ii) second, to the Secured Parties, an amount equal to all Obligations owing to them on the date of any such distribution, and, if such moneys shall be insufficient to pay such amounts in full, then ratably (without priority of any one over any other) to such Secured Parties in proportion to the unpaid amounts thereof; and

(iii) third, any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Pledgors or their successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

(c) The Collateral Agent may exercise any and all rights and remedies of each Pledgor in respect of the Collateral.

(d) All payments received by any Pledgor after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default in respect of the Collateral shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).

(e) If the Collateral Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell all or any of the Pledged Shares pursuant to this Section 12, each Pledgor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all of the Pledged Shares, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended (the “Securities Act”) and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Shares for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer thereof to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if such issuer would agree to do so.

 

13


(f) If the Collateral Agent determines to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Collateral, upon written request, each Pledgor shall, from time to time, furnish to the Collateral Agent all such information as the Collateral Agent may request in order to determine the number of shares and other instruments included in the Collateral which may be sold by the Collateral Agent as exempt transactions under the Securities Act and rules of the SEC, as the same are from time to time in effect.

13. Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights. Except for the termination of a Pledgor’s Obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 14, each Pledgor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Pledgor and without notice to or further assent by any Pledgor, (a) any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by such party and any of the Obligations continued, (b) the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) the Secured Debt Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Document, and (d) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Agreement or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any Pledgor, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower (to the extent such demand is in respect of any Obligations owing by the Borrower) or any other Pledgor or pledgor, and any failure by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Pledgor or pledgor or any release of the Borrower or any other Pledgor or pledgor shall not relieve any Pledgor in respect of which a demand or collection is not made or any Pledgor not so released of its several obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Pledgor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuation of any legal proceedings.

14. Continuing Security Interest; Assignments Under the Secured Debt Documents; Release. (a) This Agreement and the security interests granted hereunder shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Pledgor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, until the Termination Date, notwithstanding that from time to time prior to the Termination Date the Pledgors may be free from any Obligations.

(b) A Subsidiary Pledgor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the pledge of such Subsidiary Pledgor shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement as a result of

 

14


which such Subsidiary Pledgor ceases to be a Restricted Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent required by the Revolving Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Pledgor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement (other than to another Pledgor), or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 13.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the obligations of such Pledgor with respect to such Collateral shall be automatically released and such Collateral sold free and clear of the Lien and security interests created hereby.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor or authorize the filing of, at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 14 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

15. Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Pledgor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Pledgor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

16. Notices. All notices, requests and demands pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Pledgor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s address set forth in Section 13.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “PDF” or “TIFF” file)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.

18. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

15


19. Integration. This Agreement represents the agreement of each of the Pledgors with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Secured Debt Documents.

20. Amendments in Writing; No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

(a) None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by the affected Pledgor(s) and the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 13.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(b) Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 20(a) hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion.

(c) The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

21. Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

22. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Pledgor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement.

23. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER REVOLVING CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

24. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of the Pledgors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

16


(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, and the other Revolving Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Pledgor at its address referred to in Section 16 or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 24 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

25. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

26. Intercreditor Agreement Governs. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Term Loan Collateral and the Term Loan Liens are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement with respect to the Term Loan Collateral and the Term Loan Liens, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

27. Obligations of Pledgors. So long as the Term Loan Collateral Agent is acting as bailee and non-fiduciary agent for perfection on behalf of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, any obligation of any Pledgor in this Agreement that requires (or any representation or warranty hereunder to the extent that it would have the effect of requiring) delivery of Collateral to, or the possession or control of Collateral with, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed complied with and satisfied (or, in the case of any representation or warranty hereunder, shall be deemed to be true) if such delivery of Collateral is made to, or such possession or control of Collateral is with, the Term Loan Collateral Agent.

 

17


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHILL INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.,
as Pledgor,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY,

as Pledgor

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN CANADA, L.L.C.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN COMPANY, L.P.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTHEAST, INC.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION, INC.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


GOODMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN II HOLDINGS COMPANY, L.L.C.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, L.P.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING I LLC,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING II LLC,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

GOODMAN SALES COMPANY,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

NITEK ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.P.,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


QUIETFLEX HOLDING COMPANY,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

QUIETFLEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

as Pledgor,

By:  

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


The undersigned hereby confirms that, as a result of its merger with Chill Acquisition, Inc., it hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Chill Acquisition, Inc. under this Agreement (in furtherance of, and not in lieu of, any assumption or deemed assumption by operation of law) and hereby agrees to be joined to this Agreement as a Pledgor hereunder
GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.,
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[ABL Pledge Agreement]


SCHEDULE 1

TO SUPPLEMENT NO. [    ]

TO THE REVOLVING

PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Collateral Agent,

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
EX-10.12 15 dex1012.htm EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, BETWEEN CHILL ACQUISITION, INC. AND CHARLES A. CARROLL Employment Agreement, between Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Charles A. Carroll

Exhibit 10.12

EXHIBIT B

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Charles Carroll)

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of February 13, 2008, is made by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Charles Carroll (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole shareholder of the Company (“Holdings” or “Parent”), and Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Goodman”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which it is intended that Company will merge with and into Goodman (the “Merger”), whereby the Company will cease to exist and Goodman will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the contracts and obligations of the Company shall become the contracts and obligations of Goodman;

WHEREAS, Executive and Goodman entered into an employment agreement, originally dated as of November 18, 2004, and as subsequently amended on March 7, 2006 (the “Employment Agreement”), which generally sets forth Executive’s severance rights and related obligations in the event Executive’s employment with Goodman is terminated under certain circumstances;

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as Chief Executive Officer;

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company desires to secure for itself and its successors and assigns, which shall, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, include Goodman, the continuing services of Executive, and Executive desires to provide such continuing services, in each case, pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. Effectiveness; Prior Agreements; Term of Employment.

(a) Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the operative provisions of this Agreement shall only become effective upon the occurrence of the closing of the Merger (the date of such closing being hereinafter referred to as the “Commencement Date” or the “Closing”). In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated without the Closing having occurred, this Agreement shall be terminated without further obligation or liability of either party hereto. Effective as of the Closing, the Company will merge into Goodman and Goodman will assume all obligations of the Company, including all obligations of the Company under this Agreement and therefore all references to the “Company” hereunder shall mean Goodman, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(b) Prior Agreements. Effective as of the Commencement Date, this Agreement shall supercede all prior agreements between Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates


regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment and severance rights with the Company and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement (together with all other prior agreements and understandings, the “Prior Agreements”). Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, it is expressly agreed that from and after the Commencement Date, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligations or rights under, and Executive shall have no further obligations or rights under, any Prior Agreement, including, without limitation, any severance, termination or change of control related benefits; except that (i) all prior grants or assignments by Executive to the Company of any rights (including, without limitation, any rights under any license) to any intellectual property, authorship, inventions, materials, documents or other work product under any Prior Agreement shall continue in full force in effect prior to, from and after the Commencement Date, and (ii) Executive’s rights to indemnification, exculpation and the advancement of expenses under the current indemnification agreement between the Company and Executive shall continue in full force with respect to claims arising from Executive’s pre-Commencement Date services with the Company and such rights shall continue for the longer of (x) the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such claim, or (y) the six-year period commencing on the Commencement Date; provided, that, rights to indemnification with respect of any claim pending or asserted or any claim made within such period shall continue until the resolution of such claim.

(c) Term and Position. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Agreement, Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Holdings for the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending upon the earlier of (i) the date a suitable replacement commences employment as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and (ii) June 30, 2008 (the “Interim Employment Term”). During the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall also serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and of Holdings (the “Board”). Following the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall serve as the Chairman of the Board, unless otherwise agreed. In the event Executive is no longer serving as Chairman of the Board following the Interim Employment Term, he will be given the opportunity to serve as a non-executive employee of the Company for the period ending no earlier than June 30, 2010 (the period of any such employment together with the Interim Employment Term, the “Employment Term”). During the Employment, Executive shall have such duties and authority as shall be determined from time to time by the Board and such duties and authorities shall be commensurate with Executive’s position at such time.

2. Duties. During the Employment Term, Executive shall devote Executive’s full business time and attention to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board; provided that, nothing herein shall preclude Executive from (i) continuing to serve on any board of directors or trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization, (ii) being involved in charitable activities, or (iii) managing his personal and family passive investments; provided further that, in each case, and in the aggregate, such activities shall not materially conflict or materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or conflict with Section 7 hereof.


3. Salary and Annual Bonus.

(a) Base Salary. During the Interim Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $1,073,900, payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payment practices. Following the Interim Employment Term and continuing for the remainder of the Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $150,000, payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payment practices. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled to such increases in Executive’s base salary, if any, as may be determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Board upon its annual review of Executive’s compensation and Executive’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Base Salary. Except as expressly set forth above with respect to the period following the Interim Employment Term, the Board may reduce the Base Salary only if such reduction is part of a general cost reduction and is consistent with reductions generally made to other executives of the Company.

(b) Annual Bonus. During the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn a pro rata annual bonus award for fiscal year 2008 (based on the ratio of (i) the number of days Executive serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company during fiscal year 2008, to (ii) 365 days) (the “Annual Bonus”) in a target amount (assuming Executive served as the Chief Executive Officer during the entire fiscal year) equal to 100% of Executive’s Base Salary (the “Target Bonus”) and a maximum bonus opportunity (assuming Executive served as the Chief Executive Officer during the entire fiscal year) of 481.4% of the Target Bonus, based upon the achievement of the performance goals established by the Board within the first three months of the fiscal year. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive’s Annual Bonus shall be calculated in accordance with the table attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Annual Bonus Table”), whereby the Annual Bonus that shall become payable for fiscal year 2008 shall be the pro-rata portion of the amount equal to the “Percentage of Base Salary” that corresponds with the highest “Level of Achievement” attained by the Company for such year (which, as set forth on Schedule A, shall be tied to the Company’s “EBITDA”). For these purposes, the Company’s “EBITDA” for fiscal year 2008 shall mean the “Consolidated EBITDA,” as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., the Company, the lending institutions party thereto, Barclays Capital (“Barclays”) and General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”), as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners, and GECC as the administrative agent, as may be amended, modified, extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced form time to time. The Company’s “Target” EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 shall be set forth on Schedule A attached hereto. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid to Executive prior to the expiration of the period ending two and one-half months after the end of fiscal year 2008.

4. Equity Participation. Executive’s equity participation in Parent, the Company and any of their subsidiaries or affiliates shall be documented pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), award agreements issued under the Equity Plan or otherwise (including any option or option rollover agreements), the Management Stockholders Agreement of Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Management Stockholders Agreement”), and any contribution or subscription agreements relating to the equity of Parent or the Company, each as executed, if applicable, by the Company, Executive, the other “Initial Management Investors” (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) and Parent (collectively, the “Equity Documents”). The Company and Executive each acknowledges that the terms and conditions of


the aforementioned Equity Documents govern Executive’s acquisition, holding, sale or other disposition of Executive’s equity in the Parent, the Company or any of their affiliates, and all of Executive’s rights with respect thereto.

5. Employee Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans and payroll practices, as in effect from time to time (collectively, “Employee Benefits”), on the same basis as those benefits are generally made available to other similarly situated executives of the Company.

6. Termination of Employment. The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason; provided that Executive will be required to give the Company at least 60 days advance written notice of any termination initiated by Executive. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 6 shall exclusively govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation in Parent, the Company and their affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive’s services in any non-employee capacity shall also constitute part of Executive’s “employment” for purposes of this Agreement.

(a) For Cause by the Company or For Any Reason Other than Good Reason by Executive. The Employment Term and Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) or by Executive without Good Reason (as defined in Section 6(c) below).

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive can be terminated by the Company for “Cause” due to:

(A) Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform his duties (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s physical or mental incapacity);

(B) Executive’s willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect, any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board, not inconsistent with the terms of the agreement;

(C) Executive’s commission at any time of any act or omission that results in, or that may reasonably be expected to result in, a conviction, plea of no contest or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

(D) Executive’s unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the Company’s premises or while performing the executive’s duties and responsibilities under the agreement; or

(E) Executive’s commission at any time of any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, material misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or any of its affiliates (or any of their respective predecessors or successors), which shall not include any good faith disputes regarding immaterial amounts that relate to Executive’s expense account, reimbursement claims or other de minimis matters.


(ii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if Executive resigns without Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;

(B) any Annual Bonus earned, but unpaid, as of the date of termination for the immediately preceding fiscal year, paid in accordance with Section 3 (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company or any of its affiliates);

(C) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses that have been properly incurred by Executive prior to the date of Executive’s termination and that are or have been submitted in accordance with the applicable Company policy;

(D) such Employee Benefits, if any, as to which Executive may be entitled under the employee benefit plans of the Company, which shall include payment for any unused vacation in accordance with the Company’s policy then in effect or as otherwise required by applicable law (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (D) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

(iii) Following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 6(a)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(b) Disability or Death. The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death and may be terminated by the Company as a result of Executive’s “Disability.”

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental illness, injury or condition that prevents Executive from performing any or all of the essential functions of Executive’s job duties for at least 90 consecutive calendar days, or for at least 120 calendar days, whether or not consecutive, in any 365 calendar day period, as determined by a licensed physician reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Executive. The Board’s good faith determination that Executive has a Disability will be final and binding for purposes of determining the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

(ii) If Executive’s employment and other services are terminated on account of Executive’s death or Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights.


(iii) Following termination of Executive’s employment and other services due to death or Disability, and except as set forth in Section 6(b)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(c) Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason.

(i) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive’s resignation for Good Reason.

(ii) Except to the extent expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Executive shall be able to terminate his employment for “Good Reason” following the occurrence of any of the following:

(A) a failure of the Company to continue Executive in his current position or other substantially similar or more senior position;

(B) a material diminution in the nature or scope of Executive’s responsibilities, duties or authority;

(C) a failure of the Company to make any material payment or provide any material benefit under the Agreement;

(D) a material breach by the Company of the Agreement or any option agreement between Executive and the Company; or

(E) the Company relocates Executive’s primary place of employment to a place outside of the 75-mile radius of Executive’s current primary place of employment (it being understood that neither a temporary work assignment nor travel on the Company’s business shall constitute such a relocation);

provided that the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) shall only constitute Good Reason if the Company fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from Executive of written notice of such occurrence; provided, further, that Good Reason shall cease to exist following the later of 30 days following its occurrence or Executive’s knowledge thereof, unless Executive has given the Company written notice thereof prior to such date. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the changes to Executive’s position (and related duties and authority) as a result or upon the expiration of the Interim Employment Term shall not constitute Good Reason.

(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or if Executive resigns for Good Reason during the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company:

(A) the Accrued Rights; and


(B) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the provisions of Sections 7 and 8, and upon execution of the “Release” within 60 days after receipt, which shall be delivered to Executive within 10 days following the termination of Executive’s employment and which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B:

(1) equal, or substantially equal, payments totaling, in the aggregate, 200% of the sum of the Base Salary and the Target Bonus, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices over the twenty-four month period commencing on the date of termination, provided that the first payment shall be made on the seventy-fifth day following the termination of Executive’s employment and shall include any amounts that would have otherwise been due prior to such seventy-fifth day;

(2) continued participation in the Company’s group heal plan until Executive reaches age 65 or the qualifying age under Medicare, if later, provided that Executive will pay 100% of the applicable COBRA premium, less the 2% administrative fee; and

(3) a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination (but only if such termination occurs during the Interim Employment Term), which shall be based on year to date financial performance of the Company and which will be payable when such Annual Bonus would have otherwise been paid pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement had Executive’s employment not terminated.

(iv) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or if Executive resigns for Good Reason at ay time following the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights.

(v) Following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of Executive’s death or Disability) or by Executive for Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 6(c)(iii) or 6(c)(iv) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(d) Expiration of Employment Term. Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, continuation of Executive’s employment with the Company beyond the expiration of the Employment Term shall be deemed an employment at-will and shall not be deemed to extend any of the provisions of this Agreement and Executive’s employment may thereafter be terminated at any time by either Executive or the Company; provided that the provisions of Sections 7, 8 and 9 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement or Executive’s termination of employment, whether occurring before or after the expiration of the Employment Term.


(e) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 11(g) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.

7. Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Non-Hire. Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) During the Employment Term and, for the twenty-four (24) month period following the date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company (the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company, the business of any client or prospective client:

(i) with whom Executive had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment;

(ii) with whom Executive had knowledge of any of the Company’s plans with respect to such client or prospective client;

(iii) with whom employees reporting to Executive have had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment; or

(iv) for whom Executive had direct or indirect responsibility during the one-year immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment.

(b) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(i) engage in any business that competes with the business of the Company or its affiliates (including, without limitation, businesses which the Company or its affiliates have specific plans to conduct in the future and as to which Executive is aware of such planning) in any geographical area that is within 100 miles of any geographical area where the Company or its affiliates manufactures, produces, sells, leases, rents, licenses or otherwise provides its products or services (a “Competitive Business”);

(ii) enter the employ of, or render any services to, any Person (or any division or controlled or controlling affiliate of any Person) who or which engages in a Competitive Business;


(iii) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competitive Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(iv) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the Company or any of its affiliates and customers, clients, distributors, suppliers, partners, members or investors of the Company or its affiliates.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executive may, directly or indirectly own, solely as an investment, securities of any Person engaged in a Competitive Business, which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive (i) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and (ii) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person.

(c) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company or its affiliates to leave the employment of the Company or its affiliates; or

(ii) hire any employee who was a direct report of Executive or any other senior executive of the Company and was employed by the Company or its affiliates as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or who left the employment of the Company or its affiliates coincident with, or within one year prior to or after, the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

(d) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage to cease to work with the Company or its affiliates any independent contractor, consultant or partner then under contract with the Company or its affiliates.

(e) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 7 to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if Executive violates any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 7 or Section 8 of this Agreement and such violation is curable without residual damages to the Company, such violation shall not be deemed a breach if Executive cures such violation within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Company.


(g) Executive acknowledges that the promises and restrictive covenants that Executive is providing under this Section 7 are reasonable and necessary to the protection of the business to be acquired by the Initial H&F Investors (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Executive acknowledges that Executive will sell or has sold equity interests in the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that the goodwill of the Company was a material consideration in the Initial Investors’ decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Executive further acknowledges that if Executive were to engage in the restricted activities described in this Section 7 during the Restricted Period, such competition could materially and adversely affect the value of the business acquired by the Initial Investors in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Executive and the Company agree that each of the Initial Investors are express third party beneficiaries of the provisions set forth in this Section 7.

8. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliates) (x) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person (other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates); or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company (other than its professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals — concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliates and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to the Company on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Board.

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (a) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant or any breach of other confidentiality obligations by third parties; (b) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation; or (c) required by law to be disclosed; provided that Executive shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s immediate family and legal or financial advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement provided they agree to maintain the confidentiality of such terms.


(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (x) cease and not thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates; (y) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information or otherwise relate to the business of the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information; and (z) notify and fully cooperate with the Company regarding the delivery or destruction of any other Confidential Information of which Executive is or becomes aware.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, prior to or during Executive’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“Prior Works”), Executive hereby grants, to the extent not previously granted, the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all prior licenses granted by Executive to the Company with respect to any Works or Prior Works shall continue in full force and effect following the Closing.

(ii) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any Works, either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and/or with the use of any the Company resources (“Company Works”), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose same to the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all rights and intellectual property rights therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company.

(iii) Executive agrees to keep and maintain adequate and current written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other form or media requested by the Company) of all Company Works. The records will be available to and remain the sole property and intellectual property of the Company at all times.


(iv) Executive shall take all requested actions and execute all requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the Company’s expense (but without further remuneration) to assist the Company in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company’s rights in the Prior Works and Company Works. If the Company is unable for any other reason to secure Executive’s signature on any document for this purpose, then Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing.

(v) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company, including, without limitation, policies and guidelines regarding the protection of confidential information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest. Executive acknowledges that the Company may amend any such policies and guidelines from time to time, and that Executive remains at all times bound by their most current version.

(vi) The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

9. Specific Performance. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 7 or Section 8 would be inadequate and the Company would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

10. 280G Cutback.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines in good faith that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise (all such payments and benefits, including, without limitation, salary and bonus payments, being hereinafter called the “Total Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), by reason of being considered “contingent on a change in


ownership or control” of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, then such Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Total Payments will be less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code), unless the amount of such reduction would equal or exceed 110% of the excise taxes that would be imposed by Section 4999 of the Code on such payments and benefits. The reduction of the Total Payments shall apply as follows, unless otherwise agreed and such agreement is in compliance with Section 409A of the Code: (i) first, any cash severance payments due under the Agreement shall be reduced, with the last such payment due first forfeited and reduced, and sequentially thereafter working from the next last payment, and (ii) second, any acceleration of vesting of any equity shall be deferred with the tranche that would vest last (without any such acceleration) first deferred.

11. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

(b) Entire Agreement/Amendments. Subject to the occurrence of the Closing, this Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company, and this Agreement shall supersede all prior agreements (including verbal agreements) between Executive and the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to any matters discussed herein, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EXECUTIVE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVES RIGHTS UNDER ANY PRIOR AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT) SHALL TERMINATE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER.

(c) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

(d) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

(e) Assignment. This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement shall be deemed an agreement of the Company immediately upon the occurrence of the Closing and that this Agreement may be assigned by the Company to a person or entity which is an affiliate or a successor in interest to


substantially all of the business operations of the Company. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such affiliate or successor person or entity.

(f) Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees.

(g) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

If to the Company:

c/o Hellman & Friedman LLC

One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: (415) 788-5111

Facsimile: (415) 788-1076

Attention: Philip Hammarskjold and Erik Ragatz

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

Telephone: (650) 251-5000

Facsimile: (650) 252-5002

Attention: Richard Capelouto and Brian Robbins

If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

(h) Executive Representation. Executive hereby represents to the Company and the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound.

(i) Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder. This provision shall survive any termination of this Agreement.


(j) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

(l) Compliance with IRC Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Executive) until the date that is six months following Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code) and (ii) if any other payments of money or other benefits due to Executive hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment or other benefits shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Board, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. In the event that payments under this Agreement are deferred pursuant to this Section 11(l) in order to prevent any accelerated tax or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then such payments shall be paid at the time specified under this Section 11(l) without any interest thereon. The Company shall consult with Executive in good faith regarding the implementation of this Section 11(l); provided that neither the Company nor any of its employees or representatives shall have any liability to Executive with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “resignation,” “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.

(m) Set Off. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall be subject to set-off, counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to the Company or any of its affiliates except to the extent any such set-off, counterclaim or recoupment would violate, or result in the imposition of tax under, Section 409A of the Code, in which case such right shall be null and void.

(n) No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise and


the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of subsequent employment of Executive following the termination of his employment hereunder.

(o) Resignation as Member of Board. If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, Executive hereby agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination and to the extent applicable, as a member of the Board (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or managers (and any committees thereof) of any of the Company’s affiliates.

(p) Arbitration. Any controversy, dispute, or claim arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to, the interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement, other than injunctive relief under Section 9 hereof, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration conducted in Wilmington, Delaware, by and in accordance with the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “Rules”). Each of the parties hereto agrees that such arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator selected in accordance with the Rules; provided that such arbitrator must be experienced in deciding cases concerning the matter which is the subject of the dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees to treat as confidential the results of any arbitration (including, without limitation, any findings of fact and/or law made by the arbitrator) and not to disclose such results to any unauthorized person. The parties intend that this agreement to arbitrate be valid, enforceable and irrevocable. With respect to any arbitration hereunder, each party shall pay its own legal fees and expenses; provided that the parties agree to share the cost of the arbitrator’s fees in any event.

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.

/s/ Erik D. Ragatz

By:   Erik D. Ragatz
Its:   Vice President
EXECUTIVE

/s/ Charles Carroll

By:   Charles Carroll
EX-10.13 16 dex1013.htm EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, BETWEEN CHILL ACQUISITION, INC. AND LAWRENCE M. BLACKBURN Employment Agreement, between Chill Acquisition, Inc. and Lawrence M. Blackburn

Exhibit 10.13

EXHIBIT B

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Lawrence M. Blackburn)

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of February 13, 2008, is made by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Lawrence M. Blackburn (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole shareholder of the Company (“Holdings” or “Parent”), and Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Goodman”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which it is intended that Company will merge with and into Goodman (the “Merger”), whereby the Company will cease to exist and Goodman will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the contracts and obligations of the Company shall become the contracts and obligations of Goodman;

WHEREAS, Executive and Goodman entered into an employment agreement, originally dated as of November 18, 2004, and as subsequently amended on February 6, 2006 (the “Employment Agreement”), which generally sets forth Executive’s severance rights and related obligations in the event Executive’s employment with Goodman is terminated under certain circumstances;

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company desires to secure for itself and its successors and assigns, which shall, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, include Goodman, the continuing services of Executive, and Executive desires to provide such continuing services, in each case, pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. Effectiveness; Prior Agreements; Term of Employment.

(a) Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the operative provisions of this Agreement shall only become effective upon the occurrence of the closing of the Merger (the date of such closing being hereinafter referred to as the “Commencement Date” or the “Closing”). In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated without the Closing having occurred, this Agreement shall be terminated without further obligation or liability of either party hereto. Effective as of the Closing, the Company will merge into Goodman and Goodman will assume all obligations of the Company, including all obligations of the Company under this Agreement and therefore all references to the “Company” hereunder shall mean Goodman, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.


(b) Prior Agreements. Effective as of the Commencement Date, this Agreement shall supercede all prior agreements between Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment and severance rights with the Company and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement (together with all other prior agreements and understandings, the “Prior Agreements”). Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, it is expressly agreed that from and after the Commencement Date, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligations or rights under, and Executive shall have no further obligations or rights under, any Prior Agreement, including, without limitation, any severance, termination or change of control related benefits; except that (i) all prior grants or assignments by Executive to the Company of any rights (including, without limitation, any rights under any license) to any intellectual property, authorship, inventions, materials, documents or other work product under any Prior Agreement shall continue in full force in effect prior to, from and after the Commencement Date, and (ii) Executive’s rights to indemnification, exculpation and the advancement of expenses under the current indemnification agreement between the Company and Executive shall continue in full force with respect to claims arising from Executive’s pre-Commencement Date services with the Company and such rights shall continue for the longer of (x) the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such claim, or (y) the six-year period commencing on the Commencement Date; provided, that, rights to indemnification with respect of any claim pending or asserted or any claim made within such period shall continue until the resolution of such claim.

(c) Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Agreement, Executive shall be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the fourth anniversary thereof (such period, the “Term”) and on the terms and conditions set forth herein; provided, however, that commencing on the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date and on each anniversary thereafter (each an “Extension Date”), the Term shall be automatically extended for an additional one-year period, unless either the Company or Executive provides the other party hereto 180 days prior written notice before the next Extension Date that the Term shall not be so extended; provided, further, that any such notice of non-renewal shall be given in accordance with Section 11(g) of this Agreement.

2. Position and Duties.

(a) Position. During the Term, Executive shall serve as an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and of Holdings. In such position, Executive shall have such duties and authority as shall be determined from time to time by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) or its Board of Directors (the “Board”) and such duties and authorities shall be commensurate with Executive’s position.

(b) Duties. During the Term, Executive shall devote Executive’s full business time and attention to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board; provided that, nothing herein shall preclude Executive from (i) continuing to serve on any board of directors or trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization, (ii) being involved in charitable activities, or (iii) managing his personal and family passive investments; provided further that, in each case, and in the aggregate, such activities shall not materially conflict or materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or conflict with Section 7 hereof.


3. Salary and Annual Bonus.

(a) Base Salary. During the Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $446,800, payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payment practices. Executive shall be entitled to such increases in Executive’s base salary, if any, as may be determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Board upon its annual review of Executive’s compensation and Executive’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Base Salary. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the Board may reduce the Base Salary only if such reduction is part of a general cost reduction and is consistent with reductions generally made to other executives of the Company.

(b) Annual Bonus. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus award (the “Annual Bonus”) in respect of each full fiscal year of the Company for which he was employed, in a target amount equal to 75% of Executive’s Base Salary (the “Target Bonus”) and a maximum bonus opportunity of 387.5% of the Target Bonus, based upon the achievement of the performance goals established by the Board within the first three months of each fiscal year during the Term. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive’s Annual Bonus shall be calculated in accordance with the table attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Annual Bonus Table”), whereby the amount of the Annual Bonus that shall become payable for any fiscal year shall be the amount equal to the “Percentage of Base Salary” that corresponds with the highest “Level of Achievement” attained by the Company for such year (which, as set forth on Schedule A, shall be tied to the Company’s “EBITDA”). For these purposes, the Company’s “EBITDA” for any applicable fiscal year shall mean the “Consolidated EBITDA,” as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., the Company, the lending institutions party thereto, Barclays Capital (“Barclays”) and General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”), as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners, and GECC as the administrative agent, as may be amended, modified, extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced form time to time. The Company’s “Target” EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 shall be set forth on Schedule A attached hereto. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid to Executive prior to the expiration of the period ending two and one-half months after the end of the applicable fiscal year.

4. Equity Participation. Executive’s equity participation in Parent, the Company and any of their subsidiaries or affiliates shall be documented pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), award agreements issued under the Equity Plan or otherwise (including any option or option rollover agreements), the Management Stockholders Agreement of Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Management Stockholders Agreement”), and any contribution or subscription agreements relating to the equity of Parent or the Company, each as executed, if applicable, by the Company, Executive, the other “Initial Management Investors” (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) and Parent (collectively, the “Equity Documents”). The Company and Executive each acknowledges that the terms and conditions of the aforementioned Equity Documents govern Executive’s acquisition, holding, sale or other disposition of Executive’s equity in the Parent, the Company or any of their affiliates, and all of Executive’s rights with respect thereto.


5. Employee Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans and payroll practices, as in effect from time to time (collectively, “Employee Benefits”), on the same basis as those benefits are generally made available to other similarly situated executives of the Company.

6. Termination of Employment. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason; provided that Executive will be required to give the Company at least 60 days advance written notice of any termination initiated by Executive. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 6 shall exclusively govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation in Parent, the Company and their affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(a) For Cause by the Company or For Any Reason Other than Good Reason by Executive. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) or by Executive without Good Reason (as defined in Section 6(c) below).

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive can be terminated by the Company for “Cause” due to:

(A) Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform his duties (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s physical or mental incapacity);

(B) Executive’s willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect, any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board, not inconsistent with the terms of the agreement;

(C) Executive’s commission at any time of any act or omission that results in, or that may reasonably be expected to result in, a conviction, plea of no contest or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

(D) Executive’s unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the Company’s premises or while performing the executive’s duties and responsibilities under the agreement; or

(E) Executive’s commission at any time of any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, material misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or any of its affiliates (or any of their respective predecessors or successors), which shall not include any good faith disputes regarding immaterial amounts that relate to Executive’s expense account, reimbursement claims or other de minimis matters.


(ii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if Executive resigns without Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;

(B) any Annual Bonus earned, but unpaid, as of the date of termination for the immediately preceding fiscal year, paid in accordance with Section 3 (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company or any of its affiliates);

(C) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses that have been properly incurred by Executive prior to the date of Executive’s termination and that are or have been submitted in accordance with the applicable Company policy;

(D) such Employee Benefits, if any, as to which Executive may be entitled under the employee benefit plans of the Company, which shall include payment for any unused vacation in accordance with the Company’s policy then in effect or as otherwise required by applicable law (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (D) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

(iii) Following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 6(a)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(b) Disability or Death. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death and may be terminated by the Company as a result of Executive’s “Disability.”

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental illness, injury or condition that prevents Executive from performing any or all of the essential functions of Executive’s job duties for at least 90 consecutive calendar days, or for at least 120 calendar days, whether or not consecutive, in any 365 calendar day period, as determined by a licensed physician reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Executive. The Board’s good faith determination that Executive has a Disability will be final and binding for purposes of determining the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

(ii) If Executive’s employment is terminated on account of Executive’s death or Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights.

(iii) Following termination of Executive’s employment due to death or Disability, and except as set forth in Section 6(b)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.


(c) Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason.

(i) The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive’s resignation for Good Reason.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be able to terminate his employment for “Good Reason” following the occurrence of any of the following:

(A) a failure of the Company to continue Executive in his current position or other substantially similar or more senior position;

(B) a material diminution in the nature or scope of Executive’s responsibilities, duties or authority;

(C) a failure of the Company to make any material payment or provide any material benefit under the Agreement;

(D) a material breach by the Company of the Agreement or any option agreement between Executive and the Company; or

(E) the Company relocates Executive’s primary place of employment to a place outside of the 75-mile radius of Executive’s current primary place of employment (it being understood that neither a temporary work assignment nor travel on the Company’s business shall constitute such a relocation);

provided that the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) shall only constitute Good Reason if the Company fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from Executive of written notice of such occurrence; provided, further, that Good Reason shall cease to exist following the later of 30 days following its occurrence or Executive’s knowledge thereof, unless Executive has given the Company written notice thereof prior to such date.

(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or if Executive resigns for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company:

(A) the Accrued Rights; and

(B) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the provisions of Sections 7 and 8, and upon execution of the “Release” within 60 days after receipt, which shall be delivered to Executive within 10 days following the termination of Executive’s employment and which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B:


(1) equal, or substantially equal, payments totaling, in the aggregate, 200% of the sum of the Base Salary and the Target Bonus, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices over the twenty-four month period commencing on the date of termination, provided that the first payment shall be made on the seventy-fifth day following the termination of Executive’s employment and shall include any amounts that would have otherwise been due prior to such seventy-fifth day; and

(2) a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination, which shall be based on year to date financial performance of the Company and which will be payable when such Annual Bonus would have otherwise been paid pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement had Executive’s employment not terminated.

(iv) Following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of Executive’s death or Disability) or by Executive for Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 6(c)(iii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(d) Election to Not Extend Term.

(i) In the event either party elects not to extend the Term pursuant to Section 1(c) of this Agreement (and unless Executive’s employment is earlier terminated pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this Section 6), Executive’s termination of employment hereunder (whether or not Executive continues as an employee of the Company thereafter) shall be deemed to occur on the close of business on the day immediately preceding the next scheduled Extension Date and Executive shall only be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights determined as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment.

(ii) Following termination of Executive’s employment by either party’s election to not extend the Term, and except as set forth in Section 6(d)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(iii) Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, continuation of Executive’s employment with the Company beyond the expiration of the Term shall be deemed an employment at-will and shall not be deemed to extend any of the provisions of this Agreement and Executive’s employment may thereafter be terminated at any time by either Executive or the Company; provided that the provisions of Sections 7, 8 and 9 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement or Executive’s termination of employment, whether occurring before or after the expiration of the Term.


(e) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 11(g) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.

7. Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Non-Hire. Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) During the Term and, for the twenty-four (24) month period following the date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company (the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company, the business of any client or prospective client:

(i) with whom Executive had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment;

(ii) with whom Executive had knowledge of any of the Company’s plans with respect to such client or prospective client;

(iii) with whom employees reporting to Executive have had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment; or

(iv) for whom Executive had direct or indirect responsibility during the one-year immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment.

(b) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(i) engage in any business that competes with the business of the Company or its affiliates (including, without limitation, businesses which the Company or its affiliates have specific plans to conduct in the future and as to which Executive is aware of such planning) in any geographical area that is within 100 miles of any geographical area where the Company or its affiliates manufactures, produces, sells, leases, rents, licenses or otherwise provides its products or services (a “Competitive Business”);

(ii) enter the employ of, or render any services to, any Person (or any division or controlled or controlling affiliate of any Person) who or which engages in a Competitive Business;

(iii) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competitive Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or


(iv) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the Company or any of its affiliates and customers, clients, distributors, suppliers, partners, members or investors of the Company or its affiliates.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executive may, directly or indirectly own, solely as an investment, securities of any Person engaged in a Competitive Business, which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive (i) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and (ii) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person.

(c) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company or its affiliates to leave the employment of the Company or its affiliates; or

(ii) hire any employee who was a direct report of Executive or any other senior executive of the Company and was employed by the Company or its affiliates as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or who left the employment of the Company or its affiliates coincident with, or within one year prior to or after, the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

(d) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage to cease to work with the Company or its affiliates any independent contractor, consultant or partner then under contract with the Company or its affiliates.

(e) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 7 to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if Executive violates any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 7 or Section 8 of this Agreement and such violation is curable without residual damages to the Company, such violation shall not be deemed a breach if Executive cures such violation within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Company.

(g) Executive acknowledges that the promises and restrictive covenants that Executive is providing under this Section 7 are reasonable and necessary to the protection of the business to be acquired by the Initial H&F Investors (as defined in the Management Stockholders


Agreement) pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Executive acknowledges that Executive will sell or has sold equity interests in the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that the goodwill of the Company was a material consideration in the Initial Investors’ decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Executive further acknowledges that if Executive were to engage in the restricted activities described in this Section 7 during the Restricted Period, such competition could materially and adversely affect the value of the business acquired by the Initial Investors in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Executive and the Company agree that each of the Initial Investors are express third party beneficiaries of the provisions set forth in this Section 7.

8. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliates) (x) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person (other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates); or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company (other than its professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals — concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliates and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to the Company on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Board.

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (a) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant or any breach of other confidentiality obligations by third parties; (b) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation; or (c) required by law to be disclosed; provided that Executive shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s immediate family and legal or financial advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement provided they agree to maintain the confidentiality of such terms.


(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (x) cease and not thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates; (y) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information or otherwise relate to the business of the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information; and (z) notify and fully cooperate with the Company regarding the delivery or destruction of any other Confidential Information of which Executive is or becomes aware.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, prior to or during Executive’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“Prior Works”), Executive hereby grants, to the extent not previously granted, the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all prior licenses granted by Executive to the Company with respect to any Works or Prior Works shall continue in full force and effect following the Closing.

(ii) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any Works, either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and/or with the use of any the Company resources (“Company Works”), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose same to the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all rights and intellectual property rights therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company.

(iii) Executive agrees to keep and maintain adequate and current written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other form or media requested by the Company) of all Company Works. The records will be available to and remain the sole property and intellectual property of the Company at all times.


(iv) Executive shall take all requested actions and execute all requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the Company’s expense (but without further remuneration) to assist the Company in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company’s rights in the Prior Works and Company Works. If the Company is unable for any other reason to secure Executive’s signature on any document for this purpose, then Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing.

(v) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company, including, without limitation, policies and guidelines regarding the protection of confidential information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest. Executive acknowledges that the Company may amend any such policies and guidelines from time to time, and that Executive remains at all times bound by their most current version.

(vi) The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

9. Specific Performance. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 7 or Section 8 would be inadequate and the Company would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

10. 280G Cutback.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines in good faith that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise (all such payments and benefits, including, without limitation, salary and bonus payments, being hereinafter called the “Total Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), by reason of being considered “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, then such Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Total Payments will be less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code),


unless the amount of such reduction would equal or exceed 110% of the excise taxes that would be imposed by Section 4999 of the Code on such payments and benefits. The reduction of the Total Payments shall apply as follows, unless otherwise agreed and such agreement is in compliance with Section 409A of the Code: (i) first, any cash severance payments due under the Agreement shall be reduced, with the last such payment due first forfeited and reduced, and sequentially thereafter working from the next last payment, and (ii) second, any acceleration of vesting of any equity shall be deferred with the tranche that would vest last (without any such acceleration) first deferred.

11. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

(b) Entire Agreement/Amendments. Subject to the occurrence of the Closing, this Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company, and this Agreement shall supersede all prior agreements (including verbal agreements) between Executive and the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to any matters discussed herein, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EXECUTIVE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVES RIGHTS UNDER ANY PRIOR AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT) SHALL TERMINATE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER.

(c) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

(d) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

(e) Assignment. This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement shall be deemed an agreement of the Company immediately upon the occurrence of the Closing and that this Agreement may be assigned by the Company to a person or entity which is an affiliate or a successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of the Company. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such affiliate or successor person or entity.


(f) Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees.

(g) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

If to the Company:

c/o Hellman & Friedman LLC

One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: (415) 788-5111

Facsimile: (415) 788-1076

Attention: Philip Hammarskjold and Erik Ragatz

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

Telephone: (650) 251-5000

Facsimile: (650) 252-5002

Attention: Richard Capelouto and Brian Robbins

If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

(h) Executive Representation. Executive hereby represents to the Company and the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound.

(i) Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder. This provision shall survive any termination of this Agreement.


(j) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

(l) Compliance with IRC Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Executive) until the date that is six months following Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code) and (ii) if any other payments of money or other benefits due to Executive hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment or other benefits shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Board, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. In the event that payments under this Agreement are deferred pursuant to this Section 11(l) in order to prevent any accelerated tax or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then such payments shall be paid at the time specified under this Section 11(l) without any interest thereon. The Company shall consult with Executive in good faith regarding the implementation of this Section 11(l); provided that neither the Company nor any of its employees or representatives shall have any liability to Executive with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “resignation,” “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.

(m) Set Off. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall be subject to set-off, counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to the Company or any of its affiliates except to the extent any such set-off, counterclaim or recoupment would violate, or result in the imposition of tax under, Section 409A of the Code, in which case such right shall be null and void.

(n) No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise and the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of subsequent employment of Executive following the termination of his employment hereunder.


(o) Resignation as Member of Board. If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, Executive hereby agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination and to the extent applicable, as a member of the Board (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or managers (and any committees thereof) of any of the Company’s affiliates.

(p) Arbitration. Any controversy, dispute, or claim arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to, the interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement, other than injunctive relief under Section 9 hereof, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration conducted in Wilmington, Delaware, by and in accordance with the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “Rules”). Each of the parties hereto agrees that such arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator selected in accordance with the Rules; provided that such arbitrator must be experienced in deciding cases concerning the matter which is the subject of the dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees to treat as confidential the results of any arbitration (including, without limitation, any findings of fact and/or law made by the arbitrator) and not to disclose such results to any unauthorized person. The parties intend that this agreement to arbitrate be valid, enforceable and irrevocable. With respect to any arbitration hereunder, each party shall pay its own legal fees and expenses; provided that the parties agree to share the cost of the arbitrator’s fees in any event.

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.

/s/ Erik D. Ragatz

By:   Erik D. Ragatz
Its:   Vice President
EXECUTIVE

/s/ Lawrence M. Blackburn

By:   Lawrence M. Blackburn
EX-10.14 17 dex1014.htm STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Stockholders Agreement, dated February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.14

Execution Copy

 

 

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

Dated as of February 13, 2008

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
  ARTICLE I   
  DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.1.

  Definitions    2

Section 1.2.

  Definitions Cross References    6

Section 1.3.

  General Interpretive Principles    8
  ARTICLE II   
  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   

Section 2.1.

  Representations and Warranties of the Parties    8

Section 2.2.

  Representations and Warranties of the Company    9
  ARTICLE III   
  GOVERNANCE   

Section 3.1.

  Board of Directors    9

Section 3.2.

  Protective Provisions    11

Section 3.3.

  VCOC Stockholders    11
  ARTICLE IV   
  TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS   

Section 4.1.

  General Restrictions on Transfers    13

Section 4.2.

  Permitted Transfers to Permitted Transferees    14

Section 4.3.

  Restrictions on Transfers by Non-H&F Stockholders    14

Section 4.4.

  Tag-Along Rights    14

Section 4.5.

  Drag-Along Rights    16

Section 4.6.

  Rule 144 Sales    18
  ARTICLE V   
  REGISTRATION RIGHTS   

Section 5.1.

  Certain Definitions    20

Section 5.2.

  Shelf Registration    21

Section 5.3.

  Demand Registration    26

Section 5.4.

  Piggyback Registration    28

Section 5.5.

  Expenses of Registration    29

Section 5.6.

  Obligations of the Company    29

Section 5.7.

  Indemnification    32

Section 5.8.

  Information by Holder    34

 

i


Section 5.9.

   Transfer of Registration Rights    34

Section 5.10.

   Delay of Registration    34

Section 5.11.

   Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights    34

Section 5.12.

   Rule 144 Reporting    34

Section 5.13.

   “Market Stand Off” Agreement    35

Section 5.14.

   Termination of Registration Rights    35
   ARTICLE VI   
   RIGHT OF PARTICIPATION   

Section 6.1.

   Right of Participation    35

Section 6.2.

   Excluded Transactions    38

Section 6.3.

   Certain Definitions Used in Article VI    38

Section 6.4.

   Termination of ARTICLE VI    39
   ARTICLE VII   
   ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES   

Section 7.1.

   Further Assurances    39

Section 7.2.

   Freedom to Pursue Opportunities    39

Section 7.3.

   Restriction on Employee Equity Program    40

Section 7.4.

   Legend on Share Equivalent Certificates    40

Section 7.5.

   Expense Reimbursement    40

Section 7.6.

   Information Rights    41
   ARTICLE VIII   
   ADDITIONAL PARTIES   

Section 8.1.

   Additional Parties    41
   ARTICLE IX   
   INDEMNIFICATION   

Section 9.1.

   Indemnification of Stockholders    42
   ARTICLE X   
   MISCELLANEOUS   

Section 10.1.

   Entire Agreement    42

Section 10.2.

   Specific Performance    43

Section 10.3.

   Governing Law    43

Section 10.4.

   Arbitration    43

Section 10.5.

   Obligations    44

Section 10.6.

   Consents, Approvals and Actions    44

Section 10.7.

   Amendment and Waiver    44

 

ii


Section 10.8.

  

Assignment of Rights by the H&F Investors

   44

Section 10.9.

  

Binding Effect

   45

Section 10.10.

  

Termination

   45

Section 10.11.

  

Notices

   45

Section 10.12.

  

Severability

   45

Section 10.13.

  

Counterparts

   45

Section 10.14.

  

Assumption of Obligations

   45

 

iii


CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

This STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of February 13, 2008 by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), Chill Acquisition, Inc. (together with its successors and assigns, “Merger Sub”), and each of the following (hereinafter severally referred to as a “Stockholder” and collectively referred to as the “Stockholders”): (a) Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F VI”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F VI Parallel”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F Associates VI”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F Executives VI”) and H&F Chill Partners, L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F Chill” and, together with H&F Executives VI, H&F Associates VI, H&F VI and H&F VI Parallel, the “Initial H&F Investors”); (b) GSO Special Situations Fund LP, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP and GSO COF Facility LLC (collectively, the “GSO Parties”); (c) Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners II, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P. and Tinicum Partners, L.P. (collectively, the “Farallon Parties”); (d) AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V., CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C. and the other parties identified on the signature page hereof as an Initial Equity Co-Investor (the entities identified in clauses (b), (c) and (d) collectively, the “Initial Equity Co-Investors”); and (c) any other Person who becomes a party hereto pursuant to ARTICLE VIII.

WHEREAS, each of the Initial H&F Investors and the Initial Equity Co-Investors has entered into a Subscription Agreement (as amended from time to time, collectively, the “Subscription Agreements”) with the Company and Merger Sub, pursuant to which the Initial H&F Investors and the Initial Equity Co-Investors subscribed for shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) as set forth on Schedule 1 to such Subscription Agreements and, as a condition of receipt of each of such shares, are required to enter into this Agreement;

WHEREAS, each of the persons listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Initial Management Investors”) has entered into an Equity Contribution Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2007 (each an “Equity Contribution Agreement” and, collectively, the “Equity Contribution Agreements”) with the Company pursuant to which each such Initial Management Investor has agreed to acquire shares of Common Stock upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and, as a condition of receipt of such shares, is required to enter into the Management Stockholders Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time, the “Management Stockholders Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Stockholders and the Company desire to provide for the management of the Company and to set forth the respective rights and obligations of the Stockholders generally.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties mutually agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Adverse Disclosure” means public disclosure of material non-public information which, in the Board’s good faith judgment, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any report or Registration Statement filed with the SEC by the Company so that such report or Registration Statement would not be materially misleading; (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such report or Registration Statement; and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person. The term “control,” as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. “Controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company, its Subsidiaries and its other controlled Affiliates shall not be considered Affiliates of any Stockholder, (ii) none of the H&F Investors shall be considered Affiliates of any portfolio company in which the H&F Investors or any of their investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (iii) none of the Equity Co-Investors shall be considered Affiliates of any portfolio company in which the Equity Co-Investors or any of their investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment and (iv) none of the H&F Investors shall be considered Affiliates of any of the Equity Co-Investors.

Agreement” means this Stockholders Agreement (including the schedule attached hereto) as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or modified.

Beneficial ownership” and “beneficially own” and similar terms have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however that (i) no Stockholder shall be deemed to beneficially own any securities of the Company held by any other Stockholder solely by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement (other than this definition) and (ii) with respect to any Securities held by a Stockholder that are exercisable for, or convertible into, Shares upon delivery of consideration to the Company, such Shares shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by such Stockholder unless, until and to the extent such Securities have been exercised or converted and such consideration has been delivered by such Stockholder to the Company.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or one on which banks are authorized by law to be closed in San Francisco, California or Houston, Texas.

Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

2


Eligible Tag-Along Stockholder” means, with respect to a Tag-Along Sale, each Stockholder that beneficially owns Share Equivalents and is not an Affiliate of the Selling H&F Investors for such Tag-Along Sale.

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community or other marital property interest, right of first option, right of first refusal, mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance (except as resulting from the express terms of this Agreement).

Equity Co-Investor Termination Event” means, with respect to any particular Equity Co-Investor, after consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the earlier of (i) such time as such Equity Co-Investor and its Permitted Transferees beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than the greater of (x) 4.9 percent (4.9%) of the outstanding Shares that are not Beneficially Owned by the H&F Investors, the Equity Co-Investors and any Affiliates of the Company and (y) two percent (2%) of the outstanding Share Equivalents and (ii) such time as the H&F Investors no longer beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding Share Equivalents.

Equity Co-Investors” means the Initial Equity Co-Investors for so long as they hold Share Equivalents and any of their Permitted Transferees that hold any class of Share Equivalents and have become parties to this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE VIII.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Goodman” means Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its successors and assigns.

H&F Investors” means the Initial H&F Investors that hold Share Equivalents and any of their Permitted Transferees that hold Share Equivalents and have become parties to this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE VIII.

Initial Public Offering” means the consummation of the Company’s initial underwritten public offering of Shares, which is registered under the Securities Act as a result of which the Shares are registered on a national securities exchange or eligible for quotation on the NASDAQ.

Initial Valuation” means $10.00 per Share.

Management Stockholder” means (i) each Initial Management Investor for so long as he or she holds Share Equivalents or any options or other rights to acquire Share Equivalents, (ii) any other individual who (A) holds Share Equivalents or Options and (B) has become a party to the Management Stockholders Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof as a “Management Stockholder” thereunder and (iii) any Permitted Transferee of any of the persons identified in the immediately foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).

Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007, among Goodman, the Company and Merger Sub, as amended, supplemented or otherwise waived or modified prior to the date hereof.

 

3


Non-H&F Stockholders” means each of the Stockholders other than the H&F Investors.

Nonmarketable Securities” means securities other than securities listed or quoted on a national securities exchange, provided that the holder thereof is able to dispose of all such securities held by it in a 90 day period pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar analogous rule) promulgated under the Securities Act or pursuant to registration rights granted to such holders with respect to such securities or otherwise.

Options” shall mean any rights or options to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire Shares granted pursuant to any employment or consulting agreement with the Company or its Subsidiaries or pursuant to any equity compensation plan or program of the Company.

Permitted Transferee” of any Stockholder means any Affiliate of such Stockholder (i) that is (x) an Affiliated investment fund of such Stockholder, (y) was not formed solely for the purpose of making an investment in the Company or beneficially owning Securities and (z) the assets of which do not primarily consist of Securities or (ii) that is a wholly owned Subsidiary of such Stockholder. Each of the Initial H&F Investors is a “Permitted Transferee” of each other.

Person” means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

Plan Asset Regulations” means the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations.

Registration Expenses” means any and all expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations under ARTICLE V, including (i) all SEC, stock exchange, or NASDAQ registration and filing fees (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” as such term is defined in Rule 2720 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or any successor provision), and of its counsel), (ii) all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or NASDAQ and all rating agency fees, (v) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or comfort letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (vi) any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuers or sellers of securities, including liability insurance if the Company so desires or if the underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the requested registration, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, (vii) the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of not more than one law firm (as selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration) incurred by all the Holders in connection with the registration; provided, however, that in addition, either the GSO Parties or the Farallon Parties may elect to each have a law firm separately represent them, so long as the expenses of such additional law firm do not exceed

 

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$10,000 in the aggregate, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to analyst and investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the registration and/or marketing of the Registrable Securities (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders) and (ix) any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of securities.

Restricted Share Equivalents” means all Share Equivalents other than (i) Share Equivalents, the offer and sale of which have been registered under a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act and sold thereunder, (ii) Share Equivalents, with respect to which a sale or other disposition has been made in reliance on and in accordance with Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act, or (iii) Share Equivalents, with respect to which the holder thereof shall have delivered to the Company either (a) an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, delivered by counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, or (b) a “no action” letter from the SEC, in either case to the effect that subsequent transfers of such Share Equivalents may be effected without registration under the Securities Act.

Restricted Shares” means any Shares that are subject to vesting in connection with the continued employment with, or engagement by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

SEC” means the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

Securities” means any equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Shares, any Share Equivalents or any other Voting Securities.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Share Equivalents” means (i) Shares (other than Restricted Shares), (ii) Shares issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any security that is currently exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for, as of any such date of determination, Shares without payment to the Company of any additional consideration or of only de minimis consideration and (iii) solely with respect to Section 4.4 and Section 4.5, the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of Options that are vested and exercisable as of any such date of determination.

Shares” means any shares of Common Stock.

Significant Stockholder” means any Stockholder that together with its Affiliates, beneficially owns more than $5,000,000 of Share Equivalents, valued at the Initial Valuation.

Stockholders” means each of the Stockholders specified in the preamble and each additional Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE VIII hereof as a holder of Share Equivalents.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which (i) a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock or equivalent ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or other members of the applicable governing body thereof is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if no such governing body exists at such entity, a

 

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majority of the total voting power of shares of stock or equivalent ownership interests of the entity is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or Control the managing member or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

Third Party” means any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or any Stockholder.

Voting Security” means (a) the Share Equivalents and (b) any other securities that are permitted by their terms to vote together with the Share Equivalents.

Section 1.2. Definitions Cross References.

 

Terms

 

Section

Accepting Participation Stockholder

  Section 6.1(b)(i)

Affiliated Officer

  Section 7.2

Agreement

  Preamble

Certificates

  Section 4.4(a)

Common Stock

  Recitals

Company

  Preamble

Demand Period

  Section 5.3(c)

Demand Registration

  Section 5.3(a)

Dispute(s)

  Section 10.4

Drag-Along Sale

  Section 4.5

Equity Contribution Agreement(s)

  Recitals

Eligible Take-Down Holders

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A)

H&F Associates VI

  Preamble

H&F Chill

  Preamble

H&F Designated Directors

  Section 3.1(b)(i)(B)

H&F Nominees

  Section 3.1(c)(i)

H&F Initiating Holders

  Section 5.1(f)

H&F Parallel

  Preamble

H&F VI

  Preamble

Holder and Holders

  Section 5.1(e)

Indemnified Liabilities

  Section 9.1

Indemnified Party

  Section 5.7(c)

Indemnifying Party

  Section 5.7(c)

Indemnities

  Section 9.1

Initial H&F Investors

  Preamble

Initial Equity Co-Investors

  Preamble

Initial Management Investors

  Recitals

Initiating Holders

  Section 5.3(a)

JAMS

  Section 10.4

Management Stockholders Agreement

  Recitals

Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down

  Section 5.2(d)(iv)

 

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Terms

 

Section

Merger Sub

  Preamble

Participation Closing

  Section 6.1(f)

Participation Notice

  Section 6.1(a)

Participation Portion

  Section 6.3(a)

Participation Securities

  Section 6.3(b)

Participation Stockholder

  Section 6.3(c)

Post-Closing Issuance

  Section 6.3(d)

Preferred Stock

  Section 2.2(a)

Pre-IPO Period

  Section 3.1(b)(i)

Pro Rata Rule 144 Share

  Section 4.6(d)(i)

Pro Rata Tag-Along Share

  Section 4.4(d)(i)

Pro Rata Take-Down Share

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(D)1)

Prospective Subscriber

  Section 6.1(a)(i)

Prospectus

  Section 5.1(d)

register, registered and registration

  Section 5.1(a)

Registrable Securities

  Section 5.1(b)

Registration Statement

  Section 5.1(a)

Restricted Shelf Take-Down

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A)

Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A)

Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A)

Rule 144 Broker

  Section 4.6(a)

Rule 144 Notice

  Section 4.6(a)

Rule 144 Sale Participation Notice

  Section 4.6(b)

Rule 144 Sale Percentage

  Section 4.6(a)

Rule 144 Sales

  Section 4.6(a)

Rule 144 Sellers

  Section 4.6(a)

Rule 144 Tagging Stockholders

  Section 4.6(a)

Selling H&F Investors

  Section 4.4(a)

Shelf Holder

  Section 5.2(a)

Shelf Period

  Section 5.2(b)

Shelf Registration Notice

  Section 5.2(a)

Shelf Registration Statement

  Section 5.1(c)

Shelf Suspension

  Section 5.2(c)

Shelf Take-Down

  Section 5.1(g)

Shelf Take-Down Percentage

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A)

Stockholders

  Preamble

Subscription Agreement

  Recitals

Tag-Along Participation Notice

  Section 4.4(b)

Tag-Along Sale

  Section 4.4(a)

Tag-Along Sale Percentage

  Section 4.4(a)

Tag-Along Sellers

  Section 4.4(a)

Tagging Stockholders

  Section 4.4(a)

Take-Down Participation Notice

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(B)

Take-Down Tagging Holders

  Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A)

Third Party Holder

  Section 5.1(h)

Third Party Shelf Holder

  Section 5.2(a)

transfer

  Section 4.1(a)

 

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Terms

 

Section

Transfer Notice

  Section 4.4(a)

Transfer Restriction Period

  Section 4.3

Underwritten Shelf Take-Down

  Section 5.2(d)(iii)

Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice

  Section 5.2(d)(iii)

VCOC Stockholder

  Section 3.3(a)

Section 1.3. General Interpretive Principles. The name assigned to this Agreement and the section captions used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect hereof. Unless otherwise specified, the terms “hereof,” “herein” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole, and references herein to Articles or Sections refer to Articles or Sections of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the words, “include,” “includes” and “including,” when used herein, shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “dollars” and “$” shall mean United States dollars. Except as otherwise set forth herein, Shares underlying unexercised Options or any other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares that have been issued by the Company shall not be deemed “outstanding” for any purposes in this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 2.1. Representations and Warranties of the Parties. Each of the parties hereto hereby represents and warrants to each of the other parties on the date hereof (and in respect of Persons who become a party to this Agreement after the date hereof, such party hereby represents and warrants to each of the other parties on the date of its execution of this Agreement) as follows:

(a) Such party, to the extent applicable, is duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation and has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and is proposed to be conducted.

(b) Such party has the full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly authorized by all necessary action, corporate or otherwise, of such party. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and constitutes its, his or her legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it, him or her in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(c) The execution and delivery by such party of this Agreement, the performance by such party of its, his or her obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions

 

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contemplated herein by such party does not and will not violate (A) in the case of parties who are not individuals, any provision of its by-laws, charter, articles of association, partnership agreement or other similar document, (B) any provision of any material agreement to which it, he or she is a party or by which it, he or she is bound or (C) any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree to which it, he or she is subject.

(d) No consent, waiver, approval, authorization, exemption, registration, license or declaration is required to be made or obtained by such party in connection with the execution, delivery or enforceability of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein.

(e) Such party is not currently in violation of any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree, which violation could reasonably be expected at any time to have a material adverse effect upon such party’s ability to enter into this Agreement or to perform its, his or her obligations hereunder.

(f) There is no pending legal action, suit or proceeding that would materially and adversely affect the ability of such party to enter into this Agreement or to perform its, his or her obligations hereunder.

Section 2.2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants, as of the date hereof, to each of the Stockholders as follows:

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), none of which were issued or outstanding immediately following the consummation of all the transactions under the Subscription Agreements and the Equity Contribution Agreements, and (ii) 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 127,824,724 were issued and outstanding immediately following the consummation of all the transactions under the Subscription Agreements and the Equity Contribution Agreements.

(b) The proceeds received from the initial issuance of Share Equivalents upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Subscription Agreements have been and shall be used solely to finance the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the repayment of indebtedness of Goodman and its Subsidiaries, to pay related fees and expenses and to fund the working capital and general corporate purposes of Goodman.

ARTICLE III

GOVERNANCE

Section 3.1. Board of Directors.

(a) Board Size. The size of the Board shall be determined in the manner set forth from time to time in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. As of the date hereof, the authorized size of the Board is five (5) directors and the Board is comprised of (i) Charles Carroll (the Chief Executive Officer of the Company as of the date hereof), and (ii) Philip U. Hammarskjold, Robert B. Henske, Erik D. Ragatz and Saloni Saraiya (each of whom is an initial H&F Designated Director). Mr. Carroll will serve as the initial chairman of the Board.

 

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(b) Board Representation Prior to Initial Public Offering.

(i) From the date hereof until the consummation of an Initial Public Offering (the “Pre-IPO Period”), each Stockholder agrees that it, he or she will vote, or execute a written consent in lieu thereof with respect to, all of the Voting Securities beneficially owned or held of record by it, him or her or cause all of the Voting Securities beneficially owned by it, him or her to be voted, or cause a written consent in lieu thereof to be executed, to elect and, during such period, to continue in office a Board consisting solely of the following (subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.1):

 

  (A) the Chief Executive Officer of the Company; and

 

  (B) the designees of the H&F Investors with respect to all remaining members of the Board (with at least one of such designees being designated by H&F VI for so long as H&F VI owns any Share Equivalents) (the “H&F Designated Directors”).

(ii) In the event that the H&F Investors determine to remove an H&F Designated Director, each of the Stockholders will take any action that may be required by the Company’s stockholders in order to effect such removal and appoint a successor H&F Designated Director.

(c) Board Representation After an Initial Public Offering.

(i) After the Pre-IPO Period, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of the principal stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are then traded or listed, the Company agrees that the H&F Investors shall have the right to nominate a number of individuals for election to the Board equal to the product of the following (such individuals, the “H&F Nominees”) (with at least one of such nominees initially being nominated by H&F VI if it shall continue to be a Stockholder at such time): (i) the percentage of the outstanding Share Equivalents beneficially owned by the H&F Investors, taken together, and (ii) the number of directors then on the Board; provided, however that such product shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number; provided, further that, if the Board is divided into multiple classes of directors, the foregoing right shall not apply with respect to any such election to the extent that one or more of the H&F Nominees has previously been elected to the Board and the term or terms of such H&F Nominee(s) is not or are not expiring concurrently with such election.

(ii) For so long as the H&F Investors have the right to nominate an H&F Nominee for election pursuant to Section 3.1(c)(i), in connection with each election of directors, the Company shall nominate such H&F Nominee for election as a director as part of the slate that is included in the proxy statement (or consent solicitation or similar document) of the Company relating to the election of directors, and shall provide the highest level of support for the election of such H&F Nominee as it provides to any other individual standing for election as a director of the Company as part of the Company’s slate of directors.

 

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Section 3.2. Protective Provisions.

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, without the prior written consent of Equity Co-Investors owning a majority of the outstanding Shares owned by all Equity Co-Investors at such time, enter into any transaction with the H&F Investors or any of their Affiliates, other than (A) any transaction or agreement between the Company or one if its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and a portfolio company of the H&F Investors or any of their Affiliates, on the other hand, that is entered into in the ordinary course of business and negotiated at arm’s length between the Company or such Subsidiary and such portfolio company and (B) subject to Section 3.2(b), issuances of securities to the H&F Investors or their Affiliates with respect to which the Equity Co-Investors have pre-emptive rights hereunder.

(b) This Section 3.2 will terminate immediately prior to an Initial Public Offering.

Section 3.3. VCOC Stockholders.

(a) With respect to each H&F Investor and each Affiliate thereof that directly or indirectly has an interest in the Company, in each case that is intended to qualify as a “venture capital operating company” as defined in the Plan Asset Regulations (each, a “VCOC Stockholder”), for so long as the VCOC Stockholder, directly or through one or more conduit subsidiaries, continues to hold any Share Equivalents, in each case without limitation or prejudice of any the rights provided to any of the H&F Investors hereunder, the Company shall, with respect to each such VCOC Stockholder:

(i) Provide such VCOC Stockholder or its designated representative with the following:

(A) the right to visit and inspect any of the offices and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and inspect and copy the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, at such times as the VCOC Stockholder shall reasonably request;

(B) as soon as available and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such period, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, and subject to the absence of footnotes and to year-end adjustments;

(C) as soon as available and in any event within one-hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such year, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the year then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, together with an auditor’s report thereon of a firm of established national reputation;

 

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(D) to the extent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required by law or pursuant to the terms of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary to prepare such reports, any annual reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, actually prepared by the Company or such Subsidiary as soon as available; and

(E) copies of all materials provided to the Board at substantially the same time as provided to the members of the Board and, if requested copies of the materials provided to the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of any Subsidiary of the Company, provided, that the Company or such Subsidiary shall be entitled to exclude portions of such materials to the extent providing such portions would be reasonably likely to result in the waiver of attorney-client privilege.

(ii) Make appropriate officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and members of the Board available periodically and at such times as reasonably requested by such VCOC Stockholder for consultation with such VCOC Stockholder or its designated representative with respect to matters relating to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including significant changes in management personnel and compensation of employees, introduction of new products or new lines of business, important acquisitions or dispositions of plants and equipment, significant research and development programs, the purchasing or selling of important trademarks, licenses or concessions or the proposed commencement or compromise of significant litigation;

(iii) Give such VCOC Stockholder, if such VCOC Stockholder does not at such time have the right to designate one or more directors or non-voting board observers pursuant to Section 3.1 above, the right to designate one (1) non-voting board observer who will be entitled to attend all meetings of the Board and participate in all deliberations of the Board, provided that such observer shall have no voting rights with respect to actions taken or elected not to be taken by the Board, and provided, further, that the Company shall be entitled to exclude such observer from such portions of a Board meeting to the extent such observer’s presence would be reasonably likely to result in the waiver of attorney-client privilege;

(iv) To the extent consistent with applicable law (and with respect to events which require public disclosure, only following the Company’s public disclosure thereof through applicable securities law filings or otherwise), inform each VCOC Stockholder or its designated representative in advance with respect to any significant corporate actions, including, without limitation, extraordinary dividends, mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of assets, issuances of significant amounts of debt or equity and material amendments to the certificate of incorporation or by laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and to provide each VCOC Stockholder or its designated representative with the right to consult with the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to such actions; and

(v) Provide such VCOC Stockholder or its designated representative with such other rights of consultation which such VCOC Stockholder’s counsel may determine to be reasonably necessary under applicable legal authorities promulgated after the date hereof to qualify its investment in the Company as a “venture capital investment” for purposes of the Plan Assets Regulation.

 

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The Company agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of each VCOC Stockholder or its designated representative in connection with the matters on which it is consulted as described above, recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Company.

ARTICLE IV

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

Section 4.1. General Restrictions on Transfers.

(a) During the Pre-IPO Period, no Stockholder may sell, exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate, gift or otherwise transfer or dispose of (all of which acts shall be deemed included in the term “transfer” as used in this Agreement) any legal, economic or beneficial interest in any Securities (whether held in its own right or by its representative) unless (i) such transfer of Securities is made on the books of the Company and is not in violation of the provisions of this ARTICLE IV and (ii) the transferee of such Securities (if other than (A) the Company or another Stockholder, (B) a transferee in a sale of Securities made under Rule 144 or any successor provision under the Securities Act, or (C) a transferee of Shares pursuant to an offer and sale registered under the Securities Act) agrees to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE VIII hereof and executes such further documents as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Company, to make him, her or it a party hereto.

(b) Any purported transfer of Securities other than in accordance with this Agreement by any Stockholder shall be null and void, and the Company shall refuse to recognize any such transfer for any purpose and shall not reflect in its records any change in record ownership of Securities pursuant to any such transfer.

(c) During the Pre-IPO Period, without the prior written consent of the H&F Investors, the Company shall not issue any Share Equivalents upon original issue or reissue or otherwise dispose of any Share Equivalents (other than Share Equivalents registered under the Securities Act) unless the recipient or transferee of such Share Equivalents (if other than a Stockholder) shall agree to become a party (i) to this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE VIII hereof or, (ii) at the Company’s election to the extent such recipient or transferee is an employee, executive officer, consultant or director of the Company or one or more subsidiaries of the Company, the Management Stockholders Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof, and executes such further documents as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Company, to make him, her or it a party hereto or thereto, as the case may be.

(d) Each Stockholder acknowledges that the Restricted Share Equivalents have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Each Stockholder agrees that it will not transfer any Restricted Share Equivalents at any time if such action would constitute a violation of any securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction or a breach of the conditions to any exemption from registration of Restricted Shares under any such laws or a breach of any undertaking or agreement of such Stockholder entered into pursuant to such laws or in connection with obtaining an exemption thereunder. Each Stockholder agrees that any Restricted Share Equivalents to be held by it, him or her shall bear the restrictive legend set forth in Section 8.3.

 

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(e) No Stockholder shall grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust with respect to any Securities or enter into any agreements or arrangements of either kind with any person with respect to any Securities inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such agreements and arrangements are with other Stockholders or holders of Securities who are not parties to this Agreement), including agreements or arrangements with respect to the acquisition, disposition or voting (if applicable) of any Securities, nor shall any Stockholder act, for any reason, as a member of a group or in concert with any other persons in connection with the acquisition, disposition or voting (if applicable) of any Securities in any manner which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 4.2. Permitted Transfers to Permitted Transferees. Subject to Section 4.3, each Stockholder may transfer any or all of the Share Equivalents held by it to any of its Permitted Transferees without complying with the provisions of this ARTICLE IV, other than Section 4.1; provided, however, that, with respect to a transfer to a Permitted Transferee, (x) such Permitted Transferee shall have agreed with all parties hereto, in a written instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that it will immediately convey record and beneficial ownership of all Share Equivalents and all rights and obligations hereunder to such Stockholder or another Permitted Transferee of such Stockholder if it ceases to be an Permitted Transferee of such Stockholder and (y) as a condition to such transfer, such Permitted Transferee shall become a party to this Agreement as provided in Section 4.1(a).

Section 4.3. Restrictions on Transfers by Non-H&F Stockholders. During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the twelve (12)-month anniversary of the completion of an Initial Public Offering (such period, the “Transfer Restriction Period”), the Non-H&F Stockholders shall not transfer any Share Equivalents to any Person, except transfers (w) from an Initial Equity Co-Investor to an H&F Investor during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date six (6) months after the date hereof, (x) to Permitted Transferees pursuant to Section 4.2, (y) pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.4 and Section 4.5 or (z) upon receipt of the prior written consent of the H&F Investors. This Section 4.3 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period and (ii) with respect to any particular Equity Co-Investor, the occurrence of an Equity Co-Investor Termination Event with respect to such Equity Co-Investor.

Section 4.4. Tag-Along Rights.

(a) Subject to Section 4.4(e) and Section 4.4(g), if one or more of the H&F Investors proposes to sell Share Equivalents (a “Tag-Along Sale”) to another Person (other than to a Permitted Transferee), such H&F Investor or H&F Investors (the “Selling H&F Investors”) shall give written notice (a “Transfer Notice”) (and prior to delivering a Transfer Notice, each H&F Investor agrees to discuss such proposed sale with each other H&F Investor sufficiently in advance so as to enable such other H&F Investors to join in the Transfer Notice and participate in such proposed sale) of such proposed transfer to each of the other Stockholders that is an Eligible Tag-Along Stockholder with respect to such Tag-Along Sale at least fifteen (15) days prior to the consummation of such proposed transfer, setting forth (i) the number of Share Equivalents proposed to be transferred, (ii) the consideration to be received for such Share Equivalents by such Selling H&F Investors, (iii) any other material terms and conditions of the

 

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proposed Transfer, (iv) the date of the proposed Transfer, (v) the fraction, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the number of Share Equivalents to be purchased from the Selling H&F Investors (which may be a variable number based on the number of Share Equivalents which the Eligible Tag-Along Stockholders and any other stockholders having similar rights elect to sell in the Tag-Along Sale) by the total number of Share Equivalents held by the Selling H&F Investors (the “Tag-Along Sale Percentage”) and (vi) an invitation to each Eligible Tag-Along Stockholder to elect (Eligible Tag-Along Stockholders who make such an election being “Tagging Stockholders,” and, together with the Selling H&F Investors and all other Persons who otherwise are transferring, or have exercised a contractual or other right to transfer, Share Equivalents in connection with such Tag-Along Sale, the “Tag-Along Sellers”) to include in the Tag-Along Sale Share Equivalents held by such Tagging Stockholder (not in any event to exceed the Tag-Along Sale Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Tagging Stockholder).

(b) Upon delivery of a Transfer Notice, each Eligible Tag-Along Stockholder may elect to sell Share Equivalents in such Tag-Along Sale, at the same price per Share Equivalent and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Share Equivalents as agreed to by the Selling H&F Investors, by sending an irrevocable written notice (a “Tag-Along Participation Notice”) to the Selling H&F Investors within ten (10) days of the date of the Transfer Notice, indicating its, his or her election to sell up to the number of Share Equivalents in the Tag-Along Sale specified by such Eligible Tag-Along Stockholder in such Tag-Along Participation Notice (such specified number not in any event to exceed the Tag-Along Sale Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Eligible Tag-Along Stockholder). Following such ten-day period, each Tagging Stockholder that has delivered a Tag-Along Participation Notice shall be permitted to sell to such proposed transferee on the terms and conditions set forth in the Transfer Notice, concurrently with the Selling H&F Investors and the other Tag-Along Sellers, the number of Share Equivalents calculated pursuant to Section 4.4(d). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that in order to be entitled to exercise its, his or her right to sell Share Equivalents in a Tag-Along Sale pursuant to this Section 4.4, each Tagging Stockholder must agree to make to the proposed transferee the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements, with respect to such Tagging Stockholder, as the Selling H&F Investors agree to make in connection with the Tag-Along Sale, on a several and not joint basis, pro rata in proportion to the total number of Share Equivalents included in such Tag-Along Sale; provided that any indemnification obligations of any Tagging Stockholder with respect thereto shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Tagging Stockholder in such Tag-Along Sale. With respect to (i) any Shares for which a Tagging Stockholder holds exercisable and vested but unexercised Options or (ii) any other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, to the extent that such Shares are to be sold pursuant to this Section 4.4, such Tagging Stockholder must exercise the relevant Option (which may include an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis) or exercise, convert or exchange such other relevant Security and transfer the relevant Shares (rather than the Option or other Security). All costs and expenses incurred by the Selling H&F Investors in connection with such Tag-Along Sale shall be borne on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Share Equivalents being sold by each of the Tag-Along Sellers.

(c) Notwithstanding the delivery of any Transfer Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Tag-Along Sale and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any such Tag-Along Sale shall be at the sole discretion of the Selling H&F Investors.

 

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(d) The Tag Along Sellers shall be entitled to sell in the Tag-Along Sale a number of Share Equivalents calculated as follows:

(i) first there shall be allocated to each Tag Along Seller a number of Share Equivalents equal to the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Share Equivalents such Tag Along Seller has elected to sell in the Tag Along Sale in its, his or her Transfer Notice or Tag Along Participation Notice and (B) the number of Share Equivalents determined by multiplying (x) the number of Share Equivalents subject to the Tag-Along Sale by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Share Equivalents owned by such Tag Along Seller and the denominator of which is the total Share Equivalents owned by all Tag Along Sellers (the “Pro Rata Tag-Along Share”); and

(ii) any remaining Share Equivalents subject to the Tag-Along Sale shall be allocated to the Tag Along Sellers that elected to sell in excess of their Pro Rata Tag-Along Share, pro rata to such Tag Along Sellers based upon such Tag Along Sellers’ relative Pro Rata Tag-Along Shares, or as such Tag Along Sellers may otherwise agree.

(e) This Section 4.4 shall not apply to (i) any transfer to a Permitted Transferee pursuant to Section 4.2, (ii) any transfer in a public offering in accordance with ARTICLE V, (iii) any transfer pursuant to Rule 144 in accordance with Section 4.6 after an Initial Public Offering, (iv) except as provided in Section 4.4(f), any distribution of Share Equivalents by an H&F Investor to its partners, members or other investors or (v) any transfer by any Initial H&F Investor of Share Equivalents at a price equal to the Initial Valuation prior to the 12-month anniversary of the date of this Agreement, provided that after consummation of such transfer, the Initial H&F Investors beneficially own, in the aggregate, not less than $750 million in Share Equivalents, valued at the Initial Valuation.

(f) In the event that any H&F Investor distributes any or all of the Share Equivalents held by such H&F Investor to its partners, members or other investors after an Initial Public Offering but prior to the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period, each Equity Co-Investor may transfer a pro rata portion of the Share Equivalents held by such Equity Co-Investor in open market trades on the principal stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are then traded or listed.

(g) This Section 4.4 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period and (ii) with respect to any particular Equity Co-Investor, the occurrence of an Equity Co-Investor Termination Event with respect to such Equity Co-Investor.

Section 4.5. Drag-Along Rights.

(a) Subject to Section 4.5(b), the H&F Investors may give notice to the Non-H&F Stockholders (and prior to delivering such notice, each H&F Investor agrees to discuss such proposed transfer with each other H&F Investor sufficiently in advance so as to enable such other H&F Investors to join in such notice and participate in such proposed transfer) that the H&F Investors intend to enter into (or have agreed to vote the Share Equivalents they beneficially own, or to execute a written consent in lieu thereof, in favor of) a transaction or transactions involving the transfer, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Share Equivalents (which Share Equivalents to be transferred may include Share Equivalents held by the Non-H&F Stockholders and/or other holders of Share Equivalents) to one or more Persons (other than to an Affiliate of the H&F

 

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Investors) or to cause the Company to merge or consolidate with, or sell all or substantially all of its assets to, another Person or Persons (other than an Affiliate of the H&F Investors) (a “Drag-Along Sale”) and that the H&F Investors desire to cause the Non-H&F Stockholders to participate in such transaction on the same terms and conditions as available to the H&F Investors (including any preemptive rights), including making the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements as the H&F Investors agree to make in connection with the Drag-Along Sale, on a several and not joint basis, pro rata with the H&F Investors based upon the number of Share Equivalents included in such Drag-Along Sale; provided that any indemnification obligations of any Non-H&F Stockholder with respect thereto shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Non-H&F Stockholder in such Drag-Along Sale. Such notice shall also specify (i) the consideration, if any, to be received by the H&F Investors and the Non-H&F Stockholders and any other material terms and conditions of the proposed Drag-Along Sale (which price and other material terms and conditions shall be the same in all material respects for the H&F Investors and the Non-H&F Stockholders), (ii) the identity of the other Person or Persons party to the Drag-Along Sale, (iii) the date of anticipated completion of the proposed Drag-Along Sale (which date shall be not less than ten (10) days after the date of the notice) and (iv) the action or actions required of each Non-H&F Stockholder in order to complete or facilitate such proposed Drag-Along Sale (including the sale of Share Equivalents held by the Non-H&F Stockholder, the voting of all such Share Equivalents in favor of any such merger, consolidation or sale of assets and the waiver of any related appraisal or dissenters’ rights). Upon receipt of such notice, each Non-H&F Stockholder shall be obligated to take the action or actions referred to in clause (iv) above; provided, however, that, in the case of a sale of Shares, with respect to (A) any Shares for which a Stockholder holds exercisable and vested but unexercised Options or (B) any other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, the price per Share shall be reduced by the exercise price of such Options or other Securities or, if required pursuant to the terms of such Options or other Securities or such Drag-Along Sale, such Stockholder must exercise the relevant Option or other Security (which may include an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis) or exercise, convert or exchange such other relevant Security and transfer the relevant Shares (rather than the Option or other Security) (in each case, net of any amounts required to be withheld by the Company in connection with such exercise); and provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in any event the Company shall be permitted to cause all outstanding Options to be treated in such Drag-Along Sale in any manner as permitted by their terms, including any applicable equity plans of the Company. If the H&F Investors are transferring less than all of the Share Equivalents held by the H&F Investors, then each Non-H&F Stockholder will transfer a number of Share Equivalents equal to the product of the following: (x) the number of Share Equivalents beneficially owned by such Non-H&F Stockholder multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Share Equivalents being transferred by the H&F Investors and the denominator of which equals the aggregate number of Share Equivalents beneficially owned by the H&F Investors. To the extent the consideration received in connection with a Drag-Along Sale consists of Nonmarketable Securities, then the Stockholders shall continue to have the same rights, and the H&F Investors shall continue to have the same obligations, with respect to such Nonmarketable Securities as such Persons have with respect to Share Equivalents pursuant to Section 4.4. All costs and expenses incurred by the H&F Investors in connection with such transaction shall be borne on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Share Equivalents being sold by each of the H&F Investors, the Non-H&F Stockholders and all other Persons who otherwise are transferring, or have exercised a contractual or other right to transfer, Share Equivalents in connection with such transaction.

 

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(b) This Section 4.5 shall terminate upon the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period, provided that in order for the H&F Investors to exercise their rights under this Section 4.5, either (x) the H&F Investors must beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding Shares or (y) shareholders (including the H&F Investors) that beneficially own, in the aggregate, not less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Shares must have approved the Drag-Along Sale.

Section 4.6. Rule 144 Sales.

(a) Subject to Section 4.6(e), if one or more of the H&F Investors in good faith expects to transfer Shares pursuant to Rule 144 (“Rule 144 Sales”), such H&F Investors shall provide written notice (a “Rule 144 Notice”) of such Rule 144 Sale (and prior to delivering a Rule 144 Notice, each H&F Investor agrees to discuss such proposed sale with each other H&F Investor sufficiently in advance so as to enable such other H&F Investors to join in the Rule 144 Notice and participate in such proposed sale) to each of the Non-H&F Stockholders (as far in advance of such Rule 144 Sale as shall be reasonably practicable in light of the circumstances applicable to such Rule 144 Sale), which Rule 144 Notice shall set forth (i) the number of Shares the H&F Investors anticipate selling pursuant to such Rule 144 Sale, (ii) the fraction, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the number of Shares anticipated to be sold by the H&F Investors in such Rule 144 Sale by the total number of Share Equivalents held by the H&F Investors (the “Rule 144 Sale Percentage”), (iii) an invitation to each Non-H&F Stockholder to elect (Non-H&F Stockholders who make such an election being “Rule 144 Tagging Stockholders,” and, together with the H&F Investors and all other Persons (other than any Affiliates of the H&F Investors) who otherwise are transferring, or have exercised a contractual or other right to transfer, Shares in connection with such Rule 144 Sale, the “Rule 144 Sellers”) to include in the Rule 144 Sale Shares held by such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder (not in any event to exceed the Rule 144 Sale Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder), (iv) the name, address and other appropriate contact information for the broker(s) (if any) with respect to such Rule 144 Sale selected by the H&F Investor (the “Rule 144 Broker”) and (v) the action or actions required (including the timing thereof) in connection with such Rule 144 Sale with respect to each Non-H&F Stockholder that elects to exercise such right (including the delivery to the Rule 144 Broker of one or more stock certificates representing the Shares of such Non-H&F Stockholder to be sold in such Rule 144 Sale (the “Certificates”) and the delivery of such other certificates, instruments and documents as may be reasonably requested by the Rule 144 Broker).

(b) Upon delivery of a Rule 144 Notice, each Non-H&F Stockholder may elect to sell Shares in such Rule 144 Sale, at the same price per Share and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Shares as agreed to by the H&F Investors, by sending an irrevocable written notice (a “Rule 144 Sale Participation Notice”) to the H&F Investors within the time period specified in such Rule 144 Notice, indicating its, his or her election to sell up to the number of Shares in the Rule 144 Sale specified by such Non-H&F Stockholder in such Rule 144 Sale Participation Notice (such specified number not in any event to exceed the Rule 144 Sale Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Non-H&F Stockholder). Following the time period specified in such Rule 144 Notice, each Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder that has delivered a Rule 144 Sale Participation Notice shall be permitted to sell in such Rule 144 Sale on the terms and conditions set forth in the Transfer Notice, concurrently with the H&F Investors and the other Rule 144 Sellers, the number of Shares calculated pursuant to Section 4.6(d). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that in

 

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order to be entitled to exercise its, his or her right to sell Shares in a Rule 144 Sale pursuant to this Section 4.6, each Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder must agree to make the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements, if any, with respect to such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder and the Share Equivalents included by such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder in such Rule 144 Sale as the H&F Investors agree to make in connection with the Rule 144 Sale, on a several and not joint basis, pro rata based on the total number of Share Equivalents included in such Rule 144 Sale. With respect to any Shares for which a Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder holds (i) exercisable and vested but unexercised Options or (ii) any other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, to the extent that such Shares are to be sold pursuant to this Section 4.6, such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholder must exercise the relevant Option or other Security (which may include an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis) and transfer the relevant Shares (rather than the Option or other Security). All costs and expenses incurred by the H&F Investors in connection with such Rule 144 Sale shall be borne on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Shares being sold by each of the Rule 144 Sellers.

(c) Notwithstanding the delivery of any Rule 144 Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Rule 144 Sale and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any such Rule 144 Sale shall be at the sole discretion of the H&F Investors. In the event that the H&F Investors shall elect not to complete an anticipated Rule 144 Sale with respect to which one or more Rule 144 Tagging Stockholders have exercised their right to sell Shares pursuant to this Section 4.6, the H&F Investors shall cause any Certificates previously delivered to the Rule 144 Broker to be returned to the applicable Rule 144 Tagging Stockholders (except to the extent such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholders elect to participate in any subsequent anticipated Rule 144 Sale pursuant to a subsequent Rule 144 Notice and, in connection with such election, instruct that the Certificates of such Rule 144 Tagging Stockholders be retained by the Rule 144 Broker for purposes of such subsequent anticipated Rule 144 Sale). Each of the H&F Investors agrees to reasonably cooperate with each of the other Eligible Tag-Along Stockholders to establish notice, delivery and documentation procedures and measures to facilitate such other Stockholder’s participation in future potential Rule 144 Sales pursuant to this Section 4.6.

(d) The Rule 144 Sellers shall be entitled to sell in the Rule 144 Sale a number of Shares calculated as follows:

(i) first there shall be allocated to each Rule 144 Seller a number of Shares equal to the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Shares such Tag Along Seller has elected to sell in the Rule Sale pursuant to its, his or her Rule 144 Notice or Rule 144 Sale Participation Notice and (B) the number of Shares determined by multiplying (x) the number of Shares subject to the Rule 144 Sale by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Share Equivalents owned by such Rule 144 Seller and the denominator of which is the total Share Equivalents owned by all Rule 144 Sellers (the “Pro Rata Rule 144 Share”); and

(ii) any remaining Shares subject to the Rule 144 Sale shall be allocated to the Rule 144 Sellers that elected to sell in excess of their Pro Rata Rule 144 Share, pro rata to such Rule 144 Sellers based upon such Rule 144 Sellers’ relative Pro Rata Rule 144 Shares, or as such Rule 144 Sellers may otherwise agree.

 

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(e) This Section 4.6 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period and (ii) with respect to any particular Equity Co-Investor, the occurrence of an Equity Co-Investor Termination Event with respect to such Equity Co-Investor.

ARTICLE V

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

The Company hereby grants to each of the Holders (as defined below) the registration rights set forth in this ARTICLE V, with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined below) owned by such Holders.

Section 5.1. Certain Definitions. As used in this ARTICLE V:

(a) “register”, “registered” and “registration” means a registration effected pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC (the “Registration Statement”) in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering by the SEC of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.

(b) “Registrable Securities” means (i) Shares held (whether now held or hereafter acquired) by Stockholders or any transferee pursuant to Section 5.9 below, (ii) any Shares issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange or in replacement of, such Registrable Securities and (iii) solely with respect to Section 5.2(d)(ii)(D), the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of Options that are vested and exercisable as of any such date of determination or exercise, conversion or exchange of other Security that are vested and exercisable, convertible or exchangeable as of any such date of determination; provided, however, that Shares shall cease to be treated as Registrable Securities if (A) a Registration Statement covering such securities has been declared effective by the SEC and such security has been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (B) a registration statement on Form S-8 covering such securities is effective, (C) such security is sold pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 promulgated under the Securities Act (or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act), (D) such security ceases to be outstanding or (E) the Holder thereof, together with its Affiliates, beneficially owns (excluding any securities covered by the foregoing clause (B)) less than two percent (2%) of the Shares that are outstanding at such time and (1) such Holder is able to dispose of all of its Registrable Securities in any ninety (90) day period pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar or analogous rule) promulgated under the Securities Act and (2) such Shares are not subject to Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

(c) “Shelf Registration Statement” means a Registration Statement of the Company filed with the SEC on Form S-3 or on Form S-1 for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC) covering the Registrable Securities, as applicable.

(d) “Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

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(e) “Holder” (collectively, “Holders”) means any Stockholder (and any transferee pursuant to Section 5.9 below) holding Registrable Securities, securities exercisable or convertible into Registrable Securities or securities exercisable for securities convertible into Registrable Securities.

(f) “H&F Initiating Holders” means one or more H&F Investors that, collectively, beneficially own at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate Registrable Securities held by the H&F Investors and any assignee to whom they have transferred rights as an H&F Investor pursuant to Section 5.9 below.

(g) “Shelf Take-Down” means any offering or sale of Registrable Securities by a Shelf Holder pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

(h) “Third Party Holder” means any holder (other than a Holder) of Share Equivalents who exercises contractual rights to participate in a registered offering of Shares.

Section 5.2. Shelf Registration.

(a) Filing. Upon a demand by the H&F Initiating Holders (a “Shelf Registration Notice”), and subject to the Company’s rights under Section 5.2(c) and the limitations set forth in Section 5.2(d), the Company shall (i) promptly (but in any event no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date such Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective) give written notice of the proposed registration to all other Holders; and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to file as soon as possible with the SEC (and in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after the receipt of such Shelf Registration Notice) and cause to be declared effective under the Securities Act a Shelf Registration Statement as will permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such H&F Initiating Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such demand, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of (x) any Holder or Holders joining in such demand as are specified in a written demand received by the Company within ten (10) days after such written notice is given (each such Holder and each such H&F Initiating Holder, as the case may be, a “Shelf Holder”) and (y) any Third Party Holder that joins in such demand (each such Third Party Holder, a “Third Party Shelf Holder”); provided, however, that any such Shelf Registration Statement demand shall be deemed to be, for purposes of Section 5.3, a Demand Registration effected by the H&F Initiating Holders, as the case may be, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.3(d); and provided, further, that if the Company is permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation to add selling stockholders to a Shelf Registration Statement without filing a post-effective amendment, a Holder may request the inclusion of such Holder’s shares in such Shelf Registration Statement at any time or from time to time, and the Company shall add such Registrable Securities to the Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable, and such Holder shall be deemed a Shelf Holder. If, on the date of any such demand, the Company does not qualify to file a Shelf Registration Statement, then the provisions of Section 5.3 hereof shall apply instead of this Section 5.2. In no event shall the Company be required to file, and maintain effectiveness pursuant to Section 5.2(b) of, more than one Shelf Registration Statement at any one time pursuant to this Section 5.2.

(b) Continued Effectiveness. Except as otherwise agreed by the H&F Initiating Holders, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by the Shelf Holders until

 

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the earlier of (i) the date as of which all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) such shorter period as the H&F Initiating Holders may determine (such period of effectiveness, the “Shelf Period”).

(c) Suspension of Filing or Registration. If the Company shall furnish to the H&F Initiating Holders, a certificate signed by the President or equivalent senior executive of the Company, stating that the filing, effectiveness or continued use of the Shelf Registration Statement would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, then the Company shall have a period ending not more than sixty (60) days after receipt of the Shelf Registration Notice or such longer period as the H&F Initiating Holders shall consent to in writing, within which to delay the filing or effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement that has been declared effective, to suspend the use by Shelf Holders of such Shelf Registration Statement (in each case, a “Shelf Suspension”); provided, however, that, unless consented to in writing by the H&F Initiating Holders, the Company shall not be permitted to exercise aggregate Shelf Suspensions of more than ninety (90) days during any twelve-month (12) period. In the case of a Shelf Suspension that occurs after the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Shelf Holders agree to suspend use of the applicable Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon receipt of the certificate referred to above. The Company shall immediately notify the Shelf Holders upon the termination of any Shelf Suspension, and (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement that has not been declared effective, shall promptly thereafter file the Shelf Registration Statement and use its reasonable best efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act and (ii) in the case of an effective Shelf Registration Statement, shall amend or supplement the Prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission prior to the expiration of the Shelf Suspension and furnish to the Shelf Holders such numbers of copies of the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Shelf Holders may reasonably request. The Company agrees, if necessary, to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the registration form used by the Company for the Shelf Registration or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or as may reasonably be requested by the Shelf Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.

(d) Shelf Take-Downs.

(i) Initiating Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (A) in no event shall any Shelf Take-Down occur unless it has been initiated by H&F Initiating Holders and such H&F Initiating Holders comply with the requirements of this Section 5.2(d) and (B) in no event shall any Shelf Holder or Third Party Shelf Holder be entitled hereunder to sell or offer to sell any Registrable Securities using the Shelf Registration Statement or a Prospectus with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement except in a Restricted Shelf Take-Down, Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down initiated by the H&F Initiating Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2(d).

(ii) Restricted Shelf Take-Downs.

(A) Prior to the occurrence of an Equity Co-Investor Termination Event, with respect to each Shelf Take-Down that is not a Marketed

 

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Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (a “Restricted Shelf Take-Down”), the H&F Initiating Holders shall provide written notice (a “Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice”) of such Restricted Shelf Take-Down to all other Shelf Holders (the “Eligible Take-Down Holders”) as far in advance of such Restricted Shelf Take-Down as shall be reasonably practicable in light of the circumstances applicable to such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, which Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice shall set forth (I) the total number of Registrable Securities expected to be offered and sold in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, (II) the expected plan of distribution of such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, (III) the fraction, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the number of Registrable Securities anticipated to be sold by the H&F Initiating Holders in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down by the total number of Registrable Securities held by the H&F Initiating Holders (the “Shelf Take-Down Percentage”), (IV) an invitation to each Eligible Take-Down Holder to elect (Eligible Take-Down Holders who make such an election being “Take-Down Tagging Holders,” and, together with the H&F Initiating Holders and all other Persons (other than any Affiliates of the H&F Initiating Holders) who otherwise are transferring, or have exercised a contractual or other right to transfer, Shares in connection with such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, the “Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders”) to include in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down Registrable Securities held by such Take-Down Tagging Holder (not in any event to exceed the Shelf Take-Down Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Take-Down Tagging Holder) and (V) the action or actions required (including the timing thereof) in connection with such Restricted Shelf Take-Down with respect to each Eligible Take-Down Holder that elects to exercise such right (including the delivery of one or more stock certificates representing Registrable Securities of such Eligible Take-Down Holder to be sold in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down).

(B) Upon delivery of a Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice, each Eligible Take-Down Holder may elect to sell Registrable Securities in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, at the same price per Registrable Security and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Registrable Securities as agreed to by the H&F Initiating Holders, by sending an irrevocable written notice (a “Take-Down Participation Notice”) to the H&F Initiating Holders within the time period specified in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice, indicating its, his or her election to sell up to the number of Registrable Securities in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down specified by such Eligible Take-Down Holder in such Take-Down Participation Notice (such specified number not in any event to exceed the Shelf Take-Down Percentage of the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Eligible Take-Down Holder). Following the time period specified in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice, each Take-Down Tagging Holder that has delivered a Take-Down Participation Notice shall be permitted to sell in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down on the terms and conditions set forth in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice, concurrently with the H&F Initiating Holders and the other Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders, the number of Registrable Securities calculated pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(ii)(D). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that in order to be entitled to exercise its, his or her right to sell Registrable Securities in a Restricted Shelf Take-Down pursuant to this Section 5.2(d)(ii), each Take-Down

 

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Tagging Holder must agree to make the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements, if any, as the H&F Initiating Holders agree to make in connection with the Restricted Shelf Take-Down. With respect to any Registrable Securities for which a Take-Down Tagging Holder holds exercisable and vested but unexercised Options or other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, to the extent that such Registrable Securities are to be sold pursuant to this Section 5.2(d)(ii), such Take-Down Tagging Holder must exercise the relevant Option or other Security (which may include an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis) or exercise, convert or exchange such other relevant Security and transfer the relevant Registrable Securities (rather than the Option or other Security). All costs and expenses incurred by the H&F Initiating Holders in connection with such Restricted Shelf Take-Down shall be borne on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities being sold by each of the Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders.

(C) Notwithstanding the delivery of any Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Restricted Shelf Take-Down and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Restricted Shelf Take-Down shall be at the sole discretion of the H&F Initiating Holders. Each of the Shelf Holders agrees to reasonably cooperate with each of the other Shelf Holders to establish notice, delivery and documentation procedures and measures to facilitate such other Shelf Holder’s participation in future potential Restricted Shelf Take-Downs pursuant to this Section 5.2(d)(ii).

(D) The Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders shall be entitled to sell in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down a number of Registrable Securities calculated as follows:

1) first there shall be allocated to each Restricted Take-Down Selling Holder a number of Registrable Securities equal to the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Registrable Securities such Restricted Take-Down Selling Holder has elected to sell in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down in its, his or her Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice or Take-Down Participation Notice and (B) the number of Registrable Securities determined by multiplying (x) the number of Registrable Securities subject to the Restricted Shelf Take-Down by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Registrable Securities owned by such Restricted Take-Down Selling Holder and the denominator of which is the total Registrable Securities owned by all Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders (the “Pro Rata Take-Down Share”); and

2) any remaining Registrable Securities subject to the Restricted Shelf Take-Down shall be allocated to the Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders that elected to sell in excess of their Pro Rata Take-Down Share, pro rata to such Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders based upon such Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders’ relative Pro Rata Take-Down Shares, or as such Restricted Take-Down Selling Holders may otherwise agree.

 

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(E) For the avoidance of doubt, after the occurrence of an Equity Co-Investor Termination Event, none of the H&F Initiating Holders shall be required to permit the offer and sale of Registrable Securities by any other Shelf Holders or Third Party Shelf Holders in connection with any Shelf Take-Down, unless such Shelf Take-Down is a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (in which case, Section 5.2(d)(iii) and Section 5.2(d)(iv) shall apply to such Shelf Take-Down).

(iii) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs.

(A) Prior to the occurrence of an Equity Co-Investor Termination Event, if the H&F Initiating Holders so elect in a written demand delivered to the Company (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice”), a Shelf Take-Down (including any Restricted Shelf Take-Down) may be in the form of an underwritten offering (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”), and the Company shall, if so requested, file and effect an amendment or supplement of the Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as practicable; provided, however that any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be deemed to be, for purposes of Section 5.3, a Demand Registration effected by the H&F Initiating Holders and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.3(d). The H&F Initiating Holders that delivered such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice shall have the right to select the underwriter or underwriters to administer such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down; provided that such underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

(B) With respect to any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (including any Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down), in the event that a Shelf Holder otherwise would be entitled to participate as a Take-Down Tagging Holder in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(ii) the right of such Shelf Holder to participate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be conditioned upon such Take-Down Tagging Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Take-Down Tagging Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided in Section 5.2(d)(ii) and herein. The Company shall, together with all Shelf Holders and Third Party Shelf Holders of Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Shelf Holders) of the Company proposing to distribute their securities through such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected in accordance with Section 5.2(d)(iii)(A). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.2, if, after giving effect to the provisions of Section 5.2(d)(ii) with respect to the number of Registrable Securities that may be sold by each Take-Down Tagging Holder, the underwriter shall advise the Company that marketing factors (including an adverse effect on the per share offering price) require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten in a Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, then the Company shall so advise all Take-Down Tagging Holders and Third Party Shelf Holders of Registrable Securities that have requested to participate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Shelf Holders) that may be included in such

 

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Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be allocated pro rata among the Shelf Holders and Third Party Shelf Holders thereof in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Shelf Holders) held by such Shelf Holders and Third Party Shelf Holders at the time of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down. No Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Shelf Holders) excluded from an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such underwritten offering.

(iv) Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs. The H&F Initiating Holders shall indicate in an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice they deliver to the Company pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(iii) whether they intend for such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to involve a customary “road show” (including an “electronic road show”) or other substantial marketing effort by the underwriters over a period of at least 48 hours (a “Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”). Upon receipt of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice indicating that such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down will be a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, the Company shall promptly (but in any event no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the expected date of such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down) give written notice of such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to all other Shelf Holders of Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration Statement and any such Shelf Holders requesting inclusion in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down must respond in writing within ten (10) days after the receipt of such notice. Each such Shelf Holder that timely delivers any such request shall be permitted to sell in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5.2(d)(iii).

Section 5.3. Demand Registration.

(a) H&F Initiating Holders’ Demand for Registration. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.3(d), if the Company shall receive from the H&F Initiating Holders (the party so effecting a demand pursuant to this Section 5.3 being referred to as the “Initiating Holders”), a written demand that the Company effect any registration (a “Demand Registration”) of Registrable Securities held by such Holders having a reasonably anticipated net aggregate offering price (after deduction of underwriter commissions and offering expenses) of at least $10,000,000, the Company will:

(i) promptly (but in any event within fifteen (15) days prior to the date such registration becomes effective under the Securities Act) give written notice of the proposed registration to all other Holders; and

(ii) use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration as soon as practicable as will permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Initiating Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such demand, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holders joining in such demand as are specified in a written demand received by the Company within five (5) days after such written notice is given; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 5.3 if the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the President or equivalent

 

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senior executive of the Company, stating that the filing or effectiveness of such Registration Statement would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, in which case the Company shall have an additional period of not more than sixty (60) days (or such longer period as may be agreed upon by the Initiating Holders) within which to file such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not use this right more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any twelve-month (12) month period.

(b) Underwriting. If the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their demand by means of an underwritten offer, they shall so advise the Company as part of their demand made pursuant to this Section 5.3, and the Company shall include such information in the written notice referred to in Section 5.3(a)(i). In such event, the right of any Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. The Company shall, together with all holders of Registrable Securities of the Company proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting, enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected by a majority-in-interest of the Initiating Holders and reasonably satisfactory to the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.3, if the underwriter shall advise the Company that marketing factors (including an adverse effect on the per share offering price) require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities and Third Party Holders that have requested to participate in such offering, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Holders) that may be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated pro rata among such Holders and Third Party Holders in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Holders) held by such Holders and Third Party Holders at the time of filing the Registration Statement. No Registrable Securities excluded from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such registration. If the underwriter has not limited the number of Registrable Securities to be underwritten, the Company may include securities for its own account (or for the account of other Stockholders) in such registration if the underwriter so agrees and if the number of Registrable Securities would not thereby be limited.

(c) Effective Registration. The Company shall be deemed to have effected a Demand Registration if the Registration Statement pursuant to such registration is declared effective by the SEC and remains effective for not less than one hundred eighty (180) days (or such shorter period as will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or withdrawn), or, if such Registration Statement relates to an underwritten offering, such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters, a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer (the applicable period, the “Demand Period”). No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have been effected if (i) during the Demand Period such registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court or (ii) the conditions specified in the underwriting agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied other than by reason of a wrongful act, misrepresentation or breach of such applicable underwriting agreement by a participating Holder.

 

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(d) Restrictions on Registration. Notwithstanding the rights and obligations set forth in Section 5.3(a), in no event shall the Company be obligated to take any action to effect:

(i) more than four (4) Demand Registrations (not including any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down that is not a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down) in any twelve (12)-month period; and

(ii) any Demand Registration on Form S-1 after the Company has effected three (3) such Demand Registrations.

Section 5.4. Piggyback Registration.

(a) If at any time or from time to time the Company shall determine to register any of its securities, either for its own account or for the account of security holders (other than (1) in a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, (2) a registration on Form S-4 or S-8 (or such other similar successor forms then in effect under the Securities Act), (3) a registration pursuant to which the Company is offering to exchange its own securities, (4) a registration statement relating solely to dividend reinvestment or similar plans, (5) a shelf registration statement pursuant to which only the initial purchasers and subsequent transferees of debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary that are convertible for Share Equivalents and that are initially issued pursuant to Rule 144A and/or Regulation S of the Securities Act may resell such notes and sell the Share Equivalents into which such notes may be converted or (6) a registration pursuant to Section 5.2 or Section 5.3 hereof), the Company will:

(i) promptly (but in no event less than fifteen (15) days before the effective date of the relevant Registration Statement) give to each Holder written notice thereof; and

(ii) include in such registration (and any related qualification under state securities laws or other compliance), and in any underwriting involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a written request or requests made within ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company by any Holder or Holders, except as set forth in Section 5.4(b) below.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5.4 shall not apply until the one-year anniversary of an Initial Public Offering in respect of any Holder, unless (x) one or more of the H&F Investors elect to participate in such registration or (y) the H&F Investors, in their sole discretion, elect by written notice to the Company for this Section 5.4 to apply to the Registrable Securities of any one or more other Holders specified in such notice.

(b) Underwriting. If the registration of which the Company gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders as a part of the written notice given pursuant to Section 5.4(a)(i). In such event the right of any Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 5.4 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting, together with the Company and the other parties distributing their securities through such underwriting, shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.4, if the underwriters

 

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shall advise the Company that marketing factors (including, without limitation, an adverse effect on the per share offering price) require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Company may limit the number of Registrable Securities to be included in the registration and underwriting, subject to the terms of this Section 5.4. The Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that have requested to participate in such offering, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities that may be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated in the following manner: first, to the Company and second, to the Holders and the Third Party Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities (including the relevant Share Equivalents of such Third Party Holders) held by such Holders and Third Party Holders, as applicable. No such reduction shall (i) reduce the securities being offered by the Company for its own account to be included in the registration and underwriting, or (ii) reduce the amount of securities of the selling Holders included in the registration below twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount of securities included in such registration, unless such offering does not include shares of any other selling shareholders, in which event any or all of the Registrable Securities of the Holders may be excluded in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence. No securities excluded from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such registration. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 5.4(b) is intended to diminish the number of securities to be included by the Company in the underwriting.

(c) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 5.4 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration.

Section 5.5. Expenses of Registration. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with all registrations effected pursuant to Section 5.2, Section 5.3 or Section 5.4, shall be borne by the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay stock transfer taxes or underwriters’ discounts or selling commissions relating to Registrable Securities.

Section 5.6. Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this ARTICLE V to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, and keep such Registration Statement effective for (x) the lesser of one hundred eighty (180) days or until the Holder or Holders have completed the distribution relating thereto or (y) for such longer period as may be prescribed herein;

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

(c) permit any Holder that (in the good faith reasonable judgment of such Holder) might be deemed to be a controlling person of the Company to participate in good faith in the

 

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preparation of such Registration Statement and to cooperate in good faith to include therein material, furnished to the Company in writing, that in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

(d) furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them;

(e) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement;

(f) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as soon as reasonably possible after notice thereof is received by the Company of any written comments by the SEC or any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or such prospectus or for additional information;

(g) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing;

(h) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable after notice thereof is received by the Company of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any order by the SEC or any other regulatory authority preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such purposes, or any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

(i) use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final prospectus and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of any such order as soon as practicable;

(j) make available for inspection by each Holder including Registrable Securities in such registration, any underwriter participating in any distribution pursuant to such registration, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Holder or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as such parties may reasonably request, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such Registration Statement;

 

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(k) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel, in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” or securities laws of each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as any such Holder or underwriters, if any, or their respective counsel reasonably request in writing, and do any and all other things reasonably necessary or advisable to keep such registration or qualification in effect for such period as required by Section 5.2(b) and Section 5.3(c), as applicable; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or take any action which would subject it to taxation service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(l) obtain for delivery to the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and to the underwriters, if any, an opinion or opinions from counsel for the Company, dated the effective date of the Registration Statement or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in customary form, scope and substance, which opinions shall be reasonably satisfactory to such holders or underwriters, as the case may be, and their respective counsel;

(m) in the case of an underwritten offering, obtain for delivery to the Company and the underwriters, with copies to the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, a cold comfort letter from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request, dated the date of execution of the underwriting agreement and brought down to the closing under the underwriting agreement;

(n) use its reasonable best efforts to list the Registrable Securities that are Share Equivalents covered by such Registration Statement with any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Share Equivalents are then listed;

(o) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(p) cooperate with Holders including Registrable Securities in such registration and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, such certificates to be in such denominations and registered in such names as such Holders or the managing underwriters may request at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities;

(q) use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable securities laws and make available to its Holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

(r) in the case of an underwritten offering, cause the senior executive officers of the Company to participate in the customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the underwriters and otherwise to facilitate, cooperate with and participate in each proposed offering contemplated herein and customary selling efforts related thereto.

 

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Section 5.7. Indemnification.

(a) The Company will, and does hereby undertake to, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Securities and each of such Holder’s officers, directors, employees, partners, stockholders, affiliates and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder, within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, with respect to any registration, qualification or compliance effected pursuant to this ARTICLE V, and each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls any underwriter, of the Registrable Securities held by or issuable to such Holder, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law arising out of or based on (A) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any prospectus, offering circular, free writing prospectus or other similar document (including any related Registration Statement, notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made, (B) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, or (C) any failure to register or qualify Registrable Securities in any state where the Company or its agents have affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company (the undertaking of any underwriter being attributed to the Company) will undertake such registration or qualification on behalf of the Holders of such Registrable Securities (provided that in such instance the Company shall not be so liable if it has undertaken its reasonable best efforts to so register or qualify such Registrable Securities) and will reimburse, as incurred, each such Holder, each such underwriter and each such director, officer, partner, agent and controlling person, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission made in reliance and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein.

(b) Each Holder (if Registrable Securities held by or issuable to such Holder are included in such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this ARTICLE V) does hereby undertake to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its officers, directors, employees, stockholders, affiliates and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls any underwriter, of the Company’s securities covered by such a Registration Statement, and each other Holder, each of such other Holder’s officers, directors, employees, partners, stockholders, affiliates and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, prospectus, offering circular, free writing prospectus or other document, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made, and will reimburse, as incurred, the Company, each such underwriter, each such other Holder, and each such officer, director, employee, partner, stockholder, affiliate, agent and

 

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controlling Person of the foregoing, for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) was made in such Registration Statement, prospectus, offering circular, free writing prospectus or other document, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of each Holder hereunder shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of securities under such Registration Statement. It is understood and agreed that the indemnification obligations of each Holder pursuant to any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any Registration Statement shall be limited to the obligations contained in this Section 5.7(b).

(c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 5.7 (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give notice to the party required to provide such indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) of any claim as to which indemnification may be sought promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge thereof, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom; provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation, shall be subject to approval by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at the Indemnifying Party’s expense if representation of such Indemnified Party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding; and provided further that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this ARTICLE V, except to the extent that such failure to give notice materially adversely affects the Indemnifying Party in the defense of any such claim or any such litigation. An Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, may, without the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that includes as a term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff therein to such Indemnified Party of an unconditional release from all liability with respect to such claim or litigation.

(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in case indemnification is prohibited or limited by law, the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and such Party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such actions; provided, however, that, in any case, (i) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all securities offered by it pursuant to such Registration Statement less all underwriting fees and discounts and (ii) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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(e) The indemnities provided in this Section 5.7 shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by such Holder.

Section 5.8. Information by Holder. The Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this ARTICLE V.

Section 5.9. Transfer of Registration Rights. The rights contained in Section 5.2, Section 5.3 or Section 5.4 hereof to cause the Company to register the Registrable Securities may be assigned or otherwise conveyed by a Holder pursuant to a transfer permitted under ARTICLE IV.

Section 5.10. Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain, and hereby waives any right to seek, an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this ARTICLE V.

Section 5.11. Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the H&F Investors, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder to (i) require the Company to effect a registration or (ii) include any securities in any registration filed under Section 5.2, Section 5.3 or Section 5.4 hereof, unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not diminish the amount of Registrable Securities that are included in such registration.

Section 5.12. Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company, following an Initial Public Offering, agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:

(a) make and keep current public information available, within the meaning of Rule 144 (or any similar or analogous rule) promulgated under the Securities Act, at all times after it has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act;

(b) file with the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and Exchange Act (after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 (at any time commencing ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first registration filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public), the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company; and such other reports and documents as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.

 

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Section 5.13. “Market Stand Off” Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that during such period following the effective date (which period shall in no event exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, subject to any customary “booster shot” extensions) of a Registration Statement of the Company filed in connection with an Initial Public Offering as the H&F Investors may agree to with the underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering, such Holder or its Affiliates shall not, to the extent requested by the Company and any underwriter, sell, pledge, hypothecate, transfer, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option or right to purchase of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of (other than to donees who agree to be similarly bound) any Share Equivalents held by it at any time during such period except Share Equivalents included in such registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the underwriters in connection with such Initial Public Offering waive the standstill applicable to any of the H&F Investors, such waiver will apply to all Holders. Each Holder agrees that it shall deliver to the underwriter or underwriters or any offering to which clause (i) or (ii) is applicable a customary agreement reflecting its agreement set forth in this Section 5.13.

Section 5.14. Termination of Registration Rights. The rights of any particular Holder to cause the Company to register securities under Section 5.2, Section 5.3 or Section 5.4 hereof shall terminate as to any Holder on the date such Holder, together with its Affiliates, beneficially owns (excluding any securities covered by clause (b) of the proviso set forth in the definition of “Registrable Securities”) less than two percent (2%) of the Shares that are outstanding at such time and such Holder is able to dispose of all of its Registrable Securities in any 90 day period pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar or analogous rule) promulgated under the Securities Act.

ARTICLE VI

RIGHT OF PARTICIPATION

Section 6.1. Right of Participation.

(a) Offer. Not less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the consummation of any Post-Closing Issuance, a notice (the “Participation Notice”) shall be furnished by the Company to each Participation Stockholder, which Participation Notice shall include:

(i) the principal terms and conditions of the proposed Post-Closing Issuance, including (A) the number of Participation Securities to be included in the Post-Closing Issuance, (B) the maximum and minimum price per unit of the Participation Securities or the aggregate principal amount of the Participation Securities (as applicable), including a description of any non-cash consideration sufficiently detailed to permit valuation thereof, (C) the proposed manner of disposition, (D) the name and address of the Person or Persons to whom the Participation Securities will be issued (the “Prospective Subscriber”) and (E) if known, the proposed date of Post-Closing Issuance; and

(ii) an offer by the Company to issue, at the option of each Participation Stockholder, to such Participation Stockholder such portion of the Participation Securities to be included in the Post-Closing Issuance as may be requested by such Participation Stockholder (not to exceed such Participation Stockholder’s Participation Portion of the

 

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total amount of Participation Securities to be included in the Post-Closing Issuance), on the same terms and conditions and at the same price per unit, with respect to each Participation Security issued.

(b) Exercise.

(i) General. Each Participation Stockholder desiring to accept the offer contained in the Participation Notice shall accept such offer by furnishing a written notice of such acceptance to the Company within ten (10) Business Days after the date of delivery of the Participation Notice specifying the number or aggregate principal amount of Participation Securities (not to exceed such Participation Stockholder’s Participation Portion of the total number of Participation Securities to be included in the Post-Closing Issuance) which such Participation Stockholder desires to purchase (each an “Accepting Participation Stockholder”). Each Participation Stockholder who does not accept such offer in compliance with the above requirements, including the applicable time periods, shall be deemed to have waived all of such Participation Stockholder’s rights to participate in such Post-Closing Issuance, and the Company shall thereafter be free to issue Participation Securities in such Post-Closing Issuance to the Prospective Subscriber and any Accepting Participation Stockholders, at a price no less than the minimum price set forth in the Participation Notice and on other principal terms and conditions not substantially more favorable to the Prospective Subscriber than those set forth in the Participation Notice, without any further obligation to such non-accepting Participation Stockholder pursuant to this ARTICLE VI. If, prior to consummation, the terms of such proposed Post-Closing Issuance shall change with the result that the price shall be less than the minimum price set forth in the Participation Notice or the other principal terms shall be substantially more favorable to the Prospective Subscriber than those set forth in the Participation Notice, it shall be necessary for a separate Participation Notice to be furnished, and the terms and provisions of this Section 6.1 separately complied with, in order to consummate such Issuance pursuant to this Section 6.1.

(ii) Irrevocable Acceptance. The acceptance of each Accepting Participation Stockholder shall be irrevocable except as hereinafter provided, and each such Accepting Participation Stockholder shall be bound and obligated to acquire in the Post-Closing Issuance on the same terms and conditions and at the same price per unit with respect to the Participation Securities as such Accepting Participation Stockholder shall have specified in such Accepting Participation Stockholder’s written commitment.

(iii) Time Limitation. If at the end of the 120th day after the date of the effectiveness of the Participation Notice the Company has not completed the Post-Closing Issuance, each Accepting Participation Stockholder shall be released from such holder’s obligations under the written commitment, the Participation Notice shall be null and void, and it shall be necessary for a separate Participation Notice to be furnished to all Participation Stockholders, and the terms and provisions of this Section 6.1 separately complied with, in order to consummate such Post-Closing Issuance pursuant to this Section 6.1.

(c) Post-Issuance Participation Notice. Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 6.1(a), the Company may elect to deliver a Participation Notice with respect to any Post-Closing Issuance after completion of such Post-Closing Issuance. If the Company shall so elect

 

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to deliver any Participation Notice after completion of the applicable Post-Closing Issuance, then the terms of such Post-Closing Issuance shall be required to permit each of the Participation Stockholders receiving such Participation Notice a period of not less than ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof to furnish the Company with a written commitment to purchase such Participation Stockholder’s Participation Portion of the total amount of Participation Securities included in such Post-Closing Issuance (whether pursuant to the resale of Participation Securities by the initial purchaser(s) of such Participation Securities or the issuance by the Company of additional Participation Securities) upon the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in Section 6.1(b).

(d) Further Assurances. Each Accepting Participation Stockholder shall take or cause to be taken all such reasonable actions as may be necessary or reasonably desirable in order to consummate expeditiously each Post-Closing Issuance pursuant to this Section 6.1 and any related transactions, including (i) executing, acknowledging and delivering consents, assignments, waivers and other documents or instruments; (ii) filing applications, reports, returns, filings and other documents or instruments with governmental authorities; and (iii) otherwise cooperating with the Company and the Prospective Subscriber. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each such Accepting Participation Stockholder agrees to execute and deliver such subscription and other agreements specified by the Company to which the Prospective Subscriber will be party.

(e) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any proposed Post-Closing Issuance of Participation Securities (whether or not consummated), including all attorney’s fees and charges, all accounting fees and charges and all finders, brokerage or investment banking fees, charges or commissions, shall be paid by the Company. The reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of a single legal counsel for all Participating Stockholders (selected by Accepting Participation Stockholders purchasing a majority of the Participation Securities being purchased by all Accepting Participation Stockholders) in connection with such proposed Post-Closing Issuance of Participation Securities (whether or not consummated) shall be paid by the Company; provided, however, that in addition, either the GSO Parties or the Farallon Parties may elect to each have a law firm separately represent them, so long as the expenses of such additional law firm do not exceed $10,000 in the aggregate. Any other costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Stockholder in connection with such proposed Post-Closing Issuance of Participation Securities (whether or not consummated) shall be borne by such holder.

(f) Closing. The closing of a Post-Closing Issuance pursuant to this Section 6.1 (the “Participation Closing”) shall take place on (i) the proposed date of the Post-Closing Issuance, if any, set forth in the Participation Notice, (ii) if no proposed closing date was required to be specified in the Participation Notice, at such time as the Company shall specify by notice to each Accepting Participation Stockholder and (iii) at such place as the Company shall specify by notice to each Accepting Participation Stockholder, provided in each case that all material authorizations, orders, consents and approvals of any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission, or court legally required for the closing of such Post-Closing Issuance shall have been obtained and be in effect. At any Participation Closing, each Accepting Participation Stockholder shall be delivered the certificates or other instruments evidencing the Participation Securities to be issued to such Accepting Participation Stockholder, registered in the name of such Accepting Participation Stockholder or such holder’s designated nominee, free and clear of all Encumbrances, with any transfer tax stamps affixed, against delivery by such Accepting Participation Stockholder of the applicable consideration.

 

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(g) Securities Law Matters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, a Participation Stockholder shall not be entitled to participate in a Post-Closing Issuance pursuant to this Section 6.1 unless at the time of such Post-Closing Issuance the Company shall be reasonably satisfied that (i) such Participation Stockholder is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act or the Post-Closing Issuance, after giving effect to the participation of such Participation Stockholder therein, would satisfy the requirements of any other exemption from registration available at such time under the Securities Act with respect to such Post-Closing Issuance and (ii) an exemption from registration or qualification under any state securities laws or foreign securities laws applicable to such Post-Closing Issuance due to the participation of such Participation Stockholder therein would be available with respect to such Post-Closing Issuance.

Section 6.2. Excluded Transactions. The provisions of this ARTICLE VI shall not apply to Post-Closing Issuances by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as follows:

(a) any Post-Closing Issuance of Securities, in each case to the extent approved by the Board, to officers, employees, directors or consultants of the Company in connection with such Person’s employment or consulting arrangements with the Company or the service of such person as a director;

(b) any Post-Closing Issuance of Securities, in each case to the extent approved by the Board, (i) issued as consideration in any business combination or acquisition transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) issued in connection with any joint venture or strategic partnership or alliance to the other members of such venture, partnership or alliance or (iii) in connection with the incurrence or guarantee of indebtedness by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(c) any Post-Closing Issuance of Shares pursuant to an Initial Public Offering;

(d) any Post-Closing Issuance of Securities in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization approved by the Board (so long as all Holders of the same class or series of Share Equivalents is treated equally with all other Holders of such class or series of Share Equivalents);

(e) any Post-Closing Issuance of Share Equivalents to any Person (or any Affiliate of a Person) (other than the H&F Investors and their Affiliates) that has or is entering into a strategic or commercial relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or provides other strategic or commercial benefits to the Company or its Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by the Board; or

(f) any Post-Closing Issuance by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

Section 6.3. Certain Definitions Used in Article VI.

(a) “Participation Portion” shall mean, for each Participation Stockholder, as of the date of the relevant Participation Notice, the product of (i) the total number or aggregate

 

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principal amount of Participation Securities proposed to be issued by the Company in the Post-Closing Issuance as set forth in the Participation Notice, and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Share Equivalents owned by such Participation Stockholder as of the date of the relevant Participation Notice and the denominator of which is the total number of outstanding Share Equivalents as of the date of the relevant Participation Notice.

(b) “Participation Securities” shall mean the number of Securities or debt securities proposed to be sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (but, in any event, excluding any such Securities or debt securities to be issued to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

(c) “Participation Stockholder” shall mean (i) with respect to each Post-Closing Issuance set forth in clause (i) of such definition, each H&F Investor and each Equity Co-Investor and (ii) with respect to each Post-Closing Issuance set forth in clause (ii) of such definition, each Equity Co-Investor.

(d) “Post-Closing Issuance” shall mean (i) any issuance of Securities after the date of this Agreement or (ii) any issuance of debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the H&F Investors or any of their Affiliates.

Section 6.4. Termination of ARTICLE VI. Upon an Initial Public Offering, this ARTICLE VI shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

ARTICLE VII

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

Section 7.1. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the reasonable request of any other party hereto and without further consideration, each party hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be necessary or appropriate to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 7.2. Freedom to Pursue Opportunities. Each of the parties hereto expressly acknowledges and agrees that: (i) each Stockholder, H&F Designated Director and Affiliated Officer has the right to, and shall have no duty (contractual or otherwise) not to, directly or indirectly engage in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including those deemed to be competing with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and (ii) in the event that a Stockholder, H&F Designated Director or Affiliated Officer of the Company acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity for each of the Company and such Stockholder or any other person, the Stockholder, H&F Designated Director or Affiliated Officer of the Company shall have no duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present such corporate opportunity to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, as the case may be, and, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shall not be liable to the Company or its Affiliates or Stockholders for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reason of the fact that such Stockholder, H&F Designated Director or Affiliated Officer, directly or indirectly, pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another person, or does not present such opportunity to the Company provided, however, that this Section 7.2 shall not apply to Stockholders who are also officers or employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than Affiliated Officers). As used in this Section 7.2, “Affiliated Officer” means an officer of the Company affiliated with the H&F Investors.

 

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Section 7.3. Restriction on Employee Equity Program. Without the prior written consent of the H&F Investors, prior to an Initial Public Offering, the Company shall not issue any options or other equity grants or awards under any employee equity program unless such options, grants or other awards, and any resulting Share Equivalents, are subject to the terms and provisions of the Management Stockholders Agreement.

Section 7.4. Legend on Share Equivalent Certificates.

(a) The certificates representing the Restricted Share Equivalents shall include an endorsement typed conspicuously thereon of the following legend:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE RESOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 2, 2006 (AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME) AND MAY NOT BE VOTED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH AGREEMENT.

In the event that any Share Equivalents shall cease to be Restricted Share Equivalents, the Company shall, upon the written request of the holder thereof, issue to such holder a new certificate representing such Share Equivalents without the first paragraph of the legend required by this Section 7.4. In the event that any Share Equivalents shall cease to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall, upon the request of the holder thereof, issue to such holder a new certificate representing such Share Equivalents without the second paragraph of the legend required by this Section 7.4.

(b) All certificates for Share Equivalents representing Restricted Share Equivalents hereafter issued, whether upon transfer or original issue, shall be endorsed with a like legend.

Section 7.5. Expense Reimbursement.

(a) After the Closing, the Company will pay directly or reimburse, or cause to be paid directly or reimbursed, the H&F Investors and each of their respective Affiliates the actual and reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the H&F Investors and their respective Affiliates in connection with the monitoring of their investment in the Company, including (i) fees and actual and reasonable out-of-pocket disbursements of any independent professionals and organizations, including independent accountants, outside legal counsel or consultants retained by such H&F Investors or any of their Affiliates, (ii) reasonable costs of any outside services or independent contractors such as financial printers, couriers, business publications, on-line financial services or similar services, retained or used by such H&F Investors or any of their respective Affiliates and (iii) transportation, word processing expenses or any similar expense not associated with their or their Affiliates’ ordinary operations.

 

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(b) All payments or reimbursement for such expenses will be made by wire transfer in same-day funds to the bank account designated by such H&F Investors or its relevant Affiliate promptly upon or as soon as practicable following request for reimbursement; provided, however that such H&F Investors or Affiliate has provided the Company with such supporting documentation reasonably requested by the Company.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, the payments pursuant to this Section 7.5 will be limited to the out-of-pocket costs and expenses described in Section 7.5(a) above, and none of the H&F Investors or any of their respective Affiliates will receive any transaction, monitoring or similar fees from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 7.6. Information Rights. The Company shall deliver to each of the Significant Stockholders (unless such Significant Stockholder notifies the Company that it does not wish to receive such information, which notification may subsequently be rescinded by such Significant Stockholder): (a) audited financial statements of the Company on the earlier of (x) within five (5) Business Days after the date on which the Board has approved such audited financial statements and (y) one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year and (b) unaudited quarterly financial statements on the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days after the date on which the Board has approved such unaudited quarterly financial statements and (y) sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter; provided that any Persons receiving financial statements pursuant to this Section 7.6 shall keep such financial statements confidential and will not disclose, divulge or use such financial information for any purpose except as permitted by or provided in this Agreement; provided, further that any Significant Stockholder may disclose such information to its partners, members or other investors or potential investors under comparable confidentiality restrictions. This Section 7.6 shall terminate upon an Initial Public Offering. In addition, the Company shall deliver to each of the H&F Investors summary annual budgets for the Company on the earlier of (x) within five (5) Business Days after the date on which the Board has approved such summary annual budget and (y) one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year, subject to the same confidentiality obligations.

ARTICLE VIII

ADDITIONAL PARTIES

Section 8.1. Additional Parties. Additional parties may be added to and be bound by and receive the benefits afforded by this Agreement upon the signing and delivery of a counterpart of this Agreement by the Company and the acceptance thereof by such additional parties and, to the extent permitted by Section 10.7, amendments may be effected to this Agreement reflecting such rights and obligations, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, of such Stockholder as the H&F Investors and such Stockholder may agree. Promptly after signing and delivering such a counterpart of this Agreement, the Company will deliver a conformed copy thereof to all of the parties.

 

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ARTICLE IX

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 9.1. Indemnification of Stockholders. Each of the Company and Merger Sub will indemnify, exonerate and hold the Stockholders and each of their respective partners, stockholders, members, Affiliates, directors, officers, fiduciaries, managers, controlling Persons, employees and agents and each of the partners, stockholders, members, Affiliates, directors, officers, fiduciaries, managers, controlling Persons, employees and agents of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) free and harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, liabilities, losses, damages and costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them before or after the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), arising out of any action, cause of action, suit, arbitration or claim arising directly or indirectly out of, or in any way relating to, (i) such Stockholder’s or its Affiliates’ ownership of Share Equivalents or other equity securities of the Company or such Stockholder’s or its Affiliates’ control or ability to influence the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities arise out of any breach of this Agreement by such Indemnitee or its Affiliates or other related Persons or the breach of any fiduciary or other duty or obligation of such Indemnitee to its direct or indirect equity holders, creditors or Affiliates) or (ii) the business, operations, properties, assets or other rights or liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however that if and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be unavailable or unenforceable for any reason, the Company and Merger Sub hereby agree to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. For the purposes of this Section 9.1, none of the circumstances described in the limitations contained in the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence shall be deemed to apply absent a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to such effect, in which case to the extent any such limitation is so determined to apply to any Indemnitee as to any previously advanced indemnity payments made by the Company and Merger Sub, then such payments shall be promptly repaid by such Indemnitee to the Company and Merger Sub. The rights of any Indemnitee to indemnification hereunder will be in addition to any other rights any such Person may have under any other agreement or instrument to which such Indemnitee is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or under law or regulation or under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties as to restrictions on the transferability of Share Equivalents and the other matters covered herein and supersedes and replaces any prior understanding, agreement or statement of intent, in each case, written or oral, of any and every nature with respect thereto. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any document executed or delivered to effect the purposes of this Agreement, including the bylaws of any company, this Agreement shall govern as among the parties hereto.

 

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Section 10.2. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that the obligations imposed on them in this Agreement are special, unique and of an extraordinary character, and that, in the event of breach by any party, damages would not be an adequate remedy and each of the other parties shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in equity. The parties hereto further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief.

Section 10.3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts entered into and performed entirely within such State.

Section 10.4. Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim (each a “Dispute” and collectively, the “Disputes”) arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, any Dispute regarding its validity or termination, or the performance or breach thereof under this Agreement shall be settled exclusively and finally by a panel of three arbitrators selected by the mutual agreement of the parties to such Dispute in an arbitration proceeding administered by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) under its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedure in effect at the time of such proceeding, and judgment on the award rendered by such arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If the parties to any such Dispute are unable to select such arbitrators within fifteen (15) days of the first notice given by any party to such Dispute to the other party or parties to such Dispute requesting arbitration and the selection of such arbitrators, any party to such Dispute may request that JAMS select such arbitrators, which selection shall be binding on the parties to such Dispute. If (i) two or more Disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement are simultaneously pending, (ii) the subject matters of such Disputes involve common questions of law or fact and (iii) the independent resolution of each such Dispute could result in conflicting decisions or obligations, such Disputes may be consolidated in a single proceeding. If more than one arbitration proceeding involving any such Disputes is pending, such proceedings shall, at the request of any party to such Dispute, be consolidated and settled in a single arbitration proceeding; provided that the determination of whether such Disputes shall be consolidated shall be determined by the first panel of three arbitrators established to settle any such Dispute. If such Disputes are consolidated and more than one panel of three arbitrators has been established to settle any of such Disputes, the parties to such Dispute shall, within twenty (20) days of such consolidation, select one panel of three arbitrators so established to settle the single consolidated arbitration proceeding. Unless the parties to such Dispute otherwise agree to conduct any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section 10.4 elsewhere, such proceeding shall be conducted and any decision shall be rendered in New York, New York or San Francisco, California, at a venue to be selected by mutual agreement of the parties to such Dispute (provided that if no such venue is agreed to by the parties, then New York, New York shall be the venue). Expenses and costs associated with the submission of any Dispute to arbitration shall be the responsibility of the party against whom a final decision is rendered with respect to that Dispute (provided that in the case of multiple Disputes that are consolidated into a single proceeding, the costs of such proceeding shall be borne on a Dispute-by-Dispute basis by the party against whom a final decision is rendered with respect to each particular Dispute). The award rendered by the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the parties to the Dispute; provided, however, that (i) by agreeing to arbitration, the parties do not intend to deprive any court with jurisdiction of its ability to issue a preliminary injunction, attachment or other form of provisional remedy in aid of the arbitration and a request for such provisional remedies by a

 

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party to a court shall not be deemed a waiver of this agreement to arbitrate, and (ii) in addition to the authority conferred upon the tribunal by the rules specified above, the tribunal shall also have the authority to grant provisional remedies, including injunctive relief.

Section 10.5. Obligations. All obligations hereunder shall be satisfied in full without set-off, defense or counterclaim.

Section 10.6. Consents, Approvals and Actions.

(a) If any consent, approval or action of the H&F Investors is required at any time pursuant to this Agreement, such consent, approval or action shall be deemed given if the holders of a majority of the outstanding the Share Equivalents held by the H&F Investors at such time provide such consent, approval or action in writing at such time.

(b) If any consent, approval or action of the Equity Co-Investors is required at any time pursuant to this Agreement, such consent, approval or action shall be deemed given if the holders of a majority of the outstanding the Share Equivalents held by the Equity Co-Investors at such time provide such consent, approval or action in writing at such time.

Section 10.7. Amendment and Waiver.

(a) This Agreement may be amended, modified or waived, in whole or in part, at any time pursuant to an agreement in writing executed by the Company and the H&F Investors; provided that (i) any amendment, modification or waiver of ARTICLE II that modifies any representation or warranty given by any Stockholder shall also require the written consent of that Stockholder; (ii) any amendment, modification or waiver of Section 3.2 or 3.3 that adversely affects the rights of the Initial Equity Co-Investors shall also require the written consent of the Initial Equity Co-Investors; (iii) any amendment, modification or waiver of ARTICLE IV that adversely affects the rights of the Equity Co-Investors shall also require the written consent of the Equity Co-Investors in accordance with Section 10.6(b); and (iv) any amendment, modification or waiver to ARTICLE V, ARTICLE VI, ARTICLE VII, ARTICLE VIII, ARTICLE IX or ARTICLE X that affects the Non-H&F Stockholders in a different manner than it affects the H&F Investors shall also require the written consent of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Share Equivalents held by the Non-H&F Stockholders. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall be effective and binding on the Company and each Stockholder.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any addition of a transferee of Share Equivalents or a recipient of any Share Equivalents as a party hereto pursuant to ARTICLE VIII shall not constitute an amendment hereto and need be signed only by the Company and such transferee or recipient.

(c) Any failure by any party at any time to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed a waiver of such provision or any other provisions hereof.

Section 10.8. Assignment of Rights by the H&F Investors. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the H&F Investors shall have the right to assign any or all of their rights under this Agreement to any Person or Persons to whom an H&F Investor transfers shares in accordance with ARTICLE IV.

 

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Section 10.9. Binding Effect. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties’ successors and permitted assigns.

Section 10.10. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate only (i) by written consent of the H&F Investors and the Equity Co-Investors (to the extent the Equity Co-Investors continue to have any rights hereunder) or (ii) upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

Section 10.11. Notices. Any and all notices, designations, offers, acceptances or other communications provided for herein shall be given in writing by registered or certified mail, which shall be addressed, in the case of the Company, to its principal office, and, in the case of any Stockholder, to such party’s address appearing on the stock books of the Company or to such other address as may be designated by such party in writing to the Company. Any demand, notice or other communication given by personal delivery shall be conclusively deemed to have been given on the day of actual delivery thereof and, if given by facsimile, on the day of transmittal thereof if given during the normal business hours of the recipient, and on the Business day during which such normal business hours next occur if not given during such hours on any day.

Section 10.12. Severability. If any portion of this Agreement shall be declared void or unenforceable by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed severable from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue in all respects valid and enforceable.

Section 10.13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute a single instrument.

Section 10.14. Assumption of Obligations. Upon consummation of the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) all rights and obligations of Merger Sub will be assumed by Goodman and Goodman shall become a party to this Agreement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

45


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Stockholders Agreement or caused this Stockholders Agreement to be signed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Erik Ragatz
Title:   Secretary
CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Erik Ragatz
Title:   Secretary

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL H&F INVESTORS:
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS VI, L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:   Managing Director
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS VI (PARALLEL), L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:   Managing Director
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL ASSOCIATES VI, L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:   Managing Director
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL EXECUTIVES VI, L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  

Title:

  Managing Director

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL H&F INVESTORS (Continued):
H&F CHILL PARTNERS, L.P
By:   H&F Chill GP, LLC, its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its managing member
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL EQUITY CO-INVESTORS:
GSO SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND LP
By:   GSO Capital Partners LP,
  its Investment Manager
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GSO ORIGINATION FUNDING PARTNERS LP
By:   GSO Capital Partners LP,
  its Investment Manager
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
GSO COF FACILITY LLC
By:   GSO Capital Partners LP,
  its Investment Manager
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL EQUITY CO-INVESTORS: (Continued):
Farallon Capital Partners, L.P.
Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P.
Farallon Capital Institutional Partners II, L.P.
Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P.
Tinicum Partners, L.P.
By:   FARALLON PARTNERS, L.L.C.,
  their General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL EQUITY CO-INVESTORS (Continued):
ALPINVEST PARTNERS MEZZANINE 2007 C.V.
By:   AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine Investments 2007/2009 B.V., its General Partner
By:  

AlpInvest Partners N.V.,

its Managing Director

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL EQUITY CO-INVESTORS (Continued):
CMP II INITIAL HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By:   TC Group, L.L.C, its Managing Member
By:   TCG Holdings, L.L.C., its Managing Member
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page Stockholders Agreement]

EX-10.15 18 dex1015.htm MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Management Stockholders Agreement, dated February 13, 2008

Exhibit 10.15

Execution Copy

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

Dated as of February 13, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 1

   General Restrictions on Transfers.    2
Section 2    Sales to Third Parties.    3
Section 3    Company’s Rights to Repurchase (Call) Shares.    5
Section 4    Management Stockholders’ Rights to Sell (Put) Shares.    6
Section 5    Involuntary Transfers.    7
Section 6    Repurchase Disability.    8
Section 7    Drag-Along Rights.    9
Section 8    Tag-Along Rights.    11
Section 9    Cooperation.    12
Section 10    Piggy-Back Registration Rights.    13
Section 11    Termination.    15
Section 12    Miscellaneous.    15
Section 13    Defined Terms.    20

 

ii


INDEX OF DEFINITIONS

 

TERM

  

SECTION

Affiliate    Section 13(a)
Agreement    Preamble
Call Notice    Section 3(a)
Call Repurchase Price    Section 3(a)
Call Right    Section 3(a)
Call Termination Date    Section 3(a)
Cause    Section 13(b)
CEO Transition Period    Section 13(c)
Change in Control    Section 13(d)
Company    Preamble
Company Election Period    Section 2(b)
Disability    Section 13(e)
Disability Notice    Section 6(b)
Drag-Along Notice    Section 7
Drag-Along Right    Section 7
Drag-Along Sale    Section 7
Election Notice    Section 2(b)
Equity Contribution Agreement    Recitals
Fair Market Value    Section 13(f)
Financing Documents    Section 6(a)
Good Reason    Section 13(g)
H&F Associates VI    Preamble
H&F Chill    Preamble
H&F Investors    Section 13(h)
H&F Parallel VI    Preamble
HFCP VI    Preamble
Initial H&F Investors    Preamble
Initial Management Investors    Preamble
Initial Public Offering    Section 13(i)
Initial Valuation    Section 13(j)
Involuntary Transfer    Section 5(a)
Involuntary Transfer Notice    Section 5(a)
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice    Section 5(b)
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price    Section 5(b)
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right    Section 5(b)
Involuntary Transferee    Section 5(a)
Makeup Amount    Section 3(a)
Makeup Amount Price    Section 13(k)
Management Stockholder    Preamble
Market Rate    Section 6(c)
Merger Sub    Preamble
Offer    Section 2(a)
Offer Notice    Section 2(a)

 

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TERM

  

SECTION

Offer Period

   Section 2(a)

Offering Stockholder

   Section 2(a)

Options

   Section 13(l)

Permitted Transferee

   Section 13(m)

Person

   Section 13(n)

Piggyback Notice

   Section 10(a)

Put Notice

   Section 4(a)

Put Repurchase Price

   Section 4(a)

Put Right

   Section 4(a)

Put Termination Event

   Section 4(a)

Reinstatement Notice

   Section 6(b)

Repurchase Disability

   Section 6(a)

Restricted Shares

   Section 13(o)

Sale Notice

   Section 8(a)

Securities

   Section 13(p)

Selling H&F Investors

   Section 8(a)

Share Equivalents

   Section 13(q)

Shares

   Section 13(r)

Tag-Along Participation Notice

   Section 8(b)

Tag-Along Right

   Section 8(b)

Tag-Along Sale Percentage

   Section 8(a)

Tag-Along Sellers

   Section 8(a)

Tagging Stockholders

   Section 8(a)

Termination of Employment

   Section 13(s)

Transfer

   Section 1(b)

Transfer Restriction Period

   Section 13(t)

Voting Security

   Section 13(u)

 

iv


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT OF

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

This Management Stockholders Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of February 13, 2008, by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Chill Acquisition, Inc. (together with its successors and assigns, “Merger Sub”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“HFCP VI”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F VI Parallel”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F Associates VI”), Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F Executives VI”) and H&F Chill Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“H&F Chill” and, together with HFCP VI, H&F VI Parallel, H&F Associates VI and H&F Executives VI, the “Initial H&F Investors”) and each of the following (hereinafter severally referred to as a “Management Stockholder” and collectively referred to as the “Management Stockholders”): (a) the signatories hereto listed on Schedule I as Initial Management Investors (the “Initial Management Investors”), (b) any other Person who (i) holds Securities, (ii) becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 12(j)(ii) and (iii) is a director, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the time he or she becomes a party to this Agreement and (c) any Permitted Transferee of any Person specified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b) that holds Securities and becomes a party hereto. These parties are sometimes referred to herein individually by name or as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, each of the Initial Management Investors has entered into an Equity Contribution Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2007 (each an “Equity Contribution Agreement” and, collectively, the “Equity Contribution Agreements”) with the Company pursuant to which such Initial Management Investor has agreed to acquire shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and, as a condition of receipt of such shares, is required to enter into this Agreement;

WHEREAS, certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 13 hereof; and

WHEREAS, the Company has issued or may hereafter issue to the Initial Management Investors and other Management Stockholders Share Equivalents, Options or other Securities, and, as a condition of receipt of such Share Equivalents, Options or other Securities, such Management Stockholders may be required to enter into this Agreement.

AGREEMENT:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


Section 1 General Restrictions on Transfers.

(a) During the Transfer Restriction Period, each Management Stockholder hereby agrees that he or she shall not Transfer any Securities to any Person, except Transfers:

(i) to the Company, any H&F Investor or any Permitted Transferee that otherwise comply with this Section 1, provided that in the case of any Transfer of Options such Permitted Transferee must be a Permitted Transferee pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Transferee;

(ii) pursuant to and in compliance with Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 7 or Section 8; or

(iii) upon receipt of the prior written consent of the Company and subject to compliance with Section 2, which consent shall have been authorized by a majority of the members of the Board and which consent may be (A) withheld in the sole discretion of the Board, or (B) given subject to reasonable terms and conditions determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

Each Management Stockholder further agrees that in connection with any Transfer consented to by the Company, the Management Stockholder shall, if requested by the Company, deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the Transfer is not in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any state.

(b) From the date hereof until expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period, no Management Stockholder may sell, exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate, gift or otherwise transfer or dispose of (“Transfer”) any legal, economic or beneficial interest in any Securities (whether held in its own right or by its representative) unless:

(i) such Transfer of Securities is not in violation of the provisions of this Agreement; and

(ii) the transferee of such Securities (if other than (A) the Company, another Management Stockholder or an H&F Investor, (B) a transferee in a sale of Securities made under Rule 144 or any successor provision under the Securities Act, or (C) a transferee of Shares pursuant to an offer and sale registered under the Securities Act) shall agree in writing (A) to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement pursuant to an instrument of assumption reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Board and (B) in addition, in the case of any Permitted Transferee, to immediately convey record and beneficial ownership of all Share Equivalents and all rights and obligations hereunder to the originally transferring Management Stockholder or another Permitted Transferee of such Management Stockholder if he, she or it ceases to be a Permitted Transferee of such Management Stockholder, and shall execute such further documents as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Company, to make such transferee a party hereto.

Upon satisfaction of the foregoing requirements of this Section 1(b), such transferee shall be deemed to be a Management Stockholder for all purposes of this Agreement except that, (x) in the case of a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee, all provisions that relate to termination of

 

2


employment of a Management Stockholder and the effects thereof shall continue to be interpreted based on the employment status of such Management Stockholder transferor and not of such Permitted Transferee and (y) in the case of a Transfer to a Person other than a Permitted Transferee, Section 3 and Section 4 of this Agreement shall cease to apply following such Transfer.

(c) Any purported Transfer of Securities other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including Section 1 and Section 2 hereof, by any Management Stockholder shall be null and void, and the Company shall refuse to recognize any such transfer for any purpose and shall not reflect in its records any change in record ownership of Securities pursuant to any such transfer.

(d) No Stockholder shall grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust with respect to any Securities or enter into any agreements or arrangements of either kind with any person with respect to any Securities inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such agreements and arrangements are with other Stockholders or holders of Securities who are not parties to this Agreement), including agreements or arrangements with respect to the acquisition, disposition or voting (if applicable) of any Securities, nor shall any Stockholder act, for any reason, as a member of a group or in concert with any other persons in connection with the acquisition, disposition or voting (if applicable) of any Securities in any manner which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 1 do not affect any restrictions or prohibitions on Transfers of Options under any equity incentive plan, program or agreement under which such Options were granted.

Section 2 Sales to Third Parties.

(a) During the Transfer Restriction Period, if a Management Stockholder (the “Offering Stockholder”) shall have received a bona fide offer or offers from a third party or parties to purchase any Share Equivalents which such Offering Stockholder desires to accept, and the Transfer shall have been approved by the Company pursuant to Section 1(a)(iii) (to the extent such approval is required pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof), prior to selling any Share Equivalents to the third party or parties other than a Permitted Transferee, the Offering Stockholder shall deliver, within thirty (30) days following such approval of the Transfer pursuant to Section 1(a)(iii), to the Company and the H&F Investors a letter (the “Offer Notice”) signed by the Offering Stockholder setting forth: (A) the name of the third party or parties; (B) the prospective purchase price per share of the Share Equivalents; (C) all material terms and conditions contained in the offer of the third party or parties; and (D) the Offering Stockholder’s offer (irrevocable by its terms for sixty (60) days following the later of (x) the date of the delivery of such Offer Notice or (y) the six (6) month anniversary of the date all or a portion of such Share Equivalents were first received or purchased (including upon exercise of Options) by the Management Stockholder (such 60-day period, the “Offer Period”)) to sell to the Company and the H&F Investors all (but not less than all) of the Share Equivalents covered by the offer of the third party or parties, for a purchase price per share and on other terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company and the H&F Investors than those contained in the offer of the third party or parties (an “Offer”).

(b) Upon receipt of such Offer Notice, the Company (or its designee) shall have an option to purchase any or all of the Share Equivalents described in the Offer Notice at the

 

3


purchase price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer. If the Company desires to exercise the option set forth in the preceding sentence, it shall deliver a notice (an “Election Notice”) to the Offering Stockholder and the H&F Investors at any time during the first thirty (30) days of the Offer Period (such 30-day period, the “Company Election Period”), specifying the number of Share Equivalents subject to the Offer to be acquired. In the event that the Company delivers an Election Notice for less than all of the Share Equivalents subject to the Offer, such Election Notice shall not be effective unless and until the H&F Investors deliver an Election Notice to purchase the remaining Share Equivalents subject to the Offer pursuant to Section 2(c). The Share Equivalents shall be purchased by the H&F Investors pro rata based upon their relative interests in the Company, or as such H&F Investors may otherwise agree.

(c) If, at any time during the Company Election Period, the Company shall determine not to exercise its right to purchase all of the Share Equivalents described in the Offer Notice, then the Company shall promptly notify the H&F Investors of such determination. In the event the Company does not deliver an Election Notice before the end of the Company Election Period or any Election Notice so delivered does not relate to the purchase of all the Share Equivalents described in the Offer Notice, then the H&F Investors shall have the option to purchase no less than all of the remaining Share Equivalents subject to the Offer at the purchase price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer by delivering an Election Notice to the Offering Stockholder and the Company prior to the expiration of the Offer Period. In the event Election Notices are delivered by both the Company and the H&F Investors and, as a result of miscalculation or similar error, the aggregate number of Share Equivalents described in such Election Notices exceeds the aggregate number of Share Equivalents specified in the Offer, the number of Share Equivalents to be purchased by the H&F Investors shall be reduced accordingly. Share Equivalents to be purchased by the H&F Investors pursuant to this Section 2(c) will be allocated among the H&F Investors pro rata based upon their relative interests in the Company, or as such H&F Investors may otherwise agree.

(d) If either the Company or the H&F Investors delivers an Election Notice, then such Person or Persons shall be obligated to purchase, and the Offering Stockholder shall be obligated to sell, the Share Equivalents described in such Election Notice at the purchase price per share and on other terms and conditions indicated in the Offer, except that the closing of such purchase and sale shall occur on a closing date selected by the Company or the H&F Investors, as applicable but in no event following the later of (i) ninety (90) days following the date of the Offer Notice or (ii) fifteen (15) days following the receipt by the Company or the H&F Investors, as applicable of all necessary governmental approvals (which governmental approvals the Company or the H&F Investors, as applicable, and the Management Stockholder shall use reasonable efforts to obtain promptly). Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the closing shall be consummated at the principal offices of the Company.

(e) If neither the Company nor the H&F Investors delivers an Election Notice to the Offering Stockholder within the time periods required by Section 2(b) and Section 2(c), as applicable, or the Election Notices delivered in the aggregate relate to less than all of the Share Equivalents subject to the Offer, then the Offering Stockholder may, during the period beginning on the day immediately following the termination of the Offer Period and ending sixty (60) days thereafter, sell to the third party or parties all (but not less than all) of the Share Equivalents covered by the Offer, for the purchase price and on the other terms and conditions contained in the Offer.

 

4


Section 3 Company’s Rights to Repurchase (Call) Shares.

(a) With respect to all Share Equivalents held by any Management Stockholder and his or her Permitted Transferees, during the period beginning on the date of such Management Stockholder’s Termination of Employment and ending on the nine (9) month anniversary of the later of (i) the date of such Termination of Employment and (ii) the date of the exercise of any Options held by the Management Stockholder as of the date of such Termination of Employment (the “Call Termination Date”), the Company (or its designee) shall have the option to repurchase any Share Equivalents held by the Management Stockholder and his or her Permitted Transferees (“Call Right”); provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company have the right to purchase any Share Equivalents pursuant to the Call Right prior to the day immediately following the six (6) month anniversary of the date the Management Stockholder first purchased such Share Equivalents (whether pursuant to the exercise of Options or otherwise). For the avoidance of doubt, the Call Right is not exercisable with respect to any Options held by the Management Stockholder. The Call Right may be exercised more than once, and may be exercised with respect to all or any portion of the Share Equivalents outstanding on the date of any Call Notice. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 3(a), the repurchase price payable by the Company upon exercise of the Call Right (“Call Repurchase Price”) shall be the Fair Market Value of the Share Equivalents subject to the Call Right on the date of the Call Notice; provided, however, that if, at any time during the period beginning on the date of the Call Notice and ending on the six (6) month anniversary thereof, the Company or its stockholders (I) enter into an agreement with respect to a transaction which would result in a Change of Control or (II) files a registration statement with respect to an Initial Public Offering, then, to the extent that such Change of Control transaction or Initial Public Offering is consummated, upon the closing thereof, the Company shall pay the Management Stockholder and/or such Permitted Transferees, as applicable, an additional amount (the “Makeup Amount”) equal to the product of (1) the number of Share Equivalents repurchased pursuant to the Call Right and (2) the excess of (A) the Makeup Amount Price over (B) the Call Repurchase Price. The Makeup Amount shall be treated for tax purposes as an additional Call Repurchase Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of (i) the Management Stockholder’s Termination of Employment for Cause or (ii) the Management Stockholder’s violation of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in any employment, severance or other similar written agreement between the Management Stockholder and the Company or an Affiliate (and, if applicable, failure to cure such violation within the cure period set forth in such agreement), the Call Repurchase Price shall be the lesser of (x) Fair Market Value and (y) the purchase price paid by such Management Stockholder for such Share Equivalents (or if no purchase price was paid, $0.01 per Share) (and in the case of both of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), the Management Stockholder shall not be entitled to any Makeup Amount). The Call Right shall be exercised by written notice (“Call Notice”) to the Management Stockholder given in accordance with Section 12(f) of this Agreement on or prior to the last date on which the Call Right may be exercised by the Company. The Makeup Amount shall be paid only with respect to one event as described in the foregoing clauses (I) and (II), and to the extent an event described in such clause (I) is subsequently followed by an event described in such clause (II) (or vice versa), no addition amount shall be paid with respect to such subsequent event pursuant to the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.

(b) In addition, the Company shall have a Call Right effective immediately prior to any Change in Control to occur following the date hereof.

 

5


(c) Subject to Section 6 below, the repurchase of Share Equivalents pursuant to the exercise of a Call Right shall take place on a date specified by the Company, but in no event following the later of (i) sixty (60) days following the date of the Call Notice or (ii) fifteen (15) days following the receipt by the Company of all necessary governmental approvals (which governmental approvals the Company and the Management Stockholder shall use reasonable efforts to obtain promptly). The Call Repurchase Price shall accrue interest at the Market Rate commencing thirty-one (31) days after the date of the Call Notice, if such repurchase has not occurred by such date. On such date, the Management Stockholder and his or her Permitted Transferees shall transfer the Share Equivalents subject to the Call Notice to the Company, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, by delivering to the Company the certificates representing the Share Equivalents to be purchased, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or accompanied by a stock power duly executed in blank, and the Company shall pay to the Management Stockholder the Call Repurchase Price. The Management Stockholder shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company in order to expedite all proceedings described in this Section 3.

(d) If, at any time prior to the Call Termination Date, the Company shall determine not to exercise its Call Right with respect to a Management Stockholder, then the Company shall promptly notify the H&F Investors of such determination. In such event, the H&F Investors shall have the right to exercise the Call Right in the same manner as the Company pursuant to this Section 3. Share Equivalents to be purchased by the H&F Investors pursuant to this Section 3(d) will be allocated among the H&F Investors pro rata based upon their relative interests in the Company, or as such H&F Investors may otherwise agree.

Section 4 Management Stockholders’ Rights to Sell (Put) Shares.

(a) In the event of any Termination of Employment of a Management Stockholder (x) at any time during the term hereof due to death or Disability or (y) except in the case of Mr. Charles Carroll, during the CEO Transition Period either by the Company without Cause or by the Management Stockholder (other than Mr. Carroll) for Good Reason (the occurrence of any Termination of Employment pursuant to the foregoing clause (x) or clause (y) to the extent applicable to such Management Stockholder, a “Put Termination Event”), then during the period beginning on the date of the Put Termination Event and ending on the nine (9) month anniversary of the later of (i) the date of such Termination of Employment and (ii) the date of the exercise of any Options held by any Management Stockholder as of the date of such Termination of Employment, the Management Stockholder (or his representative or estate, if applicable) shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase, in a single transaction, all but not less than all of the Share Equivalents held by the Management Stockholder and his or her Permitted Transferees (“Put Right”); provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to purchase any Share Equivalents pursuant to the Put Right prior to the day immediately following the six (6) month anniversary of the date the Management Stockholder first purchased such Share Equivalents (whether pursuant to the exercise of Options or otherwise). The Put Right may be exercised more than once, but must be exercised with respect to all (but not less than all) of the Share Equivalents outstanding on the date of any Put Notice. The repurchase price payable by the Company upon exercise of the Put Right (“Put Repurchase Price”) shall be the Fair Market Value of the Share Equivalents subject to the Put Right on the date of the Put Notice. The Put Right shall be exercised by written notice (“Put Notice”) to the Company given in accordance with Section 12(f) of this Agreement on or prior to the last date on which the Put Right may be exercised by the Management Stockholder.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 6 below, the repurchase of Share Equivalents pursuant to the exercise of a Put Right shall take place on a date specified by the Company, but in no event following the later of sixty (60) days following the date of the Put Notice or fifteen (15) days following the receipt by the Company of all necessary governmental approvals, if any (which governmental approvals the Company and the Management Stockholder shall use reasonable efforts to obtain promptly). The Put Repurchase Price shall accrue interest at the Market Rate commencing thirty-one (31) days after the date of the Put Notice, if such repurchase has not occurred by such date. On such date, the Management Stockholder and his or her Permitted Transferees shall transfer the Share Equivalents subject to the Put Notice to the Company, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, by delivering to the Company the certificates representing the Share Equivalents to be purchased, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or accompanied by a stock power duly executed in blank, and the Company shall pay to the Management Stockholder the Put Repurchase Price. The Management Stockholder shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company, and the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Management Stockholder in order to expedite all proceedings described in this Section 4.

Section 5 Involuntary Transfers.

(a) In the case of any transfer of title or beneficial ownership of Securities upon default, foreclosure, forfeit, divorce, court order or otherwise, other than by a voluntary decision on the part of a Management Stockholder (each, an “Involuntary Transfer”), the Management Stockholder shall promptly (but in no event later than two days after the Involuntary Transfer) furnish written notice (the “Involuntary Transfer Notice”) to the Company indicating that the Involuntary Transfer has occurred, specifying the name of the person to whom the Securities were transferred (the “Involuntary Transferee”), giving a detailed description of the circumstances giving rise to, and stating the legal basis for, the Involuntary Transfer; notwithstanding the foregoing, an Involuntary Transfer shall not include a Transfer (i) upon a Management Stockholder’s death, to the Management Stockholder’s executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees and beneficiaries or (ii) upon dissolution or pursuant to any other distribution (without the payment of consideration other than redemption of an interest therein) by a Permitted Transferee which is an entity, to its beneficiaries, partners, members or other beneficial owners.

(b) Upon the receipt of the Involuntary Transfer Notice, and for sixty (60) days thereafter, the Company shall have the right to repurchase, and the Involuntary Transferee shall have the obligation to sell, all (but not less than all) of the Securities acquired by the Involuntary Transferee for a repurchase price equal to the Fair Market Value of such Securities as of the date of the Involuntary Transfer (the “Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price” and such right, the “Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right”). The Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right shall be exercised by written notice (the “Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice”) to the Involuntary Transferee given in accordance with Section 12(f) of this Agreement on or prior to the last date on which the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right may be exercised by the Company.

(c) Subject to Section 6 below, the repurchase of Securities pursuant to the exercise of the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right shall take place on a date specified by the Company, but in no event following the later of sixty (60) days following the date of the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice or the fifteen (15) days following the receipt by the Company of all necessary governmental approvals. On such date, the Involuntary Transferee

 

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shall transfer the Securities subject to the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice to the Company, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, by delivering to the Company the certificates representing the Share Equivalents to be purchased, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or accompanied by a stock power duly executed in blank, and the Company shall pay to the Involuntary Transferee the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price. The Involuntary Transferee and the Management Stockholder shall use all reasonable efforts to assist the Company in order to expedite all proceedings described in this Section 5. If the Involuntary Transferee does not transfer the Securities to the Company as required, the Company will have the right to cancel such Securities and deposit the funds in a non-interest bearing account and make payment upon delivery.

Section 6 Repurchase Disability.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, except as otherwise provided by Section 6(c), the Company shall not be permitted to purchase any Securities held by any Management Stockholder or Involuntary Transferee upon exercise of the Call Right, the Put Right or the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right if the Board reasonably determines that:

(i) The purchase of Securities would render the Company or its subsidiaries unable to meet their obligations in the ordinary course of business at any time during the one year period commencing on the date such purchase of Securities would otherwise be required taking into account any pending or proposed transactions, capital expenditures or other budgeted cash outlays by the Company which are reasonably likely to be consummated or paid, as the case may be, within such one year period, including, without limitation, any proposed acquisition of any other entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is reasonably likely to be consummated within such one year period;

(ii) The Company is prohibited from purchasing the Securities by applicable law restricting the purchase by a corporation of its own shares; or

(iii) The purchase of Securities would constitute a breach of, default, or event of default under, or is otherwise prohibited by, the terms of any loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, including without limitation the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 13, 2008 among Merger Sub and certain purchasers named therein (the “Note Purchasers”), the Indenture dated as of February 13, 2008 between the Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Notes issued under the Indenture to the Note Purchasers pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of February 13, 2008 among Merger Sub and each Note Purchaser, the Revolving Credit Agreement dated on or about February 13, 2008 among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc. (“Chill Intermediate”), Merger Sub, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (“GE”), the institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders (the “Lenders”) and the other parties thereto, and the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated on or about February 13, 2008 among Chill Intermediate, Merger Sub, GE, the Lenders and the other parties thereto, and all other documents, instruments and agreements made or delivered in connection therewith (collectively, the “Financing Documents”) or the Company is not able to obtain the requisite consent of any of its senior lenders to the purchase of the Securities.

The events described in (i) through (iii) above each constitute a “Repurchase Disability.”

 

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(b) Except as otherwise provided by Section 6(c), in the event of a Repurchase Disability, the Company shall notify in writing the Management Stockholder or Involuntary Transferee who exercised the Put Right or with respect to whom the Call Right or the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right has been exercised (a “Disability Notice”). The Disability Notice shall specify the nature of the Repurchase Disability. The Company shall thereafter repurchase the Securities described in the Call Notice or Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice as soon as reasonably practicable after all Repurchase Disabilities cease to exist (or the Company may elect, but shall have no obligation, to cause its nominee to repurchase the Securities while any Repurchase Disabilities continue to exist); provided, further that if some, but not all of the Securities to be repurchased, can be so repurchased without creating a Repurchase Disability, then the Company shall consummate such repurchase to the fullest extent it is able without causing a Repurchase Disability in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (without giving effect to this Section 6). In the event the Company suspends its obligations to repurchase the Securities pursuant to a Repurchase Disability, (i) the Company shall provide written notice to each applicable Management Stockholder or Involuntary Transferee as soon as practicable after all Repurchase Disabilities cease to exist (the “Reinstatement Notice”); (ii) the Fair Market Value of the Securities subject to the Call Notice, the Put Notice or Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice shall be equal to the greater of the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Securities as of the date of the Put Notice, the Call Notice or the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, and the Fair Market Value determined as of the date the Reinstatement Notice is delivered to the Management Stockholder or Involuntary Transferee, which Fair Market Value shall be used to determine the Repurchase Price or Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price in the manner described above; and (iii) the repurchase shall occur on a date specified by the Company within ten (10) days following the determination of the Fair Market Value of the Securities to be repurchased as provided in clause (ii) above.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 6(a) and Section 6(b), in the event of a Repurchase Disability, the Company may, in the sole discretion of the Board and to the extent permitted by law, purchase the Securities subject to the Call Right, Put Right or Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right, as applicable, and, in lieu of payment of cash consideration or suspending its purchase obligation, issue a promissory note to such Management Stockholder in the amount of the Call Repurchase Price, Put Repurchase Price or Involuntary Transfer Purchase Price, as applicable, the terms of which promissory note shall be acceptable to the Company’s senior lenders and shall not result in a breach or violation of any of the Financing Documents. The promissory note shall (i) bear interest at the market rate of interest for a note of comparable credit and duration as applicable from time to time, which market rate shall be no less than the prime rate of interest publicly announced by Barclays Bank PLC from time to time (the “Market Rate”) and (ii) have such other reasonable terms and conditions as may be determined by the Company which shall include mandatory prepayment within a reasonable period of time after, but only to the extent that, the terms and conditions of the agreements governing the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ indebtedness for money borrowed subsequently would permit such prepayment to occur. All payments of interest accrued under the promissory note shall be paid only at the date of payment by the Company of the principal amount of such promissory note.

Section 7 Drag-Along Rights. Any of the H&F Investors may give notice (a “Drag-Along Notice”) to any Management Stockholder that the H&F Investors intend to enter into (or have agreed to vote the Share Equivalents they beneficially own, or to execute a written consent in lieu thereof, in favor of) a transaction or transactions involving the Transfer of Share

 

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Equivalents to one or more Persons (other than to an Affiliate of the H&F Investors) or to cause the Company to merge or consolidate with, or sell all or substantially all of its assets to, another Person or Persons (other than an Affiliate of the H&F Investors) (a “Drag-Along Sale”) and that one or more of the H&F Investors desire to exercise their right (the “Drag-Along Right”) to cause the Management Stockholders to participate in such Drag-Along Sale on the same terms and conditions as available to such H&F Investors, including making the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements as such H&F Investors agree to make in connection with the Drag-Along Sale; provided, however, that no Management Stockholder shall be required to make representations and warranties regarding the ownership of the Share Equivalents by any Person other than himself, and provided further that any indemnification obligations of a Management Stockholder shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Management Stockholder in such Drag-Along Sale. Such Drag-Along Notice shall also specify (i) the consideration, if any, to be received by such H&F Investors and each Management Stockholder and any other material terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer (which price and other material terms and conditions shall be the same in all material respects for such H&F Investors and the Management Stockholder), (ii) the identity of the other Person or Persons party to the Transfer, (iii) the date of anticipated completion of the proposed Transfer Sale (which date shall be not less than five (5) days after the date of the notice) and (iv) the action or actions required of each Management Stockholder in order to complete or facilitate such proposed Transfer (including the sale of Share Equivalents held by the Management Stockholder, the voting of all such Share Equivalents in favor of any such merger, consolidation or sale of assets and the waiver of any related appraisal or dissenters’ rights). Upon receipt of such Drag-Along Notice, each Management Stockholder shall be obligated to take the action or actions referred to in clause (iv) above; provided, however, that, in the case of a sale of Shares, with respect to any Shares for which a Stockholder holds exercisable and vested but unexercised Options or any other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, the price per Share shall be reduced by the exercise price of such Options or other Securities or, if required pursuant to the terms of such Options or such other Securities or such Drag-Along Sale, such Stockholder must exercise the relevant Option (which may include an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis) or exercise, convert or exchange such other relevant Security and transfer the relevant Shares (rather than the Option or other Security) (in each case, net of any amounts required to be withheld by the Company in connection with such exercise); and provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in any event the Company shall be permitted to cause all outstanding Options to be treated in such Drag-Along Sale in any manner as permitted by their terms, including any applicable equity plans of the Company. If the transferring H&F Investors are transferring less than all of the Share Equivalents held by such H&F Investors, then each Management Stockholder will transfer a number of Share Equivalents equal to the product of the following: (x) the number of Share Equivalents beneficially owned by such Management Stockholder multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Share Equivalents being transferred by such H&F Investors and the denominator of which equals the aggregate number of Share Equivalents beneficially owned by such H&F Investors. All costs and expenses incurred by the H&F Investors in connection with such transaction shall be borne on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Share Equivalents being sold by each of the H&F Investors, the Management Stockholders and all other Persons who otherwise are transferring, or have exercised a contractual or other right to transfer, Share Equivalents in connection with such transaction. In addition, the reasonable expense of one law firm to represent the Management Stockholders shall be paid for by the Company.

 

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Section 8 Tag-Along Rights.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, if one or more of the H&F Investors at any time propose to sell any Share Equivalents to another Person (other than to a Permitted Transferee), in a single Transfer or a series of related Transfers constituting more than 10% of the outstanding Share Equivalents of Holdings, then such H&F Investor or H&F Investors (the “Selling H&F Investors”) shall give written notice (a “Sale Notice”) of such proposed transfer to each of the Management Stockholders at least fifteen (15) days prior to the consummation of such proposed transfer, setting forth (i) the number of Share Equivalents proposed to be transferred, (ii) the consideration to be received for such Share Equivalents by such Selling H&F Investors, (iii) any other material terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer, (iv) the date of the proposed Transfer, (v) the fraction, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the number of Share Equivalents to be purchased from the Selling H&F Investors (which may be a variable number based on the number of Share Equivalents which the Management Stockholders and any other stockholders having similar rights elect to sell in the Tag-Along Sale) by the total number of Share Equivalents held by the Selling H&F Investors (the “Tag-Along Sale Percentage”) and (vi) an invitation to each Management Stockholder to elect (Management Stockholders who make such an election being “Tagging Stockholders,” and, together with the Selling H&F Investors and all other Persons who otherwise are transferring, or have exercised a contractual or other right to transfer, Share Equivalents in connection with such Tag-Along Sale, the “Tag-Along Sellers”) to include in the Tag-Along Sale Share Equivalents held by such Tagging Stockholder (not in any event to exceed the Tag-Along Sale Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Tagging Stockholder).

(b) Upon delivery of a Sale Notice, each Management Stockholder may elect to sell Share Equivalents in such Tag-Along Sale, at the same price per Share Equivalent and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Share Equivalents as agreed to by the Selling H&F Investors, by sending an irrevocable written notice (a “Tag-Along Participation Notice”) to the Selling H&F Investors within ten (10) days of the date of the Sale Notice, indicating its, his or her election to exercise its, his or her right (the “Tag-Along Right”) to sell up to the number of Share Equivalents in the Tag-Along Sale specified by such Management Stockholder in such Tag-Along Participation Notice (such specified number not in any event to exceed the Tag-Along Sale Percentage of the total number of Share Equivalents held by such Management Stockholder). Following such ten-day period, each Tagging Stockholder that has delivered a Tag-Along Participation Notice shall be permitted to sell to such proposed transferee on the terms and conditions set forth in the Sale Notice, concurrently with the Selling H&F Investors and the other Tag-Along Sellers, the number of Share Equivalents calculated pursuant to Section 8(d). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that in order to be entitled to exercise its, his or her right to sell Share Equivalents in a Tag-Along Sale pursuant to this Section 8, each Tagging Stockholder must agree to make to the proposed transferee the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements as the Selling H&F Investors agree to make in connection with the Tag-Along Sale; provided, however, that no Management Stockholder shall be required to make representations and warranties regarding the ownership of the Share Equivalents by any Person other than himself, and provided further that any indemnification obligations of a Management Stockholder shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Management Stockholder in such Tag-Along Sale. With respect to (i) any Shares for which a Tagging Stockholder holds exercisable and vested but unexercised Options or (ii) any other Securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, to the extent that such Shares are to be sold pursuant to this Section 8 such Tagging Stockholder

 

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must exercise the relevant Option (which may include an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis) or exercise, convert or exchange such other relevant Security and transfer the relevant Shares (rather than the Option or other Security). All costs and expenses incurred by the Selling H&F Investors in connection with such Tag-Along Sale shall be borne on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Share Equivalents being sold by each of the Tag-Along Sellers.

(c) Notwithstanding the delivery of any Sale Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Tag-Along Sale and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any such Tag-Along Sale shall be at the sole discretion of the Selling H&F Investors.

(d) Each Tagging Stockholder shall be entitled to sell in the Tag-Along Sale a number of Share Equivalents equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum number of Share Equivalents such Tagging Stockholder has elected to sell in the Tag-Along Sale in its, his or her Sale Notice or Tag-Along Participation Notice and (ii) the number of Share Equivalents determined by multiplying (x) the number of Share Equivalents subject to the Tag-Along Sale by (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Share Equivalents owned by such Tagging Stockholder and the denominator of which is the total Share Equivalents owned by all Tag-Along Sellers.

(e) This Section 8 shall not apply to (i) any transfer to any Permitted Transferee, (ii) any transfer in a public offering, (iii) any transfer pursuant to Rule 144 after an Initial Public Offering, (iv) any distribution of Share Equivalents by an H&F Investor to its partners, members or other investors or (v) any transfer by any Initial H&F Investor of Share Equivalents at a price equal to the Initial Valuation prior to the 12-month anniversary of the date of this Agreement, provided that after the consummation of such transfer, the Initial H&F Investors beneficially own, in the aggregate, not less than $750 million in Share Equivalents, valued at the Initial Valuation.

(f) This Section 8 shall terminate on the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period.

Section 9 Cooperation.

(a) In the event of (i) the exercise of a Drag-Along Right pursuant to Section 7 with respect to a Management Stockholder or (ii) the exercise by a Management Stockholder of a Tag-Along Right pursuant Section 8, such Management Stockholder shall consent to and raise no objections against the transaction, and if the transaction is structured as a sale of stock, each Management Stockholder shall take all actions that the Board reasonably deems necessary or desirable in connection with the consummation of the transaction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each such Management Stockholder agrees to (A) consent to and raise no objections against the transaction; (B) execute any Share Equivalent purchase agreement, merger agreement or other agreement entered into with the purchaser with respect to the transaction setting forth the terms in accordance with Section 7 and any ancillary agreement with respect thereto; (C) vote the Share Equivalents held by the Management Stockholder in favor of the transaction; and (D) refrain from the exercise of dissenters’ appraisal rights with respect to the transaction.

(b) If the Company or the holders of the Company’s securities enter into any negotiation or transaction for which Rule 506 (or any similar rule then in effect) promulgated under the Securities Act, may be available with respect to the negotiation or transaction (including a merger, consolidation, or other reorganization), each Management Stockholder

 

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shall, if requested by the Company, appoint a purchaser representative (as defined in Rule 501 of the Securities Act) reasonably acceptable to the Company. If the purchaser representative is designated by the Company, the Company shall pay the fees of the purchaser representative, but if any Management Stockholder appoints another purchaser representative, the Management Stockholder shall be responsible for the fees of the purchaser representative so appointed.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, each Management Stockholder shall bear its pro-rata share of the costs of any transaction in which it sells Share Equivalents and/or Options (based upon the net proceeds received by such Management Stockholder in such transaction) to the extent such costs are incurred for the benefit of all holders of Share Equivalents and Options and are not otherwise paid by the Company or the acquiring party.

Section 10 Piggy-Back Registration Rights.

(a) Participation. Subject to Section 10(b), if at any time after the Company’s Initial Public Offering the Company determines to register any Shares on a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act (other than (1) in a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, (2) a registration on Form S-4 or S-8 (or such other similar successor forms then in effect under the Securities Act), (3) a registration pursuant to which the Company is offering to exchange its own securities, (4) a registration statement relating solely to dividend reinvestment or similar plans, (5) a shelf registration statement pursuant to which only the initial purchasers and subsequent transferees of debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary that are convertible for Share Equivalents and that are initially issued pursuant to Rule 144A and/or Regulation S of the Securities Act may resell such notes and sell the Share Equivalents into which such notes may be converted), then the Company shall promptly (but in no event less than fifteen (15) days before the effective date of the relevant Registration Statement) give notice (the “Piggyback Notice”) to the Management Stockholders and the Management Stockholders shall be entitled to include in such registration statement the Registrable Securities held by them. Subject to Section 10(b), the Company shall include in such registration statement such shares of Registrable Securities for which it has received written requests to register such shares within ten (10) days after the Piggyback Notice.

(b) Underwriter’s Cutback. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration pursuant to this Section 10 involves an Underwritten Offering of any Share Equivalents and the managing underwriter or underwriters of such proposed Underwritten Offering shall advise the Company marketing factors (including, without limitation, an adverse effect on the per share offering price) require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then such Underwritten Offering shall include (i) first, 100% of the securities the Company proposes to sell (unless the Company agrees to reduce the securities to be sold by the Company), (ii) second, the amount of securities which holders of Registrable Securities and other holders (if any) of Share Equivalents having a right to request such Share Equivalents to be included in such registration have requested to include in such registration that the managing underwriter or underwriters believe can be sold, such amount to be allocated pro rata among all such holders based upon the number of issued and outstanding Registrable Securities and other Share Equivalents, in the aggregate, that are owned by each applicable holder as of the date of the Piggyback Notice. No such reduction shall reduce the securities being offered by the Company for its own account to be included in the registration and underwriting.

 

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(c) Company Control. The Company may decline to file a registration statement after giving the Piggyback Notice, or withdraw a registration statement after filing such Piggyback Notice, but prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, provided that the Company shall promptly notify each Management Stockholder in writing of any such action and provided further that the Company shall bear all reasonable expenses incurred by such Management Stockholder or otherwise in connection with such withdrawn registration statement. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Company shall have sole discretion to select any and all underwriters that may participate in any Underwritten Offering.

(d) Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-ups and other documents required for such underwriting arrangements. Nothing in this Section 10(d) shall be construed to create any additional rights regarding the piggyback registration of Registrable Securities in any Person otherwise than as set forth herein.

(e) Expenses. The Company will pay all registration, filing and qualification fees (including state securities law fees and expenses), printing expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company (and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one separate counsel for the participating Holders chosen by the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities being registered) and expenses of any special audits incidental to or required by such registration in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 10; provided, that each holder of a Share Equivalent shall pay all applicable stock transfer taxes, underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions and similar charges with respect to the Share Equivalents sold by such holder in pursuant to such registration statement.

(f) Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Section 10:

(i) “Registrable Securities” shall mean all Shares (other than Restricted Shares); provided, however, that any Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in such registration statement, (B) a registration statement on Form S-8 covering such Registrable Securities is effective, (C) such Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to Rule 144 of Rule 145 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act (or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act), (D) such Registrable Securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer under the Securities Act shall have been delivered by the Company, (E) such Registrable Securities cease to be outstanding or (F) the holder thereof, together with its Affiliates, beneficially owns (excluding any securities covered by the foregoing clause (B)) less than two percent (2%) of the Shares that are outstanding at such time and such holder is able to dispose of all of its Registrable Securities in any ninety (90) day period pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar or analogous rule) promulgated under the Securities Act; and provided, further, that any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not thereafter become Registrable Securities and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities is not a Registrable Security.

 

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(ii) “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a sale of Shares to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Section 11 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the first to occur of the following, provided that Section 12 shall survive any such termination:

(a) The date the Company consummates an Initial Public Offering, provided, that (i) Section 1(a), Section 1(b), Section 1(c), Section 1(d) and Section 2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(a) until the expiration of the Transfer Restriction Period and (ii) Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(a) for so long as any Registrable Securities are outstanding;

(b) The complete liquidation of the Company or the consummation of the sale, lease or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or

(c) The execution of a resolution of the Board terminating this Agreement; provided, that (i) Section 4 and Section 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(c) and shall remain in effect until an event occurs which would constitute a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a) or Section 11(b) and (ii) Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(c) for so long as any Registrable Securities are outstanding.

Section 12 Miscellaneous.

(a) Legends. Each certificate representing the Share Equivalents shall bear the following legends (or one to substantially similar effect):

“THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS CHILL HOLDINGS, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER CONDITIONS, AS SPECIFIED IN ONE OR MORE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENTS, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008, BY AND AMONG THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE AT THE OFFICE OF THE COMPANY AND WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

“THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE,

 

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PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL AND OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS.”

(b) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, legatees, successors and assigns and shall also apply to any Share Equivalents acquired by any Management Stockholder after the date hereof. Each of the H&F Investors shall be an express third party beneficiary hereunder, entitled to enforce the benefit of all rights accruing to it under this Agreement.

(c) Specific Performance. Each Party, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of the Party’s rights under this Agreement. Each Party agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by the Party of the provisions of this Agreement and each Party hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware.

(e) Interpretation. The headings of the Sections contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(f) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and received when delivered by overnight courier or hand delivery, when sent by telecopy, or five days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) postage prepaid, to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for any Party as shall be specified by like notices delivered by such Party, provided that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof).

 

(i) If to the Company at:
5151 San Felipe, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77056
Facsimile:   (713)-862-6729
Attention:   Ben D. Campbell, Executive Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel

 

16


with a copy to
Hellman & Friedman LLC
One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Facsimile:   (415) 835-5408
Attention:   General Counsel, Arrie Park, Esq.
and
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
2550 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Facsimile:   (650) 251-5002
Attention:   Richard Capelouto, Esq.
  Kirsten Jensen, Esq.
(ii) If to the H&F Investors at:
One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Facsimile:   (415) 835-5408
Attention:   General Counsel, Arrie Park, Esq.
with a copy to
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
2550 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Facsimile:   (650) 251-5002
Attention:   Richard Capelouto, Esq.
  Kirsten Jensen, Esq.

(iii) If to a Management Stockholder, to the address set forth in the Management Stockholder’s personnel records.

(g) Recapitalization, Exchange, Etc. Affecting the Company’s Stock. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Company from effecting any recapitalization, corporate reorganization, “corporate inversion” involving the creation of one or more holding companies and/or holding company subsidiaries, or similar transaction. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein, with respect to any and all Securities and all of the other shares of capital stock of the Company or any successor or assignee of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, business combination or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of such Securities and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations, and the like occurring after the date hereof.

 

17


(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.

(i) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality, and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be in any way impaired thereby.

(j) Amendment.

(i) This Agreement may be amended by resolution of the Board, provided that the amendment has been approved by HFCP VI; and, provided, further, that any such amendment that would materially adversely affect the rights of any Management Stockholder shall not to that extent be effective without the written consent of Management Stockholders who then hold 50% or more of the Share Equivalents (including Share Equivalents issuable upon the exercise of vested Options) held by the Management Stockholders, in the aggregate.

(ii) At any time hereafter, additional Management Stockholders may be made parties hereto by executing a signature page in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, which signature page shall be countersigned by the Company and HFCP VI on behalf of the H&F Investors and shall be attached to this Agreement and become a part hereof without any further action of any other Party hereto.

(k) Tax Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to require payment in cash or deduction from other compensation payable to any Management Stockholder of any sums required by federal, state, or local tax law to be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise, repurchase, or cancellation of any Share Equivalent or any Option.

(l) No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Agreement (i) obligates the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to employ any Management Stockholder in any capacity whatsoever; or (ii) prohibits or restricts the Company or any Affiliate of the Company from terminating the employment, if any, of any Management Stockholder at any time or for any reason whatsoever and each Management Stockholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as may otherwise be set forth in any written agreement between the Company and such Management Stockholder, neither the Company nor any other person has made any representations or promises whatsoever to such Management Stockholder concerning his or her employment or continued employment by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

(m) Offsets. The Company shall be permitted to offset and reduce from any amounts payable to a Management Stockholder the amount of any indebtedness or other obligation or payment owing to the Company by the Management Stockholder.

(n) Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement are intended by the parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous agreement. The parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of its terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

18


(o) Actions to Effectuate Agreement. Each Management Stockholder agrees to take all actions within his or her power (including voting Securities) to give effect to the terms of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, on the other hand, the provisions of this Agreement shall control, and each Management Stockholder shall vote his or Share Equivalents in such manner as to effectuate any and all amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company that may be necessary in order to bring the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company into conformity with the provisions of this Agreement. The vote of any Management Stockholder in violation of the provisions of this Agreement shall be void and shall be ignored by the Company. In connection therewith, each Management Stockholder hereby grants an irrevocable proxy with full power of substitution to HFCP VI for purposes of voting all Securities subject to this Agreement at any meeting of stockholders or in any action by written consent of stockholders in any manner necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, but not to amend this Agreement, it being acknowledged that such proxy is coupled with an interest under this Agreement.

(p) Lock-up Period. Each Management Stockholder agrees that during (i) such period following the effective date (which period shall in no event exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, subject to any customary “booster shot” extensions) of a registration statement of the Company filed in connection with an Initial Public Offering as the H&F Investors may agree to with the underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering and (ii) with respect to underwritten offerings only (which offerings are consummated at a time when such Management Stockholder or its Permitted Transferees holds Registrable Securities), such period (which period shall in no event exceed ninety (90) days, subject to any customary “booster shot” extensions) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act subsequent to an Initial Public Offering as the H&F Investors may agree to with the underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering, such Management Stockholder and its Permitted Transferees shall not, to the extent requested by the Company and any underwriter, sell, pledge, hypothecate, transfer, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option or right to purchase of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of (other than to donees who agree to be similarly bound) any Share Equivalents held by it at any time during such period except Share Equivalents included in such registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the underwriters in connection with such registration waive the standstill applicable to any of the H&F Investors, such waiver will also apply to the Management Stockholders. Each Management Stockholder agrees that it shall deliver to the underwriter or underwriters or any offering to which clause (i) or (ii) is applicable a customary agreement reflecting its agreement set forth in this Section 12(p).

(q) Additional Parties. Additional parties may be added to and be bound by and receive the benefits afforded by this Agreement upon the signing and delivery of a counterpart of this Agreement by the Company and the acceptance thereof by such additional parties and, to the extent permitted by Section 12(j), amendments may be effected to this Agreement reflecting such rights and obligations, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, of such Management Stockholder as the H&F Investors and such Management Stockholder may agree.

 

19


Section 13 Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

(a) “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person where “control” shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act; provided, that, in no event shall (i) the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any Management Stockholder be considered an “Affiliate” of the H&F Investors or (ii) any of the H&F Investors be considered Affiliates of any portfolio company in which the H&F Investors or any of their investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment.

(b) “Cause” shall mean the Company or an Affiliate having “Cause” to terminate the Management Stockholder’s employment, as defined in any employment, severance or other similar written agreement between the Management Stockholder and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that in the absence of an employment, severance or other written agreement containing such a definition, the Management Stockholder’s Termination of Employment shall be for “Cause” upon the Company’s or an Affiliate’s termination of the Management Stockholder’s employment due to:

(i) the Management Stockholder’s willful failure to substantially perform his duties, as set forth in any employment agreement or otherwise (other than any such failure resulting from the Management Stockholder’s Disability);

(ii) the Management Stockholder’s willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board or his superiors;

(iii) the Management Stockholder’s commission at any time of any act or omission that results in, or that may reasonably be expected to result in, a conviction, plea of no contest or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

(iv) the Management Stockholder’s unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the Company’s premises or while performing the Management Stockholder’s duties and responsibilities; or

(v) the Management Stockholder’s commission at any time of any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, material misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company (or any predecessor thereto or successor thereof).

(c) “CEO Transition Period” shall mean the period commencing on the first date of employment of the successor to Charles Carroll as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and ending on the one-year anniversary thereof.

(d) “Change in Control” shall mean shall mean the first to occur of the following events:

(i) the consummation of (A) a direct or indirect sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, or (B) a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through a transaction or series of transactions (other than an

 

20


offering of Common Stock by the Company (of either treasury shares or newly issued shares) to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (other than on Form S-4 or any successor form) (each, a “Business Combination”) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any H&F Investor or any “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or any H&F Investor) (collectively, a “Business Combination Person”) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than (1) fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition, or (2) prior to an Initial Public Offering, an amount greater than the amount owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an H&F Investor of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur pursuant to this Section 13(d)(i)(B)(2) unless a majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination are employees of the Business Combination Person; or

(ii) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(e) “Disability” shall mean “Disability” as defined in any employment or severance agreement between the Management Stockholder and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that in the absence of an employment or severance agreement containing such a definition, “Disability” shall mean the Management Stockholder’s inability to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential functions of the Management Stockholder’s position for a total of three months during any six (6) month period as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness as determined by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Management Stockholder or the Management Stockholder’s legal representative, such agreement as to acceptability not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(f) “Fair Market Value” means with respect to Share Equivalents prior to an Initial Public Offering, such amount as is determined to be the fair market value thereof, as of the date such Fair Market Value is required to be determined hereunder, as determined in good faith by the Board (x) in a manner and pursuant to a methodology consistent with past practices, (y) on an enterprise value basis and without any discount for minority interests or for absence of liquidity due to transfer restrictions, and (z) without giving effect to any proposed valuations of the Company or any of the Shares or other Securities that are disclosed by the Company or any Stockholder to any third party that is not an Affiliate of the Company or any stockholder thereof in connection with the negotiation of any acquisition, strategic investment or other transaction involving an issuance (or potential issuance) of Shares or other Securities; provided that if the Company exercises a Call Right or the Management Stockholder exercises a Put Right and the relevant Management Stockholder believes in good faith that the Fair Market Value is greater than the amount determined by the Board, then (1) such Management Stockholder may deliver a written objection notice to the Board within thirty (30) days of such determination and (2) if such an objection is timely delivered the Company will promptly engage a member of The Institute of

 

21


Business Appraisers, Inc. who is a Certified Business Appraiser and who is reasonably acceptable to such Management Stockholder (the “Appraiser”), who will be engaged to deliver to the Company and such Management Stockholder a written determination of Fair Market Value (it being agreed that if such determination specifies a range, the Fair Market Value will be the mid-point of that range), which Fair Market Value as determined by such Appraiser shall be deemed to be the Call Repurchase Price and shall be final and binding on the parties, absent manifest error by the Appraiser. If Fair Market Value determined by the Appraiser is (x) more than 110% of the Fair Market Value previously determined by the Board, then the costs and expenses of such Appraiser shall be borne by the Company and (y) equal or less than 110% of the Fair Market Value previously determined by the Board, then the costs and expenses of such Appraiser shall be borne by the Management Stockholder.

(g) “Good Reason” shall mean the Management Stockholder having “Good Reason” to terminate his employment, as defined in any employment, severance or other similar written agreement between the Management Stockholder and the Company or an Affiliate; and such term shall not apply in the absence of an employment, severance or other similar written agreement containing such a definition.

(h) “H&F Investors” shall mean the Initial H&F Investors and/or any Affiliate thereof that HFCP VI notifies the Management Stockholder from time to time is an “H&F Investor” for purposes hereof.

(i) “Initial Public Offering” shall mean the first underwritten public offering of Equity Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (other than on Forms S-4 or S-8 or successors to such forms) under the Securities Act.

(j) “Initial Valuation” means $10.00 per Share.

(k) “Makeup Amount Price” shall mean (i) with respect to a Change in Control, the price per Share that the Management Stockholder would have received had the Shares that were repurchased pursuant to the Call Right been sold or transferred in the Change in Control or (ii) with respect to an Initial Public Offering, the price per share to the public of the Shares sold in the Initial Public Offering.

(l) “Options” shall mean any rights or options to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire Shares granted pursuant to any employment or consulting agreement with the Company or its Subsidiaries or pursuant to any equity compensation plan or program of the Company.

(m) “Permitted Transferee” shall mean, (A) for any Management Stockholder (i) with respect to Shares only (and not Options), a spouse, sibling or lineal descendant (including through adoption) of such Management Stockholder (the “Permitted Family Members”), (ii) with respect to Shares only (and not Options), trusts or family limited liability companies or partnerships maintained for the benefit of Permitted Family Members (plus any charitable remaindermen which may be specified in any such trusts), and (iii) with respect to both Shares and Options, upon such Management Stockholder’s death, his or her executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees and beneficiaries and (B) for any H&F Investor, any Affiliate thereof that (i) is an Affiliated investment fund or wholly-owned subsidiary of such H&F Investor, (ii) was not formed for the purpose of making an investment in the Company or beneficially owning Securities and (iii) the assets of which do not primarily consist of Securities.

 

22


(n) “Person” shall mean an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

(o) “Restricted Shares” shall mean any Shares that are subject to vesting in connection with the continued employment with, or engagement by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(p) “Securities” shall mean any equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Shares, any Restricted Shares, any Share Equivalents or any other Voting Securities.

(q) “Share Equivalents” shall mean (i) Shares (other than Restricted Shares), (ii) the Shares issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any security that is currently exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for, as of any such date of determination, Shares without payment to the Company of any additional consideration and (iii) except with respect to Section 10, the Shares issuable upon exercise of Options that are vested and exercisable as of any such date of determination.

(r) “Shares” shall mean any shares of Common Stock.

(s) “Termination of Employment” shall mean the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Management Stockholder and the Company or one of its subsidiaries is terminated for any reason, with or without Cause, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, Disability, death or retirement, but excluding a termination where there is a simultaneous reemployment of the Management Stockholder by the Company or one of its subsidiaries. The Board (or the compensation committee thereof) shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination of Employment, including, but not by way of limitation, all questions of whether a particular leave of absence constitutes a Termination of Employment.

(t) “Transfer Restriction Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of (i) the six (6)- month anniversary of the completion of an Initial Public Offering and (ii) the expiration of such period, if any, following the completion of an Initial Public Offering during which each H&F Investor shall have agreed with the underwriters of such Initial Public Offering to be, and shall remain obligated to be, subject to lock-up restrictions in respect of the Share Equivalents held by the H&F Investors (it being understood that if the H&F Investors do not agree to become subject to any such lock-up restrictions, then the end of the Transfer Restriction Period shall occur upon the completion of such Initial Public Offering).

(u) “Voting Security” shall mean (i) the Share Equivalents and (ii) any other securities that are permitted by their terms to vote together with the Share Equivalents.

[Signature pages follow]

 

23


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement on the date first written above.

 

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Erik Ragatz
Title:   Secretary
CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Erik Ragatz
Title:   Secretary

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS VI, L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS VI (PARALLEL), L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL ASSOCIATES VI, L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL EXECUTIVES VI, L.P.
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
H&F CHILL PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   H&F Chill GP, LLC, its general partner
By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, L.P., its managing member
By:   Hellman & Friedman LLC, its general partner
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Peter Alexander

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Samuel Bikman

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Lawrence Blackburn

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Ben Campbell

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Charles Carroll

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Gary Clark

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Donald King

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   James Mishler

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Terrance Smith

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   Adree Toppe

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


INITIAL MANAGEMENT INVESTORS

 

Name:   William Topper

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SIGNATURE PAGE

TO THE

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT OF CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

By execution of this signature page,                                  hereby agrees to become a party to, be bound by the obligations of, and receive the benefits of, that certain Management Stockholders Agreement of Chill Holdings, Inc. dated as of [                    ] by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., Chill Acquisition, Inc., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., and certain other parties named therein, as amended from time to time thereafter.

 

[Name of Management Stockholder]
Residence Address:
Accepted:
CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Its:  
Accepted:
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS VI, L.P.
  By:   Hellman & Friedman Investors VI, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

 

Its:  


Spousal Consent

In consideration of the execution of that certain Management Stockholders Agreement (the “Management Stockholders Agreement”) by and among Chill Holdings, Inc., the Management Stockholder (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) and other persons party thereto, I,                                         , the spouse of                                         , who is a party to the Management Stockholders Agreement, do hereby join with my spouse in executing the foregoing Management Stockholders Agreement and do hereby agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions thereof.

 

Dated as of                     , 200        

 

    Spouse

[Signature Page to Management Stockholders Agreement]

EX-10.17 19 dex1017.htm CHARLES A. CAROLL FORM OF OPINION AGREEMENT Charles A. Caroll Form of Opinion Agreement

Exhibit 10.17

Time-Vested Option Agreement

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (“Plan”), hereby grants to the “Optionholder” identified below a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Shares”) set forth below. This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein and in the Option Agreement, the Plan and the Management Stockholders Agreement, all of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety. Any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Optionholder:

Date of Grant:

Vesting Commencement Date:

Number of Shares Subject to Option:

Exercise Price (Per Share):

Total Exercise Price:

Expiration Date:

 

Exercise Schedule:         Same as Vesting Schedule.
Vesting Schedule:   
Payment:    ¨        By cash or check (unless otherwise permitted by the Committee)

Additional Terms/Acknowledgements: The undersigned Optionholder acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the Plan. Optionholder further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the Company regarding the acquisition of Shares and supersede all prior oral and written agreements on that subject with the exception of (i) options previously granted and delivered to Optionholder under the Plan, and (ii) the agreements, if any, listed below:

 

  Other Agreements:  

 

 

 

Chill Holdings, Inc.     OPTIONHOLDER
By:  

 

   

 

  Signature     Signature
Title:  

 

    Date:  

 

Date:  

 

     

Attachments: Option Agreement, 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and Management Stockholders Agreement


CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

OPTION AGREEMENT

(TIME-BASED STOCK OPTION)

Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement, Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you a stock option under the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. Capitalized terms not defined in this Option Agreement but defined in the Plan shall have the same definitions as in the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice are a part of the Option Agreement, unless otherwise specified.

The details and terms and conditions of this Option Agreement shall govern your Nonstatutory Stock Option:

1. Vesting. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your Option will vest as set forth in your Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service. For the purposes of this Option Agreement, in the event of an involuntary termination of Continuous Service, the termination shall be effective, and vesting shall cease, as of the date stated in the relevant notice of termination and, unless otherwise required by law, will not be extended by any notice period or other period of leave. Subject to Applicable Law, the Company shall determine the date of termination in its sole discretion.

2. Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your Option and your exercise price per share referenced in your Grant Notice may be adjusted from time to time for various adjustments in the Company’s equity capital structure, as provided in the Plan.

3. Method of Payment.

(a) Payment of the exercise price is due in full upon exercise of all or any part of your Option. You may elect to make payment of the exercise price in cash or by check. Alternatively, in the Committee’s sole discretion at the time your Option is exercised and provided that at the time of exercise there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock, your exercise may be implemented pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds. Notwithstanding the terms of the previous sentence, you may not be permitted to exercise your Option pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board if such exercise would violate the provisions of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other Applicable Law.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit you to make payment of the exercise price and/or taxes relating to such exercise, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the aggregate exercise price or taxes, or such portion thereof, as applicable; provided, however, that you must satisfy all such requirements as may be imposed by the Committee, including without limitation


that you have held such shares for such period as may be established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid a supplemental charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes, if any, and that any withholding for tax purposes does not exceed the statutory minimum rate of withholding.

(c) Where you are permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option and/or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering shares of Common Stock, you may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof that you are the Beneficial Owner of such shares of Common Stock, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised and/or the taxes paid, as applicable, without further payment and shall withhold such number of shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit you to make payment of the exercise price in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion, including an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis. Additionally, you shall have the right to exercise your Option by way of a “cashless” or “net” exercise basis pursuant to which Company shall retain that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the aggregate exercise price of the Option and/or withholding or taxes associated with such exercise, or such portion thereof, as applicable; provided that such “cashless” or “net” exercise: (i) does not result in adverse accounting treatment to the Company, (ii) in respect of any withholding for tax purposes, does not exceed the statutory minimum rate of withholding, and (iii) is not prohibited by the terms of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ financing arrangements as in effect from time to time.

4. Whole Shares. You may exercise your Option only for whole shares of Common Stock.

5. Compliance.

(a) Securities Law Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your Option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if such shares of Common Stock are not then so registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your Option must also comply with other Applicable Law governing your Option, and you may not exercise your Option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in compliance with Applicable Law.

(b) Plan Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your Option if the terms of the Plan do not permit the exercise of Options, or if the Company exercises its rights under the Plan to suspend, delay or restrict the exercise of Options.

6. Term. You may not exercise your Option before the commencement of its term on the Date of Grant or after its term expires. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, you may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the Option at any time prior to the earliest to occur of:

(a) the date on which your Continuous Service is terminated for Cause;

 

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(b) the date on which you violate the terms of any restrictive covenant in favor of the Company or any of its affiliates relating to non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, confidentiality or intellectual property rights; provided, however, you will not be deemed to have violated any such restrictive covenant if such violation is curable without residual damages to the Company and you cure such violation within ten (10) days after receipt of written notice from the Company;

(c) ninety (90) days after your Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability;

(d) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your Disability;

(e) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your death; or

(f) the Expiration Date indicated in the Grant Notice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of your Option is prevented within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6(c) as a result of the operation of Section 5 above or Section 13 of the Plan, your Option shall not expire before the date that is forty-five (45) days after the date that you are notified by the Company that the Option is again exercisable, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice.

7. Exercise Procedures.

(a) Subject to Section 5 above and other relevant terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, you may exercise the vested portion of your Option during its term by delivering a notice of exercise (in a form designated by the Company) together with the exercise price to the Chief Financial Officer, or to such other person as the Company may designate, during regular business hours, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.

(b) By exercising your Option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your Option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company (including any Affiliate) arising by reason of (1) the exercise of your Option, or (2) other applicable events that trigger or may trigger the imposition of income, employment or other taxes.

(c) By exercising your Option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your Option, you and your spouse, if requested by the Company, contemporaneously with the exercise of your Option and prior to the issuance of any certificate representing the Shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of your Option, shall execute any agreements by and among the Company and the Company’s stockholders (including the Management Stockholders Agreement) which shall then be applicable to the shares of Common Stock to be issued to you, including any and all amendments to such agreements in effect at the

 

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time of such exercise, and agree to comply with any and all restrictions which then apply to holders of Common Stock (or the securities which at that time are to be issued upon the exercise of your Option).

(d) As a condition of any exercise of your Option, you and your spouse, if any, agree that prior to the effectiveness of the first underwritten registration of the Company or its Affiliate’s equity securities under the Securities Act, you shall not transfer any or all of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of your Option unless permitted to do so under the terms of the Plan and/or the Management Stockholders Agreement.

8. Documents Governing Issued Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock that you acquire upon exercise of your Option are subject to the terms of the Plan, the Company’s bylaws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, any agreement relating to such shares of Common Stock to which you become a party, or any other similar document. You should ensure that you understand your rights and obligations as a stockholder of the Company prior to the time that you exercise your Option.

9. Limitations on Transfer of Options. Your Option is not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your life only by you. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a third party who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise your Option.

10. Rights Upon Exercise. You will not have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option until you have given written notice of the exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

11. Option Not a Service Contract. Your Option is not an employment contract, and nothing in your Option shall be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or of the Company or any of its Affiliates to continue your employment. In addition, nothing in your Option shall obligate the Company or any of its Affiliates, their respective stockholders, Boards of Directors, officers or employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant or otherwise for the Company or any of its Affiliates.

12. Withholding Obligations and Notice Requirement.

(a) At the time you exercise your Option, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a “same day sale” program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company and Applicable Law, including, but not limited to, Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) any sums required to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which arise in connection with your Option.

(b) You may not exercise your Option unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied or appropriate arrangements (acceptable to the Company) are made therefor.

 

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(c) You agree to promptly notify the Company of any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Options that results in a “disqualifying disposition” for purposes of Section 421 of the Code.

13. Notices. Any notices provided for in your Option or the Plan shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt, or in the case of notices delivered by mail to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail (or with another delivery service), certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company.

14. Signature in Counterparts. This Option Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

15. Option Subject to Plan Document and Management Stockholders Agreement. By entering into this Option Agreement, you agree and acknowledge that you have received and read a copy of the Plan and Management Stockholders Agreement. The Option is subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the Management Stockholders Agreement and such terms and provisions are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan or the Management Stockholders Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan or Management Stockholders Agreement, as applicable, will govern and prevail. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision of the Plan and any term or provision of the Management Stockholders Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Management Stockholders Agreement will govern and prevail.

16. Miscellaneous.

(a) You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of this Option including, without limitation, the Management Stockholders Agreement.

(b) You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your Option in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel and your personal tax advisor prior to executing and accepting your Option and fully understand all provisions of your Option.

(c) You acknowledge that the grant and terms of this Option are confidential and may not be disclosed by you to any other person, including other employees of the Company and its Affiliates and other participants in the Plan, without the express written consent of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may disclose the grant and terms of this Option to your family member, financial advisor, and attorney and as may be required by law or regulation.

(d) The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of the Option Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of the Option Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of the Option Agreement.

 

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(e) This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their legal representatives, heirs, and permitted transferees, successors and assigns.

(f) This Option Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provision or rule.

(g) This Option Agreement, including those documents and agreements explicitly referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral. This Option Agreement may not be amended, modified or revoked, in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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EX-10.18 20 dex1018.htm FORM OF EQUITY CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT Form of Equity Contribution Agreement

Exhibit 10.18

FORM OF EQUITY CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

EQUITY CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of October 21, 2007 (this “Agreement”), between Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and [            ], an individual (the “Rollover Investor”).

WHEREAS, Parent has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement), with Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, the Rollover Investor desires to contribute certain shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Company Stock”) to Parent in exchange for the issuance to the Rollover Investor of an amount of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (“Parent Common Stock”) as determined in accordance with this Agreement, and in connection and concurrently with the Rollover Investor’s contribution, Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI (Parallel), L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Executives VI, L.P. and Hellman & Friedman Capital Associates VI, L.P. (collectively, “H&F”) will invest the amounts contemplated by the Merger Agreement in exchange for shares of Parent Common Stock; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain agreements, representations, warranties and covenants in connection with the contributions contemplated by this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions as hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

 

I CONTRIBUTION

1.1. Contribution. Subject to Section 1.3 and 1.4, at the Contribution Closing (as defined below), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Rollover Investor hereby agrees to transfer, contribute and deliver to Parent the number of shares of Company Stock (the “Contributed Shares”) with a value equal to $[] (the “Contributed Amount”). In consideration for the Contributed Shares and the performance by the Rollover Investor of its obligations under Section 1.5 below, Parent hereby agrees to issue at the Closing to the Rollover Investor the Rollover Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contributed Shares shall not include any shares of Company Stock held in a trust on the date hereof.

1.2. Certain Definitions. The following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement:

(a) “Rollover Shares” means the number of shares, rounded to the nearest whole number to avoid the issuance of a fractional share, of Parent Common Stock equal to (i) the Contributed Amount divided by (ii) the Rollover Price.


(b) “Rollover Price” means an amount equal to the price for each share of Parent Common Stock to be issued to H&F in respect of the capital contributions to be made by H&F in connection and concurrently with the Contribution Closing and the Merger.

1.3. After Tax Investment Election. Within fifteen (15) days after the date hereof, the Rollover Investor may, by written notice to the Company, elect, in lieu of contributing the Contributed Shares in exchange for the Rollover Shares as described in Section 1.1, to purchase for cash at the Closing, a number of shares of Parent Common Stock with an aggregate value (based upon the Rollover Price) equal to 90% of the Contributed Amount. In such event, the shares of Parent Common stock so purchased will be referred to herein as the Rollover Shares.

1.4. Rollover Options. Notwithstanding Section 1.1, in the event the Rollover Investor does not make the election described in Section 1.3 and the Rollover Investor does not own Contributed Shares immediately prior to Closing with an aggregate value at least equal to the Contributed Amount, then the Rollover Investor shall contribute all of the Contributed Shares as described in Section 1.1 and shall also, as of the Closing, rollover and exchange (and the Rollover Investor shall not exercise prior to the Closing) options to acquire Company Stock held by the Rollover Investor immediately prior to the Closing (“Existing Options”) with an Intrinsic Value equal to the Deficiency Amount for vested options to acquire Parent Common Stock (“Rollover Options”), which shall be assumed by Parent, with the same Intrinsic Value, in lieu of receiving any cash payments in respect of such rolled over and exchanged Existing Options pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Such rollover and exchange shall be effected in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any such rollover and exchange of Existing Options shall be effected by exchanging those Existing Options with lowest exercise prices on a priority allocation basis; provided that within fifteen (15) days of the date hereof, to the extent that the Rollover Investor is using Existing Options to satisfy the Deficiency Amount, a schedule setting forth such Existing Options shall be attached hereto.

(a) “Deficiency Amount” shall mean the excess of the Contributed Amount over the aggregate value (based on the Rollover Price) of the Contributed Shares actually contributed by the Rollover Investor pursuant to Section 1.1.

(b) “Intrinsic Value” shall mean, (i) with respect to the Existing Options, the excess of the value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the Existing Options as of the Closing Date (based upon the Rollover Price) over the exercise price of the Existing Options and (ii) with respect to the Rollover Options, the excess of the value of the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to the Rollover Options as of the Closing Date (based upon the Rollover Price) over the exercise price of the Rollover Options.

 

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In the event Section 1.4 becomes applicable, for purposes of calculating the Rollover Shares pursuant to Section 1.2(a), the Contributed Amount shall be deemed to be reduced by the Deficiency Amount.

1.5. Delivery of Contributed Shares and Certificates. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the parties entitled to the benefit thereof) of the conditions set forth in Section 1.6 of this Agreement, the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Contribution Closing”) will take place immediately prior to the Closing; provided that the rollover, exchange and assumption of any Existing Options shall take place at Closing . At the Contribution Closing, Parent will issue the Rollover Investor the Parent Common Stock (and, if applicable, Rollover Options), against (i) the transfer and contribution to Parent of the Contributed Shares (including the delivery of certificates evidencing the applicable number of shares of Company Stock with respect to the Rollover Investor, duly endorsed to Parent), free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, encumbrance, hypothecation, transfer restriction, lien or charge of any kind (each, a “Lien”), which shall represent payment in full for the Contributed Shares (and of the Existing Options described in Section 1.4, if applicable) and (ii) a duly executed copy of the Management Stockholders Agreement having terms consistent with the term sheet set forth in Exhibit A hereto and such other terms as Parent reasonably requests (the “Stockholder Agreement”). On the date of the Closing, Parent shall deliver (i) certificates evidencing the Parent Common Stock issued at the Contribution Closing (and, if applicable, the Rollover Options) and (ii) a copy of the Rollover Investor Stockholders Agreement duly executed by the parties thereto other than the Rollover Investor. Immediately after receipt by Parent of the Contributed Shares and prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall contribute such Contributed Shares to Merger Sub, and the Contributed Shares shall be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Merger Agreement.

1.6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Parties Hereunder; Failure of the Merger to Occur. The obligations of the Rollover Investor to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent, Merger Sub and/or the Company, as applicable, of all of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger. Upon the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions, the Contribution Closing will occur immediately prior to the Closing. If for any reason the Merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement fails to occur but the Contribution Closing has already taken place, then the Rollover Investor shall return to Parent the Parent Common Stock, and Parent shall return to the Rollover Investor the Contributed Shares and the Stockholder Agreement shall immediately be terminated by the parties thereto.

1.7. Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate if, at any time prior to the Contribution Closing, the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms. In the event of any termination of this Agreement as provided in this Section 1.7, this Agreement shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force or effect (except Section 3.3 and Article IV) and there shall be no liability on the part of any parties hereto or their respective officers or directors, except as provided in such Section 3.3 and Article IV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party hereto shall be relieved from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement.

 

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1.8. Legends. Each outstanding certificate representing Parent Common Stock shall bear the legends required by the Stockholder Agreement.

 

II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

2.1. Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent represents and warrants to the Rollover Investor as follows:

(a) Parent is a corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby, the performance by Parent of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and, assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by the Rollover Investor, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or in law).

(b) The execution, delivery and performance by Parent of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, (i) violate the provisions of any law, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or its properties or assets; (ii) violate the provisions of the governing documents of Parent, as amended to date; or (iii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental or quasi-governmental agency or arbitrator applicable to Parent or its properties or assets.

(c) The Parent Common Stock, when issued and delivered to the Rollover Investor in accordance with the terms hereof and upon receipt of the consideration required to be paid hereunder, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of any Lien, except as may be otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Stockholder Agreement and required by the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and state securities laws.

2.2. Representations and Warranties of the Rollover Investor. In addition, the Rollover Investor represents and warrants to Parent that:

(a) The Rollover Investor is competent to, and has sufficient capacity to, execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and to perform the Rollover Investor’s obligations hereunder and thereunder. This Agreement has been, and at the Contribution Closing the Stockholder Agreement will be, duly executed and delivered by the Rollover Investor and, assuming the due authorization,

 

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execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Stockholder Agreement, as applicable, by Parent and the other parties thereto, as applicable, this Agreement constitutes and the Stockholder Agreement will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Rollover Investor, enforceable against the Rollover Investor in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Rollover Investor of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and the consummation by the Rollover Investor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby does not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, (i) violate the provisions of any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Rollover Investor or his properties or assets; (ii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental or quasi-governmental agency or arbitrator applicable to the Rollover Investor or his properties or assets; or (iii) result in any breach of any terms or conditions, or constitute a default under, any contract, agreement or instrument to which the Rollover Investor is a party or by which the Rollover Investor or his properties or assets are bound.

(c) As of the date hereof and on the date of the Contribution Closing, the Rollover Investor holds of record and owns beneficially the Contributed Shares, free and clear of all Liens. On the date of the Contribution Closing, the Rollover Investor will not be a party to any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment (other than this Agreement) that could require, or restrict or impair the ability of, the Rollover Investor to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of the Company. Upon contribution of the Contributed Shares at the Contribution Closing, Parent will hold of record and beneficially own the Rollover Shares, free and clear of all Liens.

(d) The Rollover Investor is not married as of the date hereof and on the date of the Contribution Closing, or, if the Rollover Investor is married on either such date, the spouse of such Rollover Investor has executed and delivered to Parent the Spousal Consent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

(e) Parent Common Stock Unregistered. The Rollover Investor acknowledges and represents that the Rollover Investor has been advised by Parent that:

(i) the offer and sale of the Parent Common Stock have not been registered under the Securities Act;

(ii) the Parent Common Stock must be held indefinitely and the Rollover Investor must continue to bear the economic risk of the investment in the Parent Common Stock unless the offer and sale of such Parent Common Stock are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available;

 

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(iii) there is no established market for the Parent Common Stock and it is not anticipated that there will be any public market for the Parent Common Stock in the foreseeable future; and

(iv) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of Parent indicating that the Parent Common Stock are subject to restrictions on transfer and, if Parent should at some time in the future engage the services of a securities transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer instructions will be issued to such transfer agent with respect to the Parent Common Stock.

(f) Additional Investment Representations. The Rollover Investor represents and warrants that:

(i) the Rollover Investor’s financial situation is such that the Rollover Investor can afford to bear the economic risk of holding the Parent Common Stock for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means for providing for the Rollover Investor’s current needs and personal contingencies, and can afford to suffer a complete loss of the Rollover Investor’s investment in the Parent Common Stock;

(ii) the Rollover Investor’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters are such that the Rollover Investor is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Parent Common Stock;

(iii) the Rollover Investor understands that the Parent Common Stock is a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of the Rollover Investor’s investment therein, there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Parent Common Stock and, on the date of the Contribution Closing and for an indefinite period following such date, there will be no public market for the Parent Common Stock and, accordingly, it may not be possible for the Rollover Investor to liquidate the Rollover Investor’s investment in case of emergency, if at all;

(iv) the Rollover Investor has been given the opportunity to examine all documents and to ask questions of, and to receive answers from, Parent and its representatives concerning Parent and its subsidiaries, the Merger, Parent’s organizational documents and the terms and conditions of the purchase of the Parent Common Stock and to obtain any additional information which the Rollover Investor deems necessary; and

(v) the Rollover Investor is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.

 

III OTHER COVENANTS

3.1. Merger Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Parent will have sole discretion with respect to determining whether the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement have been satisfied or waived by the appropriate parties thereto. The Rollover

 

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Investor acknowledges and agrees that neither Parent nor any of its officers, directors or affiliates will have any liability or obligation to the Rollover Investor resulting from or arising out of any termination of the Merger Agreement or any failure to complete the Merger or any breach of the Merger Agreement by Parent, Merger Sub or any other party thereto.

3.2. Agreement to Cooperate; Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby.

3.3. Fees and Expenses. The costs incurred by any party hereto in preparing this Agreement and in pursuing and negotiating the transactions (including all attorneys’ fees and costs relating thereto) will be paid by the party incurring such expenses.

3.4. Tax Treatment. Parent, H&F and the Rollover Investor agree that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the contribution of Company Stock by the Rollover Investor, the cash contribution by H&F and the receipt of Parent Common Stock by each of the Rollover Investor and H&F in respect of their respective contributions is intended to constitute a tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and none of such Persons shall take any contrary position.

 

IV MISCELLANEOUS

4.1. Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by e-mail, telecopy, telegraph or telex), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered by hand, or three days after being deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy or e-mail notice, when received, or, in the case of telegraphic notice, when delivered to the telegraph company, or, in the case of telex notice, when sent, answerback received, addressed as follows to Parent or the Rollover Investor, as applicable, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the parties hereto:

(a) If to Parent, to it at the following address:

Chill Holdings, Inc.

c/o Hellman & Friedman LLC

One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attention: Arrie Park, Esq.

Tel: (415) 788-5111

Fax: (415) 788-0176

with a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

Attention:   Richard Capelouto, Esq.
  Kirsten Jensen, Esq.

Tel: (650) 251-5060

Fax: (650) 251-5002

 

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(b) If to the Rollover Investor, to the address for notice set forth on the signature page hereof:

4.2. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed and to be performed entirely within that state. Each of the parties by its execution hereof hereby (i) irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the State of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof and (ii) waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that any such proceeding brought in one of the above-named courts is improper, or that any right or remedy relating to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby, or the subject matter hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by such court. Each of the parties hereby consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, and agrees that service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof is reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

4.3. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

4.4. Successors and Assigns. All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties, and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors.

4.5. Limitation on Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto. Any assignment or delegation in derogation of this provision shall be null and void.

4.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

4.7. Interpretation. The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

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4.8. Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein will survive the Contribution Closing.

4.9. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment, modification or supplement to the Agreement shall be enforced against any party unless such amendment, modification or supplement is in writing and signed by Parent and the Rollover Investor. Any waiver by any party of any term of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by the Party charged therewith.

4.10. Integration. This Agreement, the Stockholder Agreement and the documents referred to herein and therein or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to this subject matter. There are no third party beneficiaries having rights under or with respect to this Agreement.

4.11. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

4.12. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
ROLLOVER INVESTOR:

 

Name:  
Address:  

 


Exhibit B

Spousal Consent

In consideration of the execution of the foregoing Equity Contribution Agreement between Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and [            ] (the “Rollover Investor”), I                                         , the spouse of the Rollover Investor, do hereby join with my spouse in executing the foregoing Equity Contribution Agreement and do hereby agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions thereof in lieu of all other interests I may have in the Rollover Shares (as defined in the Equity Contribution Agreement) subject thereto, whether the interest may be community property or otherwise.

Dated as of October     , 2007

 

Name:  

 

EX-10.19 21 dex1019.htm FORM OF OPTION ROLL OVER AGREEMENT Form of Option Roll Over Agreement

Exhibit 10.19

FORM OF OPTION ROLLOVER AGREEMENT

THIS OPTION ROLLOVER AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2008 (this “Agreement”), is made by and between Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), and [            ], an individual (the “Management Participant”).

WHEREAS, Holdings entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), with Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Holdings (together with its successors and assigns, “Merger Sub”) and Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), whereby Merger Sub will cease to exist and the Company will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Holdings;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.1(f) of the Merger Agreement, each option to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “Company Stock Option”) granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan and the 2006 Incentive Award Plan of the Company (together, the “Company Stock Plans”), whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing”), other than any such option that is subject to an alternative arrangement specifically agreed to between Holdings and the holder thereof, shall, as of the Closing, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive at the Closing an amount in cash in U.S. dollars equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares of common stock of the Company subject to such Company Stock Option and (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) $25.60 over (B) the exercise price per share of common stock of the Company subject to such Company Stock Option, with the aggregate amount of such payment rounded to the nearest cent less such amounts as are required to be withheld or deducted under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax law with respect to the making of such payment (the “Option Consideration”); and

WHEREAS, the Management Participant was granted one or more Company Stock Options pursuant to the Company Stock Plans;

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to agree that, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company Stock Options held by the Management Participant (the “Management Participant Options”) shall become fully vested as of the Closing, and, to the extent set forth on Schedule I hereto, remain outstanding and be assumed by Holdings as provided for herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions as hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

 

I. Company Stock Options.

Holdings and the Management Participant hereby acknowledge and agree that as of the date of this Agreement, the Management Participant Options shall, to the extent then outstanding, become fully vested as of the Closing.


II. Rollover of the Unexercised Portion of the Management Participant Option.

Subject to terms and conditions set forth herein, to the extent set forth on Schedule I hereto, the Management Participant hereby permanently and irrevocably elects not to exercise the Company Stock Options in connection with the Merger, and therefore acknowledges that following the Merger, the portion of the Management Participant Options described on Schedule I shall remain outstanding and be converted automatically into options to acquire the common stock, par value $0.01 per share of Holdings (the “Holdings Common Stock”) (as so converted, the “Rollover Options”). It is hereby expressly agreed and acknowledged that the Management Participant shall not be entitled to the Option Consideration with respect to shares of Holdings Common Stock subject to the Rollover Options. Without limiting the foregoing, the Rollover Options shall be subject to the same general terms and conditions as are applicable to the Management Participant Options as of the date hereof, except that:

(i) such Rollover Options shall be fully vested and immediately exercisable;

(ii) the exercise price per share of such Rollover Options shall be $2.07, and the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock subject to the Rollover Options shall be the number set forth on Column F of Schedule I hereto, which shall have been determined by dividing the total option spread indicated on Column E of Schedule I hereto by $7.93, whereby the total option spread before and after such conversion shall, subject to the following proviso, remain unchanged; provided, that in performing such adjustment, the number of shares subject to the Rollover Options after the conversion shall have been rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of Holdings Common Stock, to the extent necessary;

(iii) in connection with any extraordinary cash dividend declared and paid on the Holdings Common Stock, the Rollover Option shall be adjusted by the Board of Directors of Holdings (the “Board”), or committee thereof, in a manner it deems equitable in its good faith, which may include the reduction of the exercise price per share of Holdings Common Stock subject to the Rollover Option by the amount of such dividend, provided that if such reduction exceeds the exercise price per share (or such percentage of the exercise price per share that Holdings determines would result in adverse tax consequences to the Management Participant) or would cause the Rollover Option to cease to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, then such excess shall be paid in cash; and

(iv) to the extent that the Board (or any committee thereof) makes adjustments to the Management Participant’s stock option granted under the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, pursuant to Section 11 thereof, corresponding adjustments shall be made to the Rollover Option.

 

III. Execution of Management Stockholders Agreements.

Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of Holdings and the Management Participant agrees to execute and deliver the Management Stockholders Agreement, as may be amended from time to time, in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “Management Stockholders Agreement”).

 

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IV. Termination.

This Agreement shall terminate automatically and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be abandoned if at any time prior to the Closing, the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms. In the event of any termination of this Agreement as provided in this Article IV, this Agreement shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force or effect (except Article VI) and there shall be no liability on the part of any parties hereto or their respective officers or directors, except as provided in such Article VI. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party hereto shall be relieved from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement.

 

V. Representations and Warranties.

1. Representations and Warranties of the Management Participant. The Management Participant represents and warrants to Holdings that:

a. He or she is competent to, and has sufficient capacity to, execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and to perform his or her obligations hereunder and thereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Management Participant and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Holdings, this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Management Participant, enforceable against the Management Participant in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

b. The execution, delivery and performance by the Management Participant of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and the consummation by the Management Participant of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby does not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, (i) violate the provisions of any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Management Participant or his or her properties or assets; (ii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental or quasi-governmental agency or arbitrator applicable to the Management Participant or his or her properties or assets; or (iii) result in any breach of any terms or conditions, or constitute a default under, any contract, agreement or instrument to which the Management Participant is a party or by which the Management Participant or his or her properties or assets are bound.

c. The Management Participant (i) is experienced in evaluating and investing in private placement transactions of securities of companies in a similar stage of development and acknowledges that he or she is able to fend for himself, can bear the economic risk of the Management Participant’s investment in Holdings, and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that the Management Participant is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Holdings Common Stock and can afford a complete loss of his or her investment, (ii) understands that no public market now exists for the Holdings Common Stock and there is no

 

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assurance that a public market will ever exist for the Holdings Common Stock, (iii) understands that the Holdings Common Stock may not be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or an exemption therefrom, and that in the absence of an effective registration statement covering the Holdings Common Stock or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Holdings Common Stock must be held indefinitely and (iv) is acquiring securities of Holdings for his or her own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution of the securities.

2. Representations and Warranties of Holdings.

a. Holdings is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by Holdings of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby, the performance by Holdings of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the consummation by Holdings of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and, assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by the Management Participant, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or in law).

b. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby and the consummation by Holdings of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, (i) violate the provisions of any law, rule or regulation applicable to Holdings or its properties or assets; (ii) violate the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Holdings, as amended to date; or (iii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental or quasi-governmental agency or arbitrator applicable to Holdings or its properties or assets.

c. No consent, approval, exemption or authorization is required to be obtained from, no notice is required to be given to and no filing is required to be made with any third party (including, without limitation, governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of competent jurisdiction) by Holdings, in order (x) for this Agreement to constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings or (y) to authorize or permit the existence of Rollover Options.

 

VI. Miscellaneous.

1. Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy, telegraph or telex), and, unless

 

4


otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered by hand, or three days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy notice, when received, or, in the case of telegraphic notice, when delivered to the telegraph company, or, in the case of telex notice, when sent, answerback received, addressed as follows to Holdings and the Management Participant, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the parties hereto:

If to Holdings, to it at the following address:

c/o Hellman & Friedman LLC

One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor

San Francisco, California 94111

Attn: Arrie Park

Telephone: (415) 788-5111

Telecopy: (415) 788-0176

with a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

Attn:   Richard Capelouto, Esq.
  Kirsten Jensen, Esq.

Telephone: (650) 251-5000

Telecopy: (650) 251-5002

If to the Management Participant, to the most recent address of the Management Participant set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

2. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed and to be performed entirely within that state. Each of the parties by its execution hereof hereby (i) irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the State of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof, (ii) stipulates that the above-named courts are proper, exclusive, and convenient venues for any legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement, and (iii) waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that any such proceeding brought in one of the above-named courts is improper, or that any right or remedy relating to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby, or the subject matter hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by such court. Each of the parties hereby consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, and agrees that service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section VI.1. hereof is reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

 

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3. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

4. Successors and Assigns. All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties, and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors.

5. Limitation on Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto. Any assignment or delegation in derogation of this provision shall be null and void.

6. Tax Reporting. It is intended that the conversion of the Management Participant Option into the Rollover Option contemplated herein shall be treated as a nontaxable event for federal, state and local tax purposes and shall be so reported by the Management Participant.

7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

8. Interpretation. The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

9. Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein will survive the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

10. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment, modification or supplement to the Agreement shall be enforced against any party unless such amendment, modification or supplement is in writing and signed by Holdings and the Management Participant. Any waiver by any party of any term of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by the party charged therewith.

11. Integration. This Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the documents referred to herein and therein or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no agreements, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to this subject matter. There are no third party beneficiaries having rights under or with respect to this Agreement.

 

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12. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

13. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Holdings and the Management Participant have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  


MANAGEMENT PARTICIPANT:

 

Name:  
Address:  

 

 

 

Telephone:  

 

Telecopy:  

 

 

9

EX-10.20 22 dex1020.htm FORM OF SEVERANCE AGREEMENT Form of Severance Agreement

Exhibit 10.20

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of February 13, 2008, is made by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [        ] (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole shareholder of the Company (“Holdings” or “Parent”), and Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Goodman”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which it is intended that Company will merge with and into Goodman (the “Merger”), whereby the Company will cease to exist and Goodman will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the contracts and obligations of the Company shall become the contracts and obligations of Goodman;

WHEREAS, Executive and Goodman entered into a severance agreement, originally dated as of [        ], and as subsequently amended on February 6, 2006 (the “Severance Agreement”), which generally sets forth Executive’s severance rights and related obligations in the event Executive’s employment with Goodman is terminated under certain circumstances;

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as [        ];

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company desires to secure for itself and its successors and assigns, which shall, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, include Goodman, the continuing services of Executive, and Executive desires to provide such continuing services, in each case, pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. Effectiveness; Prior Agreements; Term of Employment.

(a) Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the operative provisions of this Agreement shall only become effective upon the occurrence of the closing of the Merger (the date of such closing being hereinafter referred to as the “Commencement Date” or the “Closing”). In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated without the Closing having occurred, this Agreement shall be terminated without further obligation or liability of either party hereto. Effective as of the Closing, the Company will merge into Goodman and Goodman will assume all obligations of the Company, including all obligations of the Company under this Agreement and therefore all references to the “Company” hereunder shall mean Goodman, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(b) Prior Agreements. Effective as of the Commencement Date, this Agreement shall supercede all prior agreements between Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment and severance rights with the


Company and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Severance Agreement (together with all other prior agreements and understandings, the “Prior Agreements”). Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, it is expressly agreed that from and after the Commencement Date, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligations or rights under, and Executive shall have no further obligations or rights under, any Prior Agreement, including, without limitation, any severance, termination or change of control related benefits; except that (i) all prior grants or assignments by Executive to the Company of any rights (including, without limitation, any rights under any license) to any intellectual property, authorship, inventions, materials, documents or other work product under any Prior Agreement shall continue in full force in effect prior to, from and after the Commencement Date, and (ii) Executive’s rights to indemnification, exculpation and the advancement of expenses under the current indemnification agreement between the Company and Executive shall continue in full force with respect to claims arising from Executive’s pre-Commencement Date services with the Company and such rights shall continue for the longer of (x) the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such claim, or (y) the six-year period commencing on the Commencement Date; provided, that, rights to indemnification with respect of any claim pending or asserted or any claim made within such period shall continue until the resolution of such claim.

(c) Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, Executive shall be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the fourth anniversary thereof (such period, the “Term”) and on the terms and conditions set forth herein; provided, however, that commencing on the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date and on each anniversary thereafter (each an “Extension Date”), the Term shall be automatically extended for an additional one-year period, unless either the Company or Executive provides the other party hereto 90 days prior written notice before the next Extension Date that the Term shall not be so extended; provided, further, that any such notice of non-renewal shall be given in accordance with Section 10(g) of this Agreement.

2. Position and Duties.

(a) Position. During the Term, Executive shall serve as [        ], of the Company and of Holdings. In such position, Executive shall have such duties and authority as shall be determined from time to time by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) or its Board of Directors (the “Board”) and such duties and authorities shall be commensurate with Executive’s position.

(b) Duties. During the Term, Executive shall devote Executive’s full business time and attention to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board; provided that, nothing herein shall preclude Executive from (i) continuing to serve on any board of directors or trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization, (ii) being involved in charitable activities, or (iii) managing his personal and family passive investments; provided further that, in each case, and in the aggregate, such activities shall not materially conflict or materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or conflict with Section 6 hereof.


3. Salary and Annual Bonus.

(a) Base Salary. During the Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $[•], payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payment practices. Executive shall be entitled to such increases in Executive’s base salary, if any, as may be determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Board upon its annual review of Executive’s compensation and Executive’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Base Salary. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the Board may reduce the Base Salary only if such reduction is part of a general cost reduction and is consistent with reductions generally made to other executives of the Company.

(b) Annual Bonus. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus award (the “Annual Bonus”) in respect of each full fiscal year of the Company for which he was employed, in a target amount equal to [•]% of Executive’s Base Salary (the “Target Bonus”) and a maximum bonus opportunity of [•]% of the Target Bonus, based upon the achievement of the performance goals established by the Board within the first three months of each fiscal year during the Term. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive’s Annual Bonus shall be calculated in accordance with the table attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Annual Bonus Table”), whereby the amount of the Annual Bonus that shall become payable for any fiscal year shall be the amount equal to the “Percentage of Base Salary” that corresponds with the highest “Level of Achievement” attained by the Company for such year (which, as set forth on Schedule A, shall be tied to the Company’s “EBITDA”). For these purposes, the Company’s “EBITDA” for any applicable fiscal year shall mean the “Consolidated EBITDA,” as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., the Company, the lending institutions party thereto, Barclays Capital (“Barclays”) and General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”), as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners, and GECC as the administrative agent, as may be amended, modified, extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced form time to time. The Company’s “Target” EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 shall be set forth on Schedule A attached hereto. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid to Executive prior to the expiration of the period ending two and one-half months after the end of the applicable fiscal year.

4. Equity Participation. Executive’s equity participation in Parent, the Company and any of their subsidiaries or affiliates shall be documented pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), award agreements issued under the Equity Plan or otherwise (including any option or option rollover agreements), the Management Stockholders Agreement of Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Management Stockholders Agreement”), and any contribution or subscription agreements relating to the equity of Parent or the Company, each as executed, if applicable, by the Company, Executive, the other “Initial Management Investors” (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) and Parent (collectively, the “Equity Documents”). The Company and Executive each acknowledges that the terms and conditions of the aforementioned Equity Documents govern Executive’s acquisition, holding, sale or other disposition of Executive’s equity in the Parent, the Company or any of their affiliates, and all of Executive’s rights with respect thereto.


5. Termination of Employment. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason; provided that Executive will be required to give the Company at least 60 days advance written notice of any termination initiated by Executive. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5 shall exclusively govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation in Parent, the Company and their affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(a) For Cause by the Company or For Any Reason Other than Good Reason by Executive. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) or by Executive without Good Reason (as defined in Section 5(c) below).

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive can be terminated by the Company for “Cause” due to:

(A) Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform his duties (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s physical or mental incapacity);

(B) Executive’s willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect, any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board, not inconsistent with the terms of the agreement;

(C) Executive’s commission at any time of any act or omission that results in, or that may reasonably be expected to result in, a conviction, plea of no contest or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

(D) Executive’s unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the Company’s premises or while performing the executive’s duties and responsibilities under the agreement; or

(E) Executive’s commission at any time of any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, material misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or any of its affiliates (or any of their respective predecessors or successors), which shall not include any good faith disputes regarding immaterial amounts that relate to Executive’s expense account, reimbursement claims or other de minimis matters.

(ii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if Executive resigns without Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;

(B) any Annual Bonus earned, but unpaid, as of the date of termination for the immediately preceding fiscal year, paid in accordance with Section 3 (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company or any of its affiliates);


(C) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses that have been properly incurred by Executive prior to the date of Executive’s termination and that are or have been submitted in accordance with the applicable Company policy;

(D) such Employee Benefits, if any, as to which Executive may be entitled under the employee benefit plans of the Company, which shall include payment for any unused vacation in accordance with the Company’s policy then in effect or as otherwise required by applicable law (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (D) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

(iii) Following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 5(a)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(b) Disability or Death. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death and may be terminated by the Company as a result of Executive’s “Disability.”

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental illness, injury or condition that prevents Executive from performing any or all of the essential functions of Executive’s job duties for at least 90 consecutive calendar days, or for at least 120 calendar days, whether or not consecutive, in any 365 calendar day period, as determined by a licensed physician reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Executive. The Board’s good faith determination that Executive has a Disability will be final and binding for purposes of determining the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

(ii) If Executive’s employment is terminated on account of Executive’s death or Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights.

(iii) Following termination of Executive’s employment due to death or Disability, and except as set forth in Section 5(b)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(c) Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason.

(i) The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive’s resignation for Good Reason.


(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be able to terminate his employment for “Good Reason” following the occurrence of any of the following:

(A) a failure of the Company to continue Executive in his current position or other substantially similar or more senior position;

(B) a material diminution in the nature or scope of Executive’s responsibilities, duties or authority;

(C) a failure of the Company to make any material payment or provide any material benefit under the Agreement;

(D) a material breach by the Company of the Agreement or any option agreement between Executive and the Company; or

(E) the Company relocates Executive’s primary place of employment to a place outside of the 75-mile radius of Executive’s current primary place of employment (it being understood that neither a temporary work assignment nor travel on the Company’s business shall constitute such a relocation);

provided that the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) shall only constitute Good Reason if the Company fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from Executive of written notice of such occurrence; provided, further, that Good Reason shall cease to exist following the later of 30 days following its occurrence or Executive’s knowledge thereof, unless Executive has given the Company written notice thereof prior to such date.

(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or if Executive resigns for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company:

(A) the Accrued Rights; and

(B) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the provisions of Sections 6 and 7, and upon execution of the “Release” within 60 days after receipt, which shall be delivered to Executive within 10 days following the termination of Executive’s employment and which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B:

(1) equal, or substantially equal, payments totaling, in the aggregate, 100% of the sum of the Base Salary and the Target Bonus, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices over the twenty-four month period commencing on the date of termination, provided that the first payment shall be made on the seventy-fifth day following the termination of Executive’s employment and shall include any amounts that would have otherwise been due prior to such seventy-fifth day; and


(2) a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination, which shall be based on year to date financial performance of the Company and which will be payable when such Annual Bonus would have otherwise been paid pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement had Executive’s employment not terminated.

(iv) Following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of Executive’s death or Disability) or by Executive for Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 5(c)(iii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(d) Election to Not Extend Term.

(i) In the event either party elects not to extend the Term pursuant to Section 1(c) of this Agreement (and unless Executive’s employment is earlier terminated pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this Section 5), Executive’s termination of employment hereunder (whether or not Executive continues as an employee of the Company thereafter) shall be deemed to occur on the close of business on the day immediately preceding the next scheduled Extension Date and Executive shall only be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights determined as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment.

(ii) Following termination of Executive’s employment by either party’s election to not extend the Term, and except as set forth in Section 5(d)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executive’s rights with respect to Executive’s equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.

(iii) Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, continuation of Executive’s employment with the Company beyond the expiration of the Term shall be deemed an employment at-will and shall not be deemed to extend any of the provisions of this Agreement and Executive’s employment may thereafter be terminated at any time by either Executive or the Company; provided that the provisions of Sections 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement or Executive’s termination of employment, whether occurring before or after the expiration of the Term.

(e) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10(g) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.


6. Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Non-Hire. Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) During the Term and, for the twenty-four (24) month period following the date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company (the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company, the business of any client or prospective client:

(i) with whom Executive had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment;

(ii) with whom Executive had knowledge of any of the Company’s plans with respect to such client or prospective client;

(iii) with whom employees reporting to Executive have had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment; or

(iv) for whom Executive had direct or indirect responsibility during the one-year immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment.

(b) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(i) engage in any business that competes with the business of the Company or its affiliates (including, without limitation, businesses which the Company or its affiliates have specific plans to conduct in the future and as to which Executive is aware of such planning) in any geographical area that is within 100 miles of any geographical area where the Company or its affiliates manufactures, produces, sells, leases, rents, licenses or otherwise provides its products or services (a “Competitive Business”);

(ii) enter the employ of, or render any services to, any Person (or any division or controlled or controlling affiliate of any Person) who or which engages in a Competitive Business;

(iii) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competitive Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(iv) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the Company or any of its affiliates and customers, clients, distributors, suppliers, partners, members or investors of the Company or its affiliates.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executive may, directly or indirectly own, solely as an investment, securities of any Person engaged in a


Competitive Business, which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive (i) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and (ii) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person.

(c) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company or its affiliates to leave the employment of the Company or its affiliates; or

(ii) hire any employee who was a direct report of Executive or any other senior executive of the Company and was employed by the Company or its affiliates as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or who left the employment of the Company or its affiliates coincident with, or within one year prior to or after, the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

(d) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage to cease to work with the Company or its affiliates any independent contractor, consultant or partner then under contract with the Company or its affiliates.

(e) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 6 to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if Executive violates any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 6 or Section 7 of this Agreement and such violation is curable without residual damages to the Company, such violation shall not be deemed a breach if Executive cures such violation within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Company.

(g) Executive acknowledges that the promises and restrictive covenants that Executive is providing under this Section 6 are reasonable and necessary to the protection of the business to be acquired by the Initial H&F Investors (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Executive acknowledges that Executive will sell or has sold equity interests in the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that the goodwill of the Company was a material consideration in the Initial Investors’ decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Executive further acknowledges that if Executive were to engage in the restricted activities described in this Section 6 during the Restricted Period, such competition could materially and adversely affect the value of the business acquired by the Initial Investors in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Executive and the Company agree that each of the Initial Investors are express third party beneficiaries of the provisions set forth in this Section 6.


7. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliates) (x) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person (other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates); or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company (other than its professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals — concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliates and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to the Company on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Board.

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (a) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant or any breach of other confidentiality obligations by third parties; (b) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation; or (c) required by law to be disclosed; provided that Executive shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s immediate family and legal or financial advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement provided they agree to maintain the confidentiality of such terms.

(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (x) cease and not thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates; (y) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in


Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information or otherwise relate to the business of the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information; and (z) notify and fully cooperate with the Company regarding the delivery or destruction of any other Confidential Information of which Executive is or becomes aware.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, prior to or during Executive’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“Prior Works”), Executive hereby grants, to the extent not previously granted, the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all prior licenses granted by Executive to the Company with respect to any Works or Prior Works shall continue in full force and effect following the Closing.

(ii) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any Works, either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and/or with the use of any the Company resources (“Company Works”), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose same to the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all rights and intellectual property rights therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company.

(iii) Executive agrees to keep and maintain adequate and current written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other form or media requested by the Company) of all Company Works. The records will be available to and remain the sole property and intellectual property of the Company at all times.

(iv) Executive shall take all requested actions and execute all requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the Company’s expense (but without further remuneration) to assist the Company in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company’s rights in the Prior Works and Company Works. If the Company is unable for any other reason to secure Executive’s signature on any document for this purpose, then Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing.


(v) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company, including, without limitation, policies and guidelines regarding the protection of confidential information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest. Executive acknowledges that the Company may amend any such policies and guidelines from time to time, and that Executive remains at all times bound by their most current version.

(vi) The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

8. Specific Performance. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 6 or Section 7 would be inadequate and the Company would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

9. 280G Cutback.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines in good faith that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise (all such payments and benefits, including, without limitation, salary and bonus payments, being hereinafter called the “Total Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), by reason of being considered “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, then such Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Total Payments will be less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code), unless the amount of such reduction would equal or exceed 110% of the excise taxes that would be imposed by Section 4999 of the Code on such payments and benefits. The reduction of the Total Payments shall apply as follows, unless otherwise agreed and such agreement is in compliance with Section 409A of the Code: (i) first, any cash severance payments due under the Agreement shall be reduced, with the last such payment due first forfeited and reduced, and sequentially thereafter working from the next last payment, and (ii) second, any acceleration of vesting of any equity shall be deferred with the tranche that would vest last (without any such acceleration) first deferred.


10. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

(b) Entire Agreement/Amendments. Subject to the occurrence of the Closing, this Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company, and this Agreement shall supersede all prior agreements (including verbal agreements) between Executive and the Company and any of its affiliates with respect to any matters discussed herein, including, without limitation, the Severance Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EXECUTIVE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVES RIGHTS UNDER ANY PRIOR AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT) SHALL TERMINATE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER.

(c) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

(d) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

(e) Assignment. This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement shall be deemed an agreement of the Company immediately upon the occurrence of the Closing and that this Agreement may be assigned by the Company to a person or entity which is an affiliate or a successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of the Company. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such affiliate or successor person or entity.

(f) Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees.

(g) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective


addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

If to the Company:

c/o Hellman & Friedman LLC

One Maritime Plaza, 12th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: (415) 788-5111

Facsimile: (415) 788-1076

Attention: Philip Hammarskjold and Erik Ragatz

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

Telephone: (650) 251-5000

Facsimile: (650) 252-5002

Attention: Richard Capelouto and Brian Robbins

If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

(h) Executive Representation. Executive hereby represents to the Company and the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound.

(i) Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder. This provision shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

(j) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.


(l) Compliance with IRC Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Executive) until the date that is six months following Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code) and (ii) if any other payments of money or other benefits due to Executive hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment or other benefits shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Board, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. In the event that payments under this Agreement are deferred pursuant to this Section 10(l) in order to prevent any accelerated tax or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then such payments shall be paid at the time specified under this Section 10(l) without any interest thereon. The Company shall consult with Executive in good faith regarding the implementation of this Section 10(l); provided that neither the Company nor any of its employees or representatives shall have any liability to Executive with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “resignation,” “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.

(m) Set Off. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall be subject to set-off, counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to the Company or any of its affiliates except to the extent any such set-off, counterclaim or recoupment would violate, or result in the imposition of tax under, Section 409A of the Code, in which case such right shall be null and void.

(n) No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise and the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of subsequent employment of Executive following the termination of his employment hereunder.

(o) Resignation as Member of Board. If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, Executive hereby agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination and to the extent applicable, as a member of the Board (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or managers (and any committees thereof) of any of the Company’s affiliates.

(p) Arbitration. Any controversy, dispute, or claim arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to, the interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement, other than


injunctive relief under Section 8 hereof, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration conducted in Wilmington, Delaware, by and in accordance with the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “Rules”). Each of the parties hereto agrees that such arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator selected in accordance with the Rules; provided that such arbitrator must be experienced in deciding cases concerning the matter which is the subject of the dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees to treat as confidential the results of any arbitration (including, without limitation, any findings of fact and/or law made by the arbitrator) and not to disclose such results to any unauthorized person. The parties intend that this agreement to arbitrate be valid, enforceable and irrevocable. With respect to any arbitration hereunder, each party shall pay its own legal fees and expenses; provided that the parties agree to share the cost of the arbitrator’s fees in any event.

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.

 

By: Erik D. Ragatz
Its: Vice President
EXECUTIVE

 

By:
EX-10.21 23 dex1021.htm FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT Form of Indemnification Agreement

Exhibit 10.21

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is effective as of February 13, 2008 by and between GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation, as successor by merger to Chill Acquisition, Inc. (the “Company”), and [            ] (“Indemnitee”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and its related entities;

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director and/or an officer of the Company;

WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of, and the advancement of expenses to, Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law;

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Charter”) provides for the indemnification of the Company’s officers, directors, agents, and employees to the maximum extent authorized by law;

WHEREAS, the Charter and Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), by their non-exclusive nature, permit contracts between the Company and the members of its Board of Directors, its officers and its employees;

WHEREAS, the Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) provide certain indemnification rights to the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Company, and its officers and directors have relied on this assurance of indemnification, as provided by the DGCL;

WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the continued difficulty in obtaining and maintaining liability insurance for the Company’s directors, officers, employees, agents and fiduciaries, the significant increases in the cost of such insurance and the general reductions in the coverage of such insurance;

WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers, employees, agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks at the same time as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely limited;

WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee’s continued service to the Company in an effective manner, the continuing difficulty in obtaining and maintaining liability insurance coverage, and Indemnitee’s reliance on assurance of indemnification, the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the Charter, the Bylaws and the DGCL (whether partial or complete) and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies; and


WHEREAS, in view of the considerations set forth above and Indemnitee’s continuing to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, the Company desires that Indemnitee shall be indemnified and advanced expenses by the Company as set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth below.

1. Certain Definitions.

(a) “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(b) “Change of Control” shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holding, Inc., the Company, the lending institutions party thereto, Barclays Capital (“Barclays”) and General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”), as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners, and GECC as the administrative agent, as such Credit Agreement may be amended, modified, extended, refinanced, renewed, or replaced from time to time.

(c) “Claim” shall mean, with respect to a Covered Event, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil (including intentional and unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative, investigative or other.

(d) “Covered Event” shall mean any event or occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company or parent entity as a director, officer, employee, consultant, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while serving in such capacity.

(e) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.

(f) “Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees and all other reasonable costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to participate in, any action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), actually paid or incurred, of any Claim, all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection therewith or in respect thereof, and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement.

 

2


(g) “Expense Advance” shall mean, pursuant to Section 3, a payment to Indemnitee of Expenses in advance of the settlement or final judgment of a Claim.

(h) “Independent Legal Counsel” shall mean a law firm, a member of a law firm or an independent practitioner that is experienced in matters of corporate law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this agreement.

(i) References to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries, but, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any capacity as a participant or beneficiary thereunder.

(j) “Reviewing Party” shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d), any person or body appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law to review the Company’s obligations hereunder and under applicable law, which may include a member or members of the Board of Directors, Independent Legal Counsel or any other person or body not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.

(k) “Section” refers to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

2. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of Expenses. Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, any Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) a Covered Event, including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.

(b) Review of Indemnification Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 2(d) is involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law, any determination made by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee is not entitled to be

 

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indemnified hereunder under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee’s obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expenses shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.

(c) Indemnitee Rights on Unfavorable Determination, Binding Effect. If any Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by such Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 17, the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Absent such litigation, any determination by any Reviewing Party shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.

(d) Selection of Reviewing Party; Change of Control. If requested by Indemnitee, Independent Legal Counsel shall be the Reviewing Party with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnification of Expenses under this Agreement or any other agreement or under the Charter or the Bylaws, as now or hereafter in effect, or under any other applicable law. If no such request is made by Indemnitee, any Reviewing Party shall be selected by (i) the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or (ii) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Legal Counsel in writing to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee. In the event the Reviewing Party shall be Independent Legal Counsel at the request of the Indemnitee, the Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors unless a Change of Control shall have occurred prior to the date of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is claimed, in which case the Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors. Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law and the Company agrees to abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to pay Expenses of more than one Independent Legal Counsel in connection with all matters concerning a single Indemnitee.

(e) Mandatory Payment of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement other than Section 10, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any Claim, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith.

 

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(f) Additional Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement other than Section 10 and Section 15, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses and, if requested by the Indemnitee, advance payment of such Expenses, which are incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by the Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other agreement of the Company now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Covered Events or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether the Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

3. Expense Advances.

(a) Obligation to Make Expense Advances. Upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified therefor by the Company, the Company shall make Expense Advances to Indemnitee.

(b) Form of Undertaking. Any written undertaking by the Indemnitee to repay any Expense Advances hereunder shall be unsecured, shall not require any guarantee from any other Person and no interest shall be charged thereon.

4. Procedures for Indemnification and Expense Advances.

(a) Timing of Payment. All payments of Expenses (including, without limitation, Expense Advances) by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as practicable after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to the Company, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, except in the case of Expense Advances, including the advance payment of Expenses under Section 2(f), which shall be made no later than five (5) business days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company.

(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall promptly give the Company notice in writing of any Claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the General Counsel of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee); provided, however, that the failure to promptly give the Company notice in writing shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Agreement, except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure. In addition, Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company and shall give the Company such information as it may reasonably require.

(c) Determination of Reasonable Expense Advances. The parties agree that for the purposes of any Expense Advance for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such Expense Advance that are represented by Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.

 

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(d) No Presumptions, Burden of Proof.

(1) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the Reviewing Party shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 2(a), and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(2) For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or applicable law.

(e) Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 4(b), the Company has liability insurance in effect which would reasonably be expected to cover such Claim, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or reasonably desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(f) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated hereunder to provide indemnification for or make any Expense Advances with respect to the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of the Company’s election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees or expenses of separate counsel subsequently employed by or on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s separate counsel in any such Claim at Indemnitee’s expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or (C) the Company shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s separate counsel shall be Expenses for which Indemnitee may receive indemnification or Expense Advances hereunder.

 

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(g) Settlement by Company. The Company shall be permitted to settle any action, except that it shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which may impose any penalty (unless the only penalty imposed is a monetary amount that will be paid in full by the Company (or its insurers)) or limitation or constitute any admission of wrongdoing or which may compromise, or may adversely effect, the defense of the Indemnitee in any other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, without Indemnitee’s prior written consent. Indemnitee will not unreasonably withhold or delay his consent to any proposed settlement.

5. Additional Indemnification Rights, Nonexclusivity.

(a) Scope. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification may not be specifically authorized by the Charter, the Bylaws, or by statute as of the date hereof. In the event of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties’ rights and obligations hereunder except as set forth in Section 10(a).

(b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Charter, the Bylaws, any subsequent agreement, any vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise. The indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though subsequent thereto Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity.

6. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, provision of the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable hereunder.

7. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.

8. Mutual Acknowledgment. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for, a determination of the Company’s right, under public policy, to indemnify Indemnitee.

 

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9. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director or officer.

10. Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:

(a) Excluded Action or Omissions. To indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses resulting from acts, omissions or transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification under this Agreement or applicable law; provided, however, that notwithstanding any limitation set forth in this Section 10(a) regarding the Company’s obligation to provide indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive Expense Advances hereunder with respect to any such Claim unless and until a court having jurisdiction over the Claim shall have made a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee has engaged in acts, omissions or transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification under this Agreement or applicable law.

(b) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or make Expense Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, counterclaim or crossclaim, except (i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Charter or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Covered Events, (ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or (iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(c) Bad Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any action instituted (i) by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such action determines as provided in Section 15 that such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous, or (ii) by or in the name of the Company to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such action determines as provided in Section 15 that the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action were made in bad faith or were frivolous.

(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or any similar successor statute; provided, however, that notwithstanding any limitation set forth in this Section 10(d) regarding the Company’s obligation to provide indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive Expense Advances hereunder with respect to any such Claim unless and until a court having jurisdiction over the Claim shall have made a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee has violated said statute.

 

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(e) Illegal Remuneration. To indemnify Indemnitee in respect to remuneration paid to Indemnitee if it shall be determined by final judgment or final adjudication that such remuneration was in violation of law.

(f) Unauthorized Settlement. To indemnify Indemnitee for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim without Company’s written consent. The Company will not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to any proposed settlement.

11. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable by reason of a Court decision based on grounds other than any of those set forth in paragraphs (a) through (f) of Section 10, then in respect of any Claim in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Claim), the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Claim in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, as a result of the events(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Claim, and (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) on the one hand and Indemnitee on the other hand in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s). The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of Indemnitee on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such Expenses. The Company agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the foregoing equitable considerations.

12. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter for the statute of limitations with respect to any possible Claim (including any rights of appeal thereto) by reason of a Covered Event, whether or not he is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred by reason of a Covered Event for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.

13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.

14. Binding Effect, Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor

 

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(whether direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform, as if such successor were the Company. This Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to Covered Events regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable) of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company’s request.

15. Expenses Incurred in Action Relating to Enforcement or Interpretation. In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action (including without limitation attorneys’ fees), regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, except to the extent that a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action, subject to the undertaking provided for in Section 3(a). In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified for all expenses incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including without limitation costs and expenses incurred with respect to Indemnitee’s counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), except to the extent that a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that the defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action were made in bad faith or were frivolous; provided, however, that until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action, subject to the undertaking provided for in Section 3(a).

16. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such delivery, (ii) the day after being sent, if sent by a reputable overnight receipted courier service, or (iii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice.

17. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.

18. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or

 

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sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, which is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

19. Choice of Law. This Agreement, and all rights, remedies, liabilities, powers and duties of the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would result in the application of the law of a different jurisdiction.

20. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

21. Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

22. Integration and Entire Agreement. Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.

23. Injunctive Relief. The parties hereto agree that each party hereto may enforce this Agreement by seeking specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing irreparable harm or posting a bond, which requirements are hereby waived, and that by seeking specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he or she may be entitled.

24. No Construction as Employment Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CHILL ACQUISITION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Erik D. Ragatz
Title:   Vice President
Address:

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED INDEMNITEE:
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Address:

[Signature Page to Indemnity Agreement]

EX-10.22 24 dex1022.htm FORM OF TIME-VESTED OPTION AGREEMENT Form of Time-Vested Option Agreement

Exhibit 10.22

Time-Vested Option Agreement

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (“Plan”), hereby grants to the “Optionholder” identified below a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Shares”) set forth below. This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein and in the Option Agreement, the Plan and the Management Stockholders Agreement, all of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety. Any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Optionholder:

Date of Grant:

Vesting Commencement Date: [            ], 2008

Number of Shares Subject to Option:

Exercise Price (Per Share): $

Total Exercise Price: $

Expiration Date:

 

Exercise Schedule:         Same as Vesting Schedule.
Vesting Schedule:   

25% of the Shares vest on the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date and a further 25% shall vest on each of the next three (3) anniversaries thereafter; further, in the event of the consummation of a Change in Control, the Option shall, to the extent not then vested and not previously cancelled or terminated, subject to Optionholder’s Continuous Service through such Change in Control, accelerate and immediately become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the effective date of a Change in Control.

Payment:    ¨        By cash or check (unless otherwise permitted by the Committee)

Additional Terms/Acknowledgements: The undersigned Optionholder acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the Plan. Optionholder further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the Company regarding the acquisition of Shares and supersede all prior oral and written agreements on that subject with the exception of (i) options previously granted and delivered to Optionholder under the Plan, and (ii) the agreements, if any, listed below:

 

  Other Agreements:  

 

 

 

Chill Holdings, Inc.     OPTIONHOLDER
By:  

 

   

 

  Signature     Signature
Title:  

 

    Date:  

 

Date:  

 

     

Attachments: Option Agreement, 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and Management Stockholders Agreement


CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

OPTION AGREEMENT

(TIME-BASED STOCK OPTION)

Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement, Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you a stock option under the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. Capitalized terms not defined in this Option Agreement but defined in the Plan shall have the same definitions as in the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice are a part of the Option Agreement, unless otherwise specified.

The details and terms and conditions of this Option Agreement shall govern your Nonstatutory Stock Option:

1. Vesting. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your Option will vest as set forth in your Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service. For the purposes of this Option Agreement, in the event of an involuntary termination of Continuous Service, the termination shall be effective, and vesting shall cease, as of the date stated in the relevant notice of termination and, unless otherwise required by law, will not be extended by any notice period or other period of leave. Subject to Applicable Law, the Company shall determine the date of termination in its sole discretion.

2. Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your Option and your exercise price per share referenced in your Grant Notice may be adjusted from time to time for various adjustments in the Company’s equity capital structure, as provided in the Plan.

3. Method of Payment.

(a) Payment of the exercise price is due in full upon exercise of all or any part of your Option. You may elect to make payment of the exercise price in cash or by check. Alternatively, in the Committee’s sole discretion at the time your Option is exercised and provided that at the time of exercise there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock, your exercise may be implemented pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds. Notwithstanding the terms of the previous sentence, you may not be permitted to exercise your Option pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board if such exercise would violate the provisions of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other Applicable Law.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit you to make payment of the exercise price and/or taxes relating to such exercise, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the aggregate exercise price or taxes, or such portion thereof, as applicable; provided, however, that you must satisfy all such requirements as may be imposed by the Committee, including without limitation


that you have held such shares for such period as may be established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid a supplemental charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes, if any, and that any withholding for tax purposes does not exceed the statutory minimum rate of withholding.

(c) Where you are permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option and/or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering shares of Common Stock, you may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof that you are the Beneficial Owner of such shares of Common Stock, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised and/or the taxes paid, as applicable, without further payment and shall withhold such number of shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit you to make payment of the exercise price in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion, including an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis. Additionally, you shall have the right to exercise your Option by way of a “cashless” or “net” exercise basis pursuant to which Company shall retain that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the aggregate exercise price of the Option and/or withholding or taxes associated with such exercise, or such portion thereof, as applicable; provided that such “cashless” or “net” exercise: (i) does not result in adverse accounting treatment to the Company, (ii) in respect of any withholding for tax purposes, does not exceed the statutory minimum rate of withholding, and (iii) is not prohibited by the terms of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ financing arrangements as in effect from time to time.

4. Whole Shares. You may exercise your Option only for whole shares of Common Stock.

5. Compliance.

(a) Securities Law Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your Option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if such shares of Common Stock are not then so registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your Option must also comply with other Applicable Law governing your Option, and you may not exercise your Option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in compliance with Applicable Law.

(b) Plan Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your Option if the terms of the Plan do not permit the exercise of Options, or if the Company exercises its rights under the Plan to suspend, delay or restrict the exercise of Options.

6. Term. You may not exercise your Option before the commencement of its term on the Date of Grant or after its term expires. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, you may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the Option at any time prior to the earliest to occur of:

(a) the date on which your Continuous Service is terminated for Cause;

 

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(b) ninety (90) days after your Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability;

(c) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your Disability;

(d) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your death; or

(e) the Expiration Date indicated in the Grant Notice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of your Option is prevented within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6(b) as a result of the operation of Section 5 above or Section 13 of the Plan, your Option shall not expire before the date that is forty-five (45) days after the date that you are notified by the Company that the Option is again exercisable, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice.

7. Exercise Procedures.

(a) Subject to Section 5 above and other relevant terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, you may exercise the vested portion of your Option during its term by delivering a notice of exercise (in a form designated by the Company) together with the exercise price to the Chief Financial Officer, or to such other person as the Company may designate, during regular business hours, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.

(b) By exercising your Option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your Option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company (including any Affiliate) arising by reason of (1) the exercise of your Option, or (2) other applicable events that trigger or may trigger the imposition of income, employment or other taxes.

(c) By exercising your Option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your Option, you and your spouse, if requested by the Company, contemporaneously with the exercise of your Option and prior to the issuance of any certificate representing the Shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of your Option, shall execute any agreements by and among the Company and the Company’s stockholders (including the Management Stockholders Agreement) which shall then be applicable to the shares of Common Stock to be issued to you, including any and all amendments to such agreements in effect at the time of such exercise, and agree to comply with any and all restrictions which then apply to holders of Common Stock (or the securities which at that time are to be issued upon the exercise of your Option).

(d) As a condition of any exercise of your Option, you and your spouse, if any, agree that prior to the effectiveness of the first underwritten registration of the Company or its Affiliate’s equity securities under the Securities Act, you shall not transfer any or all of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of your Option unless permitted to do so under the terms of the Plan and/or the Management Stockholders Agreement.

 

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8. Documents Governing Issued Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock that you acquire upon exercise of your Option are subject to the terms of the Plan, the Company’s bylaws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, any agreement relating to such shares of Common Stock to which you become a party, or any other similar document. You should ensure that you understand your rights and obligations as a stockholder of the Company prior to the time that you exercise your Option.

9. Limitations on Transfer of Options. Your Option is not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your life only by you. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a third party who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise your Option.

10. Rights Upon Exercise. You will not have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option until you have given written notice of the exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

11. Option Not a Service Contract. Your Option is not an employment contract, and nothing in your Option shall be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or of the Company or any of its Affiliates to continue your employment. In addition, nothing in your Option shall obligate the Company or any of its Affiliates, their respective stockholders, Boards of Directors, officers or employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant or otherwise for the Company or any of its Affiliates.

12. Withholding Obligations and Notice Requirement.

(a) At the time you exercise your Option, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a “same day sale” program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company and Applicable Law, including, but not limited to, Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) any sums required to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which arise in connection with your Option.

(b) You may not exercise your Option unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied or appropriate arrangements (acceptable to the Company) are made therefor.

(c) You agree to promptly notify the Company of any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Options that results in a “disqualifying disposition” for purposes of Section 421 of the Code.

13. Notices. Any notices provided for in your Option or the Plan shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt, or in the case of notices

 

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delivered by mail to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail (or with another delivery service), certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company.

14. Signature in Counterparts. This Option Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

15. Option Subject to Plan Document and Management Stockholders Agreement. By entering into this Option Agreement, you agree and acknowledge that you have received and read a copy of the Plan and Management Stockholders Agreement. The Option is subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the Management Stockholders Agreement and such terms and provisions are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan or the Management Stockholders Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan or Management Stockholders Agreement, as applicable, will govern and prevail. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision of the Plan and any term or provision of the Management Stockholders Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Management Stockholders Agreement will govern and prevail.

16. Miscellaneous.

(a) You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of this Option including, without limitation, the Management Stockholders Agreement.

(b) You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your Option in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel and your personal tax advisor prior to executing and accepting your Option and fully understand all provisions of your Option.

(c) You acknowledge that the grant and terms of this Option are confidential and may not be disclosed by you to any other person, including other employees of the Company and its Affiliates and other participants in the Plan, without the express written consent of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may disclose the grant and terms of this Option to your family member, financial advisor, and attorney and as may be required by law or regulation.

(d) The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of the Option Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of the Option Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of the Option Agreement.

(e) This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their legal representatives, heirs, and permitted transferees, successors and assigns.

 

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(f) This Option Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provision or rule.

(g) This Option Agreement, including those documents and agreements explicitly referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral. This Option Agreement may not be amended, modified or revoked, in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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EX-10.23 25 dex1023.htm FORM OF PERFORMANCE-VESTED OPTION AGREEMENT Form of Performance-Vested Option Agreement

Exhibit 10.23

Performance-Vested Option Agreement

CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (“Plan”), hereby grants to the “Optionholder” identified below a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Shares”) set forth below. This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein and in the Option Agreement, the Plan and the Management Stockholders Agreement, all of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety. Any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Optionholder:

Date of Grant:

Vesting Commencement Date: [            ], 2008

Number of Shares Subject to Option:

Exercise Price (Per Share): $

Total Exercise Price: $

Expiration Date:

 

Exercise Schedule:         Same as Vesting Schedule.
Vesting Schedule:         As set forth in the Vesting Rules Exhibit attached hereto.
Payment:    ¨        By cash or check (unless otherwise permitted by the Committee)

Additional Terms/Acknowledgements: The undersigned Optionholder acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the Plan. Optionholder further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the Company regarding the acquisition of Shares and supersede all prior oral and written agreements on that subject with the exception of (i) options previously granted and delivered to Optionholder under the Plan, and (ii) the agreements, if any, listed below:

 

  Other Agreements:  

 

 

 

Chill Holdings, Inc.     OPTIONHOLDER
By:  

 

   

 

  Signature     Signature
Title:  

 

    Date:  

 

Date:  

 

     

Attachments: Option Agreement, 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and Management Stockholders Agreement

 

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VESTING RULES EXHIBIT

1. Definitions

(a) “EBITDA” shall mean the “Consolidated EBITDA,” as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of February 13, 2008 among Chill Acquisition, Inc., Goodman Global, Inc., and the several lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”).

(b) “GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement.

2. Performance Targets

The performance targets as set forth in Schedule A (the “EBITDA Targets”) will be adjusted by the Committee in good faith to reflect each acquisition or disposition by the Company or any of its Affiliates subsequent to the date of this Performance Option of any business, operation, entity (including the acquisition of only a portion of an entity whose results will be consolidated by Goodman Global, Inc. in accordance with GAAP), division of any entity or any assets outside the ordinary course of business. If the Company makes such an acquisition or disposition in a given year, the EBITDA Target for such year and subsequent years, if applicable, shall be proportionately adjusted, fairly and appropriately, and only to the extent deemed necessary by the Committee (after consultation with the Company’s accountants), in the exercise of its good faith judgment, in order to accurately reflect the direct and measurable effect such acquisition or disposition has or is reasonably expected to have on such EBITDA Target(s). In addition, to the extent applicable, EBITDA Target(s) will be adjusted by the Committee (after consultation with the Company’s accountants) in good faith to reflect any changes in GAAP promulgated by accounting standard setters in order to accurately reflect the effect of such changes on such EBITDA Target(s). The intent of such adjustments is to keep the probability of achieving the EBITDA Targets the same as if the event triggering such adjustment had not occurred. The Committee’s determination of such necessary adjustment(s) shall be made within 90 days following the completion or closing of such event, as applicable, and shall be based on the Company’s accounting as set forth in its books and records and on the Company’s financial plan pursuant to which the EBITDA Targets were originally established. Any such adjustment(s) made in good faith shall be final and binding on all persons.

3. Vesting Rules

Subject to the terms and conditions of the attached Option Agreement, the following rules shall apply to the vesting of the Performance Option:

(a) Subject to the Optionholder’s Continuous Service, an installment consisting of twenty percent (20%) of the shares covered by the Performance Option shall become vested on December 31 of each calendar year 2008 through 2012 if the EBITDA as of such December 31 equals or exceeds the applicable EBITDA Target for such year; provided that such installment shall not become vested until the EBITDA as of such December 31 has been determined.

 

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(b) If the EBITDA as of the end of any calendar year 2008 through 2012 is less than the applicable EBITDA Target with respect to such year (any such year, a “Missed Year”), that portion of the Performance Option that was subject to vesting pursuant to paragraph 3(a) with respect to the Missed Year (and which did not become vested with respect to such Missed Year) shall become vested on December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the Missed Year, if it is determined by the Committee that the EBITDA as of such immediately following December 31 equals or exceeds the applicable EBITDA Target for the calendar year immediately following the Missed Year.

(c) The Committee shall make the determination in good faith as to whether the respective EBITDA Targets have been met, and shall determine the extent, if any, to which the Option has become exercisable, on any such date after the applicable date of determination as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine; provided that the determination of EBITDA shall be made by the Committee after the independent auditors of the Company or its Affiliates have delivered their audit report with respect to such fiscal year to the Committee and will be based upon the financial information reflected in such audited financial statements. The Committee’s good faith determination as to whether the EBITDA Targets have been met shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Optionholder.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, but subject to paragraph 3(e) below, any portion of the Performance Option that has not theretofore become vested and exercisable shall, to the extent not previously cancelled or terminated, subject to the Optionholder’s Continuous Service through a Change in Control, become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the effective date of a Change in Control.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section 6(b) of the Option Agreement, no Performance Option which is unexerciseable at or following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service shall thereafter become exercisable.

 

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CHILL HOLDINGS, INC.

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

OPTION AGREEMENT

(PERFORMANCE-BASED STOCK OPTION)

Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement, Chill Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you a stock option under the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. Capitalized terms not defined in this Option Agreement but defined in the Plan shall have the same definitions as in the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice are a part of the Option Agreement, unless otherwise specified.

The details and terms and conditions of this Option Agreement shall govern your Nonstatutory Stock Option:

1. Vesting. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your Option will vest as set forth in your Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service. For the purposes of this Option Agreement, in the event of an involuntary termination of Continuous Service, the termination shall be effective, and vesting shall cease, as of the date stated in the relevant notice of termination and, unless otherwise required by law, will not be extended by any notice period or other period of leave. Subject to Applicable Law, the Company shall determine the date of termination in its sole discretion.

2. Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your Option and your exercise price per share referenced in your Grant Notice may be adjusted from time to time for various adjustments in the Company’s equity capital structure, as provided in the Plan.

3. Method of Payment.

(a) Payment of the exercise price is due in full upon exercise of all or any part of your Option. You may elect to make payment of the exercise price in cash or by check. Alternatively, in the Committee’s sole discretion at the time your Option is exercised and provided that at the time of exercise there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock, your exercise may be implemented pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds. Notwithstanding the terms of the previous sentence, you may not be permitted to exercise your Option pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board if such exercise would violate the provisions of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other Applicable Law.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit you to make payment of the exercise price and/or taxes relating to such exercise, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the aggregate

 

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exercise price or taxes, or such portion thereof, as applicable; provided, however, that you must satisfy all such requirements as may be imposed by the Committee, including without limitation that you have held such shares for such period as may be established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid a supplemental charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes, if any, and that any withholding for tax purposes does not exceed the statutory minimum rate of withholding.

(c) Where you are permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option and/or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering shares of Common Stock, you may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof that you are the Beneficial Owner of such shares of Common Stock, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised and/or the taxes paid, as applicable, without further payment and shall withhold such number of shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit you to make payment of the exercise price in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion, including an exercise effected on a “net exercise” basis. Additionally, you shall have the right to exercise your Option by way of a “cashless” or “net” exercise pursuant to which the Company shall retain that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the aggregate exercise price of the Option and/or withholding or taxes associated with such exercise, or such portion thereof, as applicable; provided that such “cashless” or “net” exercise: (i) does not result in adverse accounting treatment to the Company, (ii) in respect of any withholding for tax purposes, does not exceed the statutory minimum rate of withholding, and (iii) is not prohibited by the terms of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ financing arrangements as in effect from time to time.

4. Whole Shares. You may exercise your Option only for whole shares of Common Stock.

5. Compliance.

(a) Securities Law Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your Option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if such shares of Common Stock are not then so registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your Option must also comply with other Applicable Law governing your Option, and you may not exercise your Option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in compliance with Applicable Law.

(b) Plan Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your Option if the terms of the Plan do not permit the exercise of Options, or if the Company exercises its rights under the Plan to suspend, delay or restrict the exercise of Options.

 

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6. Term. You may not exercise your Option before the commencement of its term on the Date of Grant or after its term expires. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, you may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the Option at any time prior to the earliest to occur of:

(a) the date on which your Continuous Service is terminated for Cause;

(b) ninety (90) days after your Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability; provided, however, in the event that your Continuous Service terminates after December 31 of a given year but prior to the time that the Compensation Committee determines whether the EBITDA Target for the 20% installment of the Option which was due to vest during the preceding year (the “Final Tranche”) has been achieved, then you shall have an additional period of thirty (30) days during which you may exercise the Final Tranche (including, if applicable, any additional 20% installment for any Missed Year), which period shall commence on the date on which the Compensation Committee sends you written notice of its determination that the EBITDA Target for the applicable year has been satisfied;

(c) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your Disability;

(d) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your death; or

(e) the Expiration Date indicated in the Grant Notice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of your Option is prevented within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6(b) as a result of the operation of Section 5 above or Section 13 of the Plan, your Option shall not expire before the date that is forty-five (45) days after the date that you are notified by the Company that the Option is again exercisable, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice.

7. Exercise Procedures.

(a) Subject to Section 5 above and other relevant terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, you may exercise the vested portion of your Option during its term by delivering a notice of exercise (in a form designated by the Company) together with the exercise price to the Chief Financial Officer, or to such other person as the Company may designate, during regular business hours, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.

(b) By exercising your Option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your Option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company (including any Affiliate) arising by reason of (1) the exercise of your Option, or (2) other applicable events that trigger or may trigger the imposition of income, employment or other taxes.

 

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(c) By exercising your Option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your Option, you and your spouse, if requested by the Company, contemporaneously with the exercise of your Option and prior to the issuance of any certificate representing the Shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of your Option, shall execute any agreements by and among the Company and the Company’s stockholders (including the Management Stockholders Agreement) which shall then be applicable to the shares of Common Stock to be issued to you, including any and all amendments to such agreements in effect at the time of such exercise, and agree to comply with any and all restrictions which then apply to holders of Common Stock (or the securities which at that time are to be issued upon the exercise of your Option).

(d) As a condition of any exercise of your Option, you and your spouse, if any, agree that prior to the effectiveness of the first underwritten registration of the Company or its Affiliate’s equity securities under the Securities Act, you shall not transfer any or all of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of your Option unless permitted to do so under the terms of the Plan and/or the Management Stockholders Agreement.

8. Documents Governing Issued Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock that you acquire upon exercise of your Option are subject to the terms of the Plan, the Company’s bylaws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, any agreement relating to such shares of Common Stock to which you become a party, or any other similar document. You should ensure that you understand your rights and obligations as a stockholder of the Company prior to the time that you exercise your Option.

9. Limitations on Transfer of Options. Your Option is not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your life only by you. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a third party who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise your Option.

10. Rights Upon Exercise. You will not have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option until you have given written notice of the exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

11. Option Not a Service Contract. Your Option is not an employment contract, and nothing in your Option shall be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or of the Company or any of its Affiliates to continue your employment. In addition, nothing in your Option shall obligate the Company or any of its Affiliates, their respective stockholders, Boards of Directors, officers or employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant or otherwise for the Company or any of its Affiliates.

12. Withholding Obligations and Notice Requirement.

(a) At the time you exercise your Option, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a “same day sale” program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company and

 

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Applicable Law, including, but not limited to, Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) any sums required to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which arise in connection with your Option.

(b) You may not exercise your Option unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied or appropriate arrangements (acceptable to the Company) are made therefor.

(c) You agree to promptly notify the Company of any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Options that results in a “disqualifying disposition” for purposes of Section 421 of the Code.

13. Notices. Any notices provided for in your Option or the Plan shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt, or in the case of notices delivered by mail to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail (or with another delivery service), certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company.

14. Signature in Counterparts. This Option Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

15. Option Subject to Plan Document and Management Stockholders Agreement. By entering into this Option Agreement, you agree and acknowledge that you have received and read a copy of the Plan and Management Stockholders Agreement. The Option is subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the Management Stockholders Agreement and such terms and provisions are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan or the Management Stockholders Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan or Management Stockholders Agreement, as applicable, will govern and prevail. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision of the Plan and any term or provision of the Management Stockholders Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Management Stockholders Agreement will govern and prevail.

16. Miscellaneous.

(a) You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of this Option including, without limitation, the Management Stockholders Agreement.

(b) You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your Option in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel and your personal tax advisor prior to executing and accepting your Option and fully understand all provisions of your Option.

(c) You acknowledge that the grant and terms of this Option are confidential and may not be disclosed by you to any other person, including other employees of the Company and its Affiliates and other participants in the Plan, without the express written consent of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may disclose the grant and terms of this Option to your family member, financial advisor, and attorney and as may be required by law or regulation.

 

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(d) The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of the Option Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of the Option Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of the Option Agreement.

(e) This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their legal representatives, heirs, and permitted transferees, successors and assigns.

(f) This Option Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provision or rule.

(g) This Option Agreement, including those documents and agreements explicitly referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral. This Option Agreement may not be amended, modified or revoked, in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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EX-12.1 26 dex121.htm STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Exhibit 12.1

Goodman Global, Inc.

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2003    2004    2005     2006     2007  

Earnings:

            

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

   89,111    42,644    40,697     98,355     161,556  

Fixed charges

   28,186    15,058    78,450     83,531     74,024  

Capitalized Interest

   —      —      (879 )   (1,347 )   (385 )
                            

Total adjustments

   28,186    15,058    78,450     83,531     74,024  
                            

Earnings adjusted for fixed charges

   117,297    57,702    119,147     181,886     235,580  
                            

Fixed charges:

            

Interest expense

   26,081    12,478    74,213     77,825     68,378  

Capitalized Interest

         879     1,347     385  

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

   2,105    2,580    3,358     4,359     5,261  
                            

Total fixed charges

   28,186    15,058    78,450     83,531     74,024  
                            

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

   4.2    3.8    1.5     2.2     3.2  
                            
EX-21.1 27 dex211.htm SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Exhibit 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES

AsureCare Corp.

Goodman Appliance Holding Company

Goodman Canada, L.L.C.

Goodman Company Canada

Goodman Company, L.P.

Goodman Distribution, Inc.

Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.

Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.

Goodman Holding Company

Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.

Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.

Goodman Manufacturing I LLC

Goodman Manufacturing II LLC

Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.

Goodman Sales Company

Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.

Quietflex Holding Company

Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.

EX-23.2 28 dex232.htm CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated March 12, 2008 (except Note 12, as to which the date is April 10, 2008) in the Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-00000) and the related Prospectus of Goodman Global, Inc. for the registration of its Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Houston, Texas

April 14, 2008

EX-25.1 29 dex251.htm STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEE Statement of Eligibility of Trustee

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b) (2)

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

A National Banking Association   94-1347393

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

101 North Phillips Avenue  
Sioux Falls, South Dakota   57104
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Wells Fargo & Company

Law Department, Trust Section

MAC N9305-175

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, 17th Floor

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

(612) 667-4608

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Goodman Global, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   20-1932219

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

5151 San Felipe, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 861-2500

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area

Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT GUARANTORS

 

Exact Name of

Registrant Guarantor

as Specified

in its Charter

  

State or Other

Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or

Organization

   I.R.S.
Employer
Identification

Number
 

Primary Standard

Industrial Classification

Code Number

  

Address Including Zip Code
and Telephone Number
Including Area

Code of Registrant Guarantor’s

Principal Executive Offices

Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.    Delaware    20-1932202   [Goodman to confirm]    5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Appliance Holding Company    Texas    76-0677025      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Distribution, Inc.    Texas    76-0309878      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Distribution Southeast, Inc.    Florida    59-0773846      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Holding Company    Texas    76-0342022      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Quietflex Holding Company    Delaware    76-0681233      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Sales Company    Texas    76-0353690      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman II Holdings Company, L.L.C.    Delaware    [•]      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Manufacturing I LLC    Delaware    20-1961086      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Manufacturing II LLC    Delaware    20-1961186      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Holding Company, L.L.C.    Delaware    [•]      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Canada, L.L.C.    Delaware    [•]      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Nitek Acquisition Company, L.P.    Texas    76-0580801      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Quietflex Manufacturing Company, L.P.    Texas    76-0681290      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.    Texas    76-0423371      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500
Goodman Company, L.P.    Delaware    39-1904835      5151 San Felipe, Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 861-2500


Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a)

  Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.
  Comptroller of the Currency
  Treasury Department
  Washington, D.C.
  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
 

Washington, D.C.

 

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

 

San Francisco, California 94120

(b)

 

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None with respect to the trustee.

No responses are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.

 

Item 15. Foreign Trustee. Not applicable.

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

 

Exhibit 1.   A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee now in effect.*
Exhibit 2.   A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certificate of Corporate Existence and Fiduciary Powers for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated February 4, 2004.**
Exhibit 3.   See Exhibit 2
Exhibit 4.   Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.***
Exhibit 5.   Not applicable.
Exhibit 6.   The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
Exhibit 7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
Exhibit 8.   Not applicable.
Exhibit 9.   Not applicable.


 

* Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated December 30, 2005 of Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC file number 333-130784-06.
** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form T-3 dated March 3, 2004 of Trans-Lux Corporation file number 022-28721.
*** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated May 26, 2005 of Penn National Gaming Inc. file number 333-125274.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Dallas and State of Texas on the 13th day of March, 2008.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

LOGO

Patrick T. Giordano
Vice President


EXHIBIT 6

March 13, 2008

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Gentlemen:

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned made by Federal, State, Territorial, or District authorities authorized to make such examination may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request thereof.

 

Very truly yours,
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

LOGO

Patrick T. Giordano
Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

Wells Fargo Bank National Association

of 101 North Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

at the close of business December 31, 2007, filed in accordance with 12 U.S.C. §161 for National Banks.

 

         Dollar Amounts
In Millions

ASSETS

    

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

    

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     $ 14,641

Interest-bearing balances

       1,062

Securities:

    

Held-to-maturity securities

       0

Available-for-sale securities

       62,907

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

    

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

       19,757

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

       734

Loans and lease financing receivables:

    

Loans and leases held for sale

       16,660

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

  290,643   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

  3,625   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

       287,018

Trading Assets

       6,244

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

       4,282

Other real estate owned

       946

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

       458

Intangible assets

    

Goodwill

       9,730

Other intangible assets

       17,916

Other assets

       25,506
        

Total assets

     $ 467,861
        

LIABILITIES

    

Deposits:

    

In domestic offices

     $ 273,931

Noninterest-bearing

  71,910   

Interest-bearing

  202,021   

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

       69,787

Noninterest-bearing

  9   

Interest-bearing

  69,778   

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

    

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

       14,049

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

       7,248


     Dollar Amounts
In Millions

Trading liabilities

     3,821

Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     30,268

Subordinated notes and debentures

     10,877

Other liabilities

     16,108
      

Total liabilities

   $ 426,089

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     57

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0

Common stock

     520

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     25,877

Retained earnings

     14,425

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     893

Other equity capital components

     0
      

Total equity capital

     41,715
      

Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital

   $ 467,861
      

I, Howard I. Atkins, EVP & CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge

and belief.

Howard I. Atkins

EVP & CFO    

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

Michael Loughlin           
John Stumpf   Directors         
Carrie Tolstedt           
EX-99.1 30 dex991.htm FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Form of Letter of Transmittal

Exhibit 99.1

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

$500,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

DUE 2016, WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR

SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

 

THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 p.m., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     ,

2008 (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”) UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. TENDERS MAY BE
WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO 5:00 p.m., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2008.

 

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By Registered or Certified Mail:   By Facsimile:   By Overnight Courier or Hand:

Wells Fargo Bank, N. A.

Corporate Trust Operations

MAC N9303-121

P.O. Box 1517

Minneapolis, MN 55480

  612-667-6282  

Wells Fargo Bank, N. A.

Corporate Trust Operations

Northstar East Building

12th Floor

608—2nd Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55402

  Telephone Inquiries:  
  (800) 344-5128  

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION TO A NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

Holders of Outstanding Notes (as defined below) should complete this Letter of Transmittal either if Outstanding Notes are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders of Outstanding Notes are to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Exchange Agent at the book-entry transfer facility specified by the holder pursuant to the procedures set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Book-Entry Delivery Procedures” and “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes” in the Prospectus (as defined below) and an “Agent’s Message” (as defined below) is not delivered. If tender is being made by book-entry transfer, the holder must have an Agent’s Message delivered in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal.

Holders of Outstanding Notes whose certificates for such Outstanding Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Outstanding Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “holder” for purposes of this Letter of Transmittal means any person in whose name Outstanding Notes are registered or any other person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the registered holder or any person whose Outstanding Notes are held of record by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).


The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated                     , 2008 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”) of Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and certain of Goodman Global, Inc.’s subsidiaries (each, a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”), and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together constitute the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange an aggregate principal amount of up to $500,000,000 of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (the “Exchange Notes”), for any and all of its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, (the “Outstanding Notes”). The Outstanding Notes are unconditionally guaranteed (the “Old Guarantees”) by the Guarantors and the Exchange Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “New Guarantees”) by the Guarantors. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, the Guarantors offer to issue the New Guarantees with respect to all Exchange Notes issued in the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Old Guarantees of the Outstanding Notes for which such Exchange Notes are issued in the Exchange Offer. Throughout this Letter of Transmittal, unless the context otherwise requires and whether so expressed or not, references to the “Exchange Offer” include the Guarantors’ offer to exchange the New Guarantees for the Old Guarantees, references to the “Exchange Notes” include the related New Guarantees and references to the “Outstanding Notes” include the related Old Guarantees.

For each Outstanding Note accepted for exchange, the holder of such Outstanding Note will receive an Exchange Note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Outstanding Note. The Exchange Notes will accrue interest at a rate of 13.50%/14.00% per annum, payable on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2008.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning given them in the Prospectus.

YOUR BANK OR BROKER CAN ASSIST YOU IN COMPLETING THIS FORM. THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT, WHOSE ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes below and signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action that the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND THE PROSPECTUS

CAREFULLY BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.

 

2


List below the Outstanding Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, the certificate numbers and aggregate principal amounts of Outstanding Notes should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.

All Tendering Holders Complete Box 1:

 

Box 1*

Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered Herewith

 

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)

(Please fill in, if blank, exactly as name(s) appear(s) on

Certificate(s))

   Certificate or
Registration
Number(s) of
Outstanding
Notes**
   Aggregate Principal
Amount
Represented by
Outstanding Notes
   Aggregate Principal
Amount of
Outstanding Notes
Being Tendered***
                
                
                
                
                
                
   

Total:    

            
                

 

* If the space provided is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and principal amount of Outstanding Notes on a separate signed schedule and attach the list to this Letter of Transmittal.
** Need not be completed by book-entry holders.
*** The minimum permitted tender is $2,000 in principal amount. All tenders must also be in integral multiples of $1,000 in principal amount. Unless otherwise indicated in this column, the holder will be deemed to have tendered the full aggregate principal amount represented by such Outstanding Notes. See instruction 2.

 

Box 2
Book-Entry Transfer
 

¨        CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

 
Name of Tendering Institution:                                                                                                                                                            
Account Number:                                                                                                                                                                                      
Transaction Code Number:                                                                                                                                                                   
 

Holders of Outstanding Notes that are tendering by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC can execute the tender through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) for which the transaction will be eligible. DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptances to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC. DTC will then send a computer-generated message (an “Agent’s Message”) to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance in which the holder of the Outstanding Notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal, and the DTC participant confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such Outstanding Notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal (including any representations and warranties) applicable to it and such beneficial owner as fully as if it had completed the information required herein and executed and transmitted this Letter of

 

3


Transmittal to the Exchange Agent. Each DTC participant transmitting an acceptance of the Exchange Offer through the ATOP procedures will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal. Delivery of an Agent’s Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the Exchange Offer as to execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant identified in the Agent’s Message. DTC participants may also accept the Exchange Offer by submitting a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery through ATOP.

 

Box 3
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
(See Instruction 2 below)
 

¨        CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

 

Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):                                                                                                                                                       

Window Ticket Number (if any):                                                                                                                                                        

Name of Eligible Guarantor Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:                                                                                         

Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:                                                                                                                 

IF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IS TO BE MADE BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER:

Name of Tendering Institution:                                                                                                                                                            

Account Number:                                                                                                                                                                                      

Transaction Code Number:                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

Box 4
Return of Non-Exchanged Outstanding Notes
Tendered by Book-Entry Transfer
 
¨        CHECK HERE IF OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND
NON-EXCHANGED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE
ACCOUNT NUMBER SET FORTH ABOVE.
  

 

Box 5
Participating Broker-Dealer
 

¨        CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED THE OUTSTANDING NOTES FOR YOUR OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND WISH TO RECEIVE TEN (10) ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

 

4


If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale or transfer of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). A broker-dealer may not participate in the Exchange Offer with respect to Outstanding Notes acquired other than as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Any broker-dealer who purchased Outstanding Notes from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities Act must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

 

5


Ladies and Gentlemen:

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes indicated above. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of all or any portion of the Outstanding Notes tendered herewith in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including, if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in and to such Outstanding Notes as are being tendered herewith.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Company, in connection with the Exchange Offer) with respect to the tendered Outstanding Notes, with full power of substitution and resubstitution (such power of attorney being deemed an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (1) deliver certificates representing such Outstanding Notes, or transfer ownership of such Outstanding Notes on the account books maintained by the book-entry transfer facility specified by the holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes, together, in each such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Company, (2) present and deliver such Outstanding Notes for transfer on the books of the Company and (3) receive all benefits or otherwise exercise all rights and incidents of beneficial ownership of such Outstanding Notes, all in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (a) the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, (b) when such tendered Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange, the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and (c) the Outstanding Notes tendered for exchange are not subject to any adverse claims or proxies when accepted by the Company. The undersigned hereby further represents that any Exchange Notes acquired in exchange for Outstanding Notes tendered hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such person is the undersigned, that neither the holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes, and that neither the holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person is an “affiliate,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company or any Guarantor. If the undersigned is a person in the United Kingdom, the undersigned represents that its ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business.

The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made based on the Company’s understanding of an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, including Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991), Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling, dated July 2, 1993, or similar no-action letters, that the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by each holder thereof (other than a broker-dealer who acquires such Exchange Notes directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities Act or any such holder that is an “affiliate” of the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of such Exchange Notes and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes. If a holder of the Outstanding Notes is an affiliate of the Company or the Guarantors, is not acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business, is engaged in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Notes or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such holder (x) may not rely on the

 

6


applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive the Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for the Outstanding Notes, it represents that the Outstanding Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale or transfer of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company or the Exchange Agent to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange, assignment and transfer of the tendered Outstanding Notes or transfer ownership of such Outstanding Notes on the account books maintained by the book-entry transfer facility. The undersigned further agrees that acceptance of any and all validly tendered Outstanding Notes by the Company and the issuance of Exchange Notes in exchange therefor shall constitute performance in full by the Company of its obligations under the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated February 13, 2008, by and among Chill Acquisition, Inc., GSO Domestic Capital Funding LLC, GSO COF Facility LLC, GSO Origination Funding Partners LP, Farallon Funding, L.L.C., AlpInvest Partners Mezzanine 2007 C.V., KKR Financial Holdings III, LLC and CMP II Initial Holdings, L.L.C. (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), and that the Company shall have no further obligations or liabilities thereunder except as provided in Section 6 of such agreement. The undersigned will comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

The Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.” The undersigned recognizes that as a result of these conditions (which may be waived, in whole or in part, by the Company), as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus, the Company may not be required to exchange any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby and, in such event, the Outstanding Notes not exchanged will be returned to the undersigned at the address shown above, promptly following the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer. In addition, the Company may amend the Exchange Offer at any time prior to the Expiration Date if any of the conditions set forth under “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” occur.

All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of the undersigned. Tendered Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the procedures set forth in the terms of this Letter of Transmittal.

Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled “Special Registration Instructions” below, please deliver the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing the Outstanding Notes for any Outstanding Notes not exchanged) in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry delivery of the Outstanding Notes, please credit the account indicated above. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” below, please send the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing the Outstanding Notes for any Outstanding Notes not exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown above in the box entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered Herewith.”

THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED “DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED HEREWITH” ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED THE OUTSTANDING NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX.

 

7


Box 6
SPECIAL REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 4 and 5)
 

To be completed ONLY if certificates for the Outstanding Notes not tendered and/or certificates for the Exchange Notes are to be issued in the name of someone other than the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes whose name(s) appear(s) above.

   
     Issue:    ¨   Outstanding Notes not tendered to:     
                  ¨   Exchange Notes to:     
   
     Name(s):         
       (Please Print or Type)     
   
     Address:         
   
             
       (Include Zip Code)     
   
     Daytime Area Code and Telephone Number.
   
             
   
     Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:
   
             
   
               

 

Box 7
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 4 and 5)
 

To be completed ONLY if certificates for the Outstanding Notes not tendered and/or certificates for the Exchange Notes are to be issued in the name of someone other than the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes whose name(s) appear(s) above.

   
     Issue:    ¨   Outstanding Notes not tendered to:     
                  ¨   Exchange Notes to:     
   
     Name(s):         
       (Please Print or Type)     
   
     Address:         
   
             
       (Include Zip Code)     
   
     Daytime Area Code and Telephone Number.
   
             
   
     Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:
   
             
   
               

 

8


Box 8
TENDERING HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE
(Complete accompanying substitute form W-9)
 

Must be signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include the book-entry transfer facility whose name appears on a security listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) of the Outstanding Notes exactly as their name(s) appear(s) on the Outstanding Notes hereby tendered or by any person(s) authorized to become the registered holder(s) by properly completed bond powers or endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth the full title of such person. See Instruction 4.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

     (Signature(s) of Holder(s))    
Date:                                                                                                                                                                                                                
            Name(s):          
     (Please Type or Print)    
   
Capacity (full title):          
Address:          
     (Including Zip Code)    
   
Daytime Area Code and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                                   
Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:                                                                                                                     
 
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
(If Required—See Instruction 4)
   
    

Authorized Signature:                                                                                                                     

   
Date:                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Name:                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Title:                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Name of Firm:                                                                                                                                                                                             
    

Address of Firm:                                                                                                                               

   
    

                                                                                                                                                                 

   
     (Include Zip Code)    
   
Area Code and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                                                     
Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:                                                                                                                      
     

 

9


Box 9

PAYER’S NAME: GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

 

 
 

Substitute

 

Form W-9

 

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

 

Payer’s Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

   Part 1—PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW.     
      Name
         
         
        Social Security Number
         
        OR
         
       

Employer Identification Number

 

       

Part 3—

Awaiting TIN  ¨

 

  

Part 2—Certification—UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT:

(1)    The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and

(2)    I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and

(3)    I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

 

  

CERTIFICATE INSTRUCTIONS—You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because of under-reporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding you received another notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out such item (2).

 

   
    

The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.

 

   
    

Sign Here

 

   
    

Signature

 

   
    

Date

 

    

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU

CHECKED THE BOX IN PART 3 OF THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.

 

 
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
 
I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (1) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office, or (2) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of payment, 28% of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld.
   
Signature            Date          
                         

 

10


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number for the payee (You) to Give the Payer.—Social security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e., 000-00-0000. Employee identification numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e., 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer. All “Section” references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. “IRS” is the Internal Revenue Service.

 

For this type of account:

  

Give the

SOCIAL SECURITY

number of—

1.    

   Individual    The individual

2.    

   Two or more individuals (joint account)    The actual owner of the or, if combined account fund, the first individual on the account1

3.    

   Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)    The minor2

4.    

  

a.    The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)

   The grantor-trustee1
  

b.    So-called trust that is not a legal or valid trust under state law

   The actual owner1

5.    

   Sole proprietorship    The owner3

For this type of account:

  

Give the EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION number of

6.    

   Sole proprietorship    The owner3

7.    

   A valid trust, estate, or pension trust    The legal entity4

8.    

   Corporate    The corporation

9.    

   Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization account    The organization

10. 

   Partnership    The partnership

11. 

   A broker or registered nominee    The broker or nominee

12. 

   Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments    The public entity

 

1. List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a social security number, that person’s number must be furnished.
2. Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s social security number.
3. You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or “doing business as” name. You may use either your social security number or your employer identification number (if you have one).
4. List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the taxpayer identification number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)

 

NOTE: IF NO NAME IS CIRCLED WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE NAME, THE NUMBER WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE THAT OF THE FIRST NAME LISTED.

 

11


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Obtaining a Number

If you don’t have a taxpayer identification number or you don’t know your number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, at the local Social Administration office, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, by calling 1 (800) TAX-FORM, and apply for a number.

Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding

Payees specifically exempted from withholding include:

 

   

An organization exempt from tax under Section 501(a), an individual retirement account (IRA), or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7), if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(2).

 

   

The United States or a state thereof, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or a political subdivision or wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing.

 

   

An international organization or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

   

A foreign government and any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof.

Payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:

 

   

A corporation.

 

   

A financial institution.

 

   

A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States.

 

   

A real estate investment trust.

 

   

A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a).

 

   

An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

   

A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.

 

   

A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

   

A foreign central bank of issue.

 

   

A trust exempt from tax under Section 664 or described in Section 4947.

Payments of dividends and patronage dividends generally exempt from backup withholding include:

 

   

Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under Section 1441.

 

   

Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the United States and that have at least one nonresident alien partner.

 

   

Payments of patronage dividends not paid in money.

 

   

Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

   

Section 404(k) payments made by an ESOP.

 

12


Payments of interest generally exempt from backup withholding include:

 

   

Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer.

 

   

Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under Section 852).

 

   

Payments described in Section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens.

 

   

Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under Section 1451.

 

   

Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

   

Mortgage interest paid to you.

Certain payments, other than payments of interest, dividends, and patronage dividends, that are exempt from information reporting are also exempt from backup withholding. For details, see the regulations under sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N.

Exempt payees described above must file Form W-9 or a substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE “EXEMPT” IN PART 2 OF THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER.

Privacy Act Notice.—Section 6109 requires you to provide your correct taxpayer identification number to payers, who must report the payments to the IRS. The IRS uses the number for identification purposes and may also provide this information to various government agencies for tax enforcement or litigation purposes. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

Penalties

(1) Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number.—If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

(2) Civil Penalty for False Information with Respect to Withholding.—If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

(3) Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information.—Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

 

13


INSTRUCTIONS

FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

General

Please do not send certificates for Outstanding Notes directly to the Company. Your certificates for Outstanding Notes, together with your signed and completed Letter of Transmittal and any required supporting documents, should be mailed or otherwise delivered to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the first page hereof. The method of delivery of Outstanding Notes, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents is at your sole option and risk and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, or overnight or hand delivery service is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

1. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Certificates; Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. A holder of Outstanding Notes (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include the book-entry transfer facility whose name appears on a security listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) may tender the same by (i) properly completing and signing this Letter of Transmittal or a facsimile hereof (all references in the Prospectus to the Letter of Transmittal shall be deemed to include a facsimile thereof) and delivering the same, together with the certificate or certificates, if applicable, representing the Outstanding Notes being tendered and any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at its address set forth above on or prior to the Expiration Date, (ii) complying with the procedure for book-entry transfer described below or (iii) complying with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

Holders who wish to tender their Outstanding Notes and (i) whose Outstanding Notes are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Outstanding Notes, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) who cannot comply with the book-entry transfer procedures on a timely basis, must tender their Outstanding Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus and by completing Box 3. Holders may tender their Outstanding Notes if: (i) the tender is made by or through an Eligible Guarantor Institution (as defined below); (ii) the Exchange Agent receives (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), on or prior to the Expiration Date, a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in the form provided with this Letter of Transmittal that (a) sets forth the name and address of the holder of Outstanding Notes, if applicable, the certificate number(s) of the Outstanding Notes to be tendered and the principal amount of Outstanding Notes tendered; (b) states that the tender is being made thereby; and (c) guarantees that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof, together with the Outstanding Notes or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, will be deposited by the Eligible Guarantor Institution with the Exchange Agent; or (iii) the Exchange Agent receives a properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal, or facsimile thereof and the certificate(s) representing all tendered Outstanding Notes in proper form or a confirmation of book-entry transfer of the Outstanding Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at the appropriate book-entry transfer facility and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date.

Any Holder who wishes to tender Outstanding Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure that the Exchange Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery relating to such Outstanding Notes prior to the Expiration Date. Failure to complete the guaranteed delivery procedures outlined above will not, of itself, affect the validity or effect a revocation of any Letter of Transmittal form properly completed and executed by a holder who attempted to use the guaranteed delivery procedures.

No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. Each tendering holder, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of the Outstanding Notes for exchange.

 

14


2. Partial Tenders; Withdrawals. Tenders of Outstanding Notes will be accepted only in the principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. If less than the entire principal amount of Outstanding Notes evidenced by a submitted certificate is tendered, the tendering holder(s) must fill in the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes tendered in the column entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered Herewith” in Box 1 above. A newly issued certificate for the Outstanding Notes submitted but not tendered will be sent to such holder promptly after the Expiration Date, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal. All Outstanding Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered in full unless otherwise clearly indicated. Outstanding Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date, after which tenders of Outstanding Notes are irrevocable.

To be effective with respect to the tender of Outstanding Notes, a written notice of withdrawal (which may be by telegram, telex, facsimile or letter) must: (i) be received by the Exchange Agent at the address for the Exchange Agent set forth above before the Company notifies the Exchange Agent that it has accepted the tender of Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; (ii) specify the name of the person who tendered the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn; (iii) identify the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn (including the principal amount of such Outstanding Notes, or, if applicable, the certificate numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Outstanding Notes and the principal amount of Outstanding Notes represented by such certificates); (iv) include a statement that such holder is withdrawing its election to have such Outstanding Notes exchanged; (v) specify the name in which any such Outstanding Notes are to be registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder; and (vi) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on this Letter of Transmittal (including any required signature guarantee). The Exchange Agent will return the properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes promptly following receipt of notice of withdrawal. If Outstanding Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at the book-entry transfer facility to be credited with the withdrawn Outstanding Notes or otherwise comply with the book-entry transfer facility’s procedures. All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility of notices of withdrawals, including time of receipt, will be determined by the Company, and such determination will be final and binding on all parties.

Any Outstanding Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Outstanding Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or, in the case of Outstanding Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at the book entry transfer facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described above, such Outstanding Notes will be credited to an account with such book-entry transfer facility specified by the holder) promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tender Outstanding Notes” in the Prospectus at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

Neither the Issuer, any affiliate or assigns of the Issuer, the Exchange Agent nor any other person will be under any duty to give any notification of any irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give such notification (even if such notice is given to other persons).

3. Beneficial Owner Instructions. Only a holder of Outstanding Notes (i.e., a person in whose name Outstanding Notes are registered on the books of the registrar or, or, in the case of Outstanding Notes held through book-entry, such book-entry transfer facility specified by the holder), or the legal representative or attorney-in-fact of a holder, may execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal. Any beneficial owner of Outstanding Notes who wishes to accept the Exchange Offer must arrange promptly for the appropriate holder to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal on his or her behalf through the execution and delivery to the appropriate holder of the “Instructions to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner” form accompanying this Letter of Transmittal.

4. Signature on this Letter of Transmittal; Written Instruments and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for the purposes

 

15


described herein, shall include the book-entry transfer facility whose name appears on a security listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificates (or on such security listing) without alteration, addition, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

If any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

If a number of Outstanding Notes registered in different names are tendered, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate copies of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimiles thereof) as there are different registrations of Outstanding Notes.

When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of Outstanding Notes (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include the book-entry transfer facility whose name appears on a security listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) listed and tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are required. If, however, this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes listed or the Exchange Notes are to be issued, or any untendered Outstanding Notes are to be reissued, to a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes, such Outstanding Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by separate written instruments of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the registered holder, in each case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Outstanding Notes and the signatures on such certificates must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution. If this Letter of Transmittal, any certificates or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Company, submit proper evidence satisfactory to the Company, in its sole discretion, of such persons’ authority to so act.

Endorsements on certificates for the Outstanding Notes or signatures on bond powers required by this Instruction 4 must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible guarantor institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (an “Eligible Guarantor Institution”).

Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, unless Outstanding Notes are tendered: (i) by a registered holder (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include the book-entry transfer facility whose name appears on a security listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) who has not completed the box entitled “Special Registration Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal; or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Guarantor Institution.

5. Special Registration and Delivery Instructions. Tendering holders should indicate, in the applicable Box 6 or Box 7, the name and address in/to which the Exchange Notes and/or certificates for Outstanding Notes not exchanged are to be issued or sent, if different from the name(s) and address(es) of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the tax identification number or social security number of the person named must also be indicated. A holder tendering the Outstanding Notes by book-entry transfer may request that the Outstanding Notes not exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the book-entry transfer facility as such holder may designate. See Box 4.

If no such instructions are given, the Exchange Notes (and any Outstanding Notes not tendered or not accepted) will be issued in the name of and sent to the holder signing this Letter of Transmittal or deposited into such holder’s account at the applicable book-entry transfer facility.

 

16


6. Transfer Taxes. The Company shall pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer and exchange of the Outstanding Notes to it or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, the Exchange Notes are delivered to or issued in the name of a person other than the registered holder, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the transfer and exchange of Outstanding Notes to the Company or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted herewith the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Outstanding Notes listed in this Letter of Transmittal.

7. Waiver of Conditions. The Company reserves the absolute right to waive, in whole or in part, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus.

8. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Securities. Any holder whose Outstanding Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, should promptly contact the Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the first page hereof for further instructions. The holder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen certificate(s) have been completed.

9. No Conditional Tenders; No Notice of Irregularities. No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their Outstanding Notes for exchange. The Company reserves the right, in its reasonable judgment, to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Outstanding Notes. The Company’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in this Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Outstanding Notes must be cured within such time as the Company shall determine. Although the Company intends to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Outstanding Notes, neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is under any obligation to give such notice nor shall they incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Outstanding Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Outstanding Notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holder promptly following the Expiration Date.

10. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address and telephone number set forth on the first page hereof.

 

17


IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE OR COPY THEREOF (TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATES OF OUTSTANDING NOTES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a tendering holder whose Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange may be subject to backup withholding unless the holder provides Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Paying Agent (the “Paying Agent”), with either (i) such holder’s correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) on the Substitute Form W-9 attached hereto, certifying (A) that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such holder of Outstanding Notes is awaiting a TIN), (B) that the holder of Outstanding Notes is not subject to backup withholding because (x) such holder of Outstanding Notes is exempt from backup withholding, (y) such holder of Outstanding Notes has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (z) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder of Outstanding Notes that he or she is no longer subject to backup withholding and (C) that the holder of Outstanding Notes is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien); or (ii) an adequate basis for exemption from backup withholding. If such holder of Outstanding Notes is an individual, the TIN is such holder’s social security number. If the Paying Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the holder of Outstanding Notes may also be subject to certain penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and any payments that are made to such holder may be subject to backup withholding (see below).

Certain holders of Outstanding Notes (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. However, exempt holders of Outstanding Notes should indicate their exempt status on the Substitute Form W-9. For example, a corporation should complete the Substitute Form W-9, providing its TIN and indicating that it is exempt from backup withholding. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt recipient, the holder must submit a Form W-8BEN, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that individual’s exempt status. A Form W-8BEN can be obtained from the Paying Agent. See the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” for more instructions. Holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors to determine whether they are exempt from these backup withholding and reporting requirements.

If backup withholding applies, the Paying Agent is required to withhold 28% of any payments made to the holder of Outstanding Notes or other payee. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service, provided the required information is furnished. The Paying Agent cannot refund amounts withheld by reason of backup withholding.

A holder who does not have a TIN may check the box in Part 3 of the Substitute Form W-9 if the surrendering holder of Outstanding Notes has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked, the holder of Outstanding Notes or other payee must also complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number below in order to avoid backup withholding. Notwithstanding that the box in Part 3 is checked and the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number is completed, the Paying Agent will withhold 28% of all payments made prior to the time a properly certified TIN is provided to the Paying Agent and, if the Paying Agent is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, such amounts will be paid over to the Internal Revenue Service. The holder of Outstanding Notes is required to give the Paying Agent the TIN (e.g., social security number or employer identification number) of the record owner of the Outstanding Notes. If the Outstanding Notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” for additional guidance on which number to report.

 

18

EX-99.2 31 dex992.htm FORM OF NOTICE TO CLIENTS Form of Notice to Clients

Exhibit 99.2

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

$500,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016, WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

            , 2008

To Our Clients:

Enclosed for your consideration are a Prospectus dated                     , 2008 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and a Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), relating to the offer (the “Exchange Offer”) by Goodman Global, Inc. (the “Company”) and certain subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”), to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) an aggregate principal amount of up to $500,000,000 of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (the “Exchange Notes”), for any and all of its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Outstanding Notes”), in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects (including principal amount, interest rate and maturity) to the terms of the Outstanding Notes for which they may be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer, except that the Exchange Notes are freely transferable by holders thereof, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal. The Outstanding Notes are unconditionally guaranteed (the “Old Guarantees”) by the Guarantors, and the Exchange Notes are unconditionally guaranteed (the “New Guarantees”) by the Guarantors. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, the Guarantors offer to issue the New Guarantees with respect to all Exchange Notes issued in the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Old Guarantees of the Outstanding Notes for which such Exchange Notes are issued in the Exchange Offer. Throughout this letter, unless the context otherwise requires and whether so expressed or not, references to the “Exchange Offer” include the Guarantors’ offer to exchange the New Guarantees for the Old Guarantees, references to the “Exchange Notes” include the related New Guarantees and references to the “Outstanding Notes” include the related Old Guarantees. The Company will accept for exchange any and all Outstanding Notes properly tendered according to the terms of the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal. Consummation of the Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions described in the Prospectus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2008 (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”), UNLESS THE COMPANY EXTENDS THE EXCHANGE OFFER.

The enclosed materials are being forwarded to you as the beneficial owner of the Outstanding Notes held by us for your account but not registered in your name. A tender of such Outstanding Notes may only be made by us as the registered holder and pursuant to your instructions. Therefore, the Company urges beneficial owners of Outstanding Notes registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to contact such registered holder promptly if such beneficial owners wish to tender their Outstanding Notes in the Exchange Offer.

Accordingly, we request instructions as to whether you wish to tender any or all such Outstanding Notes held by us for your account, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the enclosed Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal. If you wish to have us tender any or all of your outstanding notes, please so instruct us by


completing, signing and returning to us the “Instructions to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner” form that appears below. We urge you to read the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal carefully before instructing us as to whether or not to tender your Outstanding Notes.

The accompanying Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you for your information only and may not be used by you to tender Outstanding Notes held by us and registered in our name for your account or benefit.

If we do not receive written instructions in accordance with the below and the procedures presented in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, we will not tender any of the Outstanding Notes on your account.

 

2


INSTRUCTIONS TO REGISTERED HOLDER FROM BENEFICIAL OWNER

The undersigned beneficial owner acknowledges receipt of your letter and the accompanying Prospectus dated                     , 2008 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and a Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), relating to the offer (the “Exchange Offer”) by Goodman Global, Inc. (the “Company”) and certain subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”) to exchange an aggregate principal amount of up to $500,000,000 of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (the “Exchange Notes”), for any and all of its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Outstanding Notes”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal. The Outstanding Notes are unconditionally guaranteed (the “Old Guarantees”) by the Guarantors, and the Exchange Notes are unconditionally guaranteed (the “New Guarantees”) by the Guarantors. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, the Guarantors offer to issue the New Guarantees with respect to all Exchange Notes issued in the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Old Guarantees of the Outstanding Notes for which such Exchange Notes are issued in the Exchange Offer. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

This will instruct you, the registered holder, to tender the principal amount of the Outstanding Notes indicated below held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.

 

Principal Amount Held

for Account Holder(s)

  Principal Amount to be Tendered*
     
     
     
     
     

 

* Unless otherwise indicated, the entire principal amount held for the account of the undersigned will be tendered.

If the undersigned instructs you to tender the Outstanding Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned, it is understood that you are authorized (a) to make, on behalf of the undersigned (and the undersigned, by its signature below, hereby makes to you), the representations and warranties contained in the Letter of Transmittal that are to be made with respect to the undersigned as a beneficial owner of the Outstanding Notes, including but not limited to the representations that the undersigned (i) is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company or the Guarantors, (ii) is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of Exchange Notes, (iii) is acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business and (iv) is not a broker-dealer tendering Outstanding Notes acquired for its own account directly from the Company. If a holder of the Outstanding Notes is an affiliate of the Company or the Guarantors, is not acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business, is engaged in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Notes or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such holder may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to exemptions from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and must comply with such requirements in connection with any secondary resale transaction.

 

3


SIGN HERE

 

        Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                 , 2008        

        Signature(s):                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

        Print Name(s):                                                                                                                                                                                      

        Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

(Please include Zip Code)        

 

        Telephone Number                                                                                                                                                                             

                        (Please include Area Code)

 

        Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number:                                                                                                       

 

        My Account Number With You:                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

4

EX-99.3 32 dex993.htm FORM OF LETTER TO BROKERS, DEALERS, COMMERCIAL BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial banks, Trust Companies

Exhibit 99.3

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

$500,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016, WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

            , 2008

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,

Trust Companies and other Nominees:

As described in the enclosed Prospectus dated                     , 2008 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), Goodman Global, Inc. (the “Company”) and certain subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”), are offering to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) an aggregate principal amount of up to $500,000,000 of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (the “Exchange Notes”), for any and all of its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016, (the “Outstanding Notes”) in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects (including principal amount, interest rate and maturity) to the terms of the Outstanding Notes for which they may be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer, except that the Exchange Notes are freely transferable by holders thereof. The Outstanding Notes are unconditionally guaranteed (the “Old Guarantees”) by the Guarantors, and the Exchange Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “New Guarantees”) by the Guarantors. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, the Guarantors offer to issue the New Guarantees with respect to all Exchange Notes issued in the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Old Guarantees of the Outstanding Notes for which such Exchange Notes are issued in the Exchange Offer. Throughout this letter, unless the context otherwise requires and whether so expressed or not, references to the “Exchange Offer” include the Guarantors’ offer to exchange the New Guarantees for the Old Guarantees, references to the “Exchange Notes” include the related New Guarantees and references to the “Outstanding Notes” include the related Old Guarantees. The Company will accept for exchange any and all Outstanding Notes properly tendered according to the terms of the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal. Consummation of the Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions described in the Prospectus.

WE URGE YOU TO PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS FOR WHOM YOU HOLD OUTSTANDING NOTES REGISTERED IN YOUR NAME OR IN THE NAME OF YOUR NOMINEE. PLEASE BRING THE EXCHANGE OFFER TO THEIR ATTENTION AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.

Enclosed are copies of the following documents:

 

  1. The Prospectus;

 

  2. The Letter of Transmittal for your use in connection with the tender of Outstanding Notes and for the information of your clients, including a Substitute Form W-9 and Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (providing information relating to U.S. federal income tax backup withholding);

 

  3. A form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery; and


  4. A form of letter, including a letter of instructions to a registered holder from a beneficial owner, which you may use to correspond with your clients for whose accounts you hold Outstanding Notes that are registered in your name or the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients’ instructions regarding the Exchange Offer.

Your prompt action is requested. Please note that the Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2008 (the “Expiration Date”), unless the Company otherwise extends the Exchange Offer.

To participate in the Exchange Offer, certificates for Outstanding Notes, together with a duly executed and properly completed Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof, or a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Outstanding Notes into the account of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Exchange Agent”), at the book-entry transfer facility, with any required signature guarantees, and any other required documents, must be received by the Exchange Agent by the Expiration Date as indicated in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.

The Company will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or to any other persons (other than the Exchange Agent) in connection with the solicitation of tenders of the Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. However, the Company will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the tender of the Outstanding Notes to it or its order, except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal.

If holders of the Outstanding Notes wish to tender, but it is impracticable for them to forward their Outstanding Notes prior to the Expiration Date or to comply with the book-entry transfer procedures on a timely basis, a tender may be effected by following the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Prospectus and in the Letter of Transmittal.

Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Exchange Offer should be addressed to the Exchange Agent its address and telephone number set forth in the enclosed Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal. Additional copies of the enclosed materials may be obtained from the Exchange Agent.

Very truly yours,

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON AS AN AGENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE EXCHANGE AGENT, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENTS ON BEHALF OF EITHER OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER, OTHER THAN THE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED HEREWITH AND THE STATEMENTS EXPRESSLY CONTAINED THEREIN.

 

2

EX-99.4 33 dex994.htm FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery

Exhibit 99.4

GOODMAN GLOBAL, INC.

NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

$500,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

DUE 2016, WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 13.50%/14.00% SENIOR

SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2016

This form, or one substantially equivalent hereto, must be used to accept the Exchange Offer made by Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the Guarantors, pursuant to the Prospectus dated                      , 2008 (the “Prospectus”), and the enclosed Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), if the certificates for the Outstanding Notes are not immediately available or if the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis or time will not permit all required documents to reach the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer. Such form may be delivered or transmitted by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Exchange Agent”) as set forth below. In addition, in order to utilize the guaranteed delivery procedure to tender the Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, a completed, signed and dated Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) must also be received by the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Letter of Transmittal.

The Exchange Agent is:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By Registered or Certified Mail:    By Facsimile:    By Overnight Courier or Hand:

Wells Fargo Bank, N. A.

Corporate Trust Operations

MAC N9303-121

P.O. Box 1517

Minneapolis, MN 55480

   612-667-6282   

Wells Fargo Bank, N. A.

Corporate Trust Operations

Northstar East Building

12th Floor

608—2nd Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55402

   Telephone Inquiries:   
   (800) 344-5128   

DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION VIA FACSIMILE TO A NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution (as defined in the Prospectus), such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space in Box 8 provided on the Letter of Transmittal for Guarantee of Signatures.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the principal amount of Outstanding Notes indicated below, pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” section of the Prospectus.

 

Certificate Number(s) (if known) of Outstanding Notes or
Account Number at Book-Entry Transfer Facility
   Aggregate Principal
Amount
Represented by
Outstanding Notes
   Aggregate Principal Amount of
Outstanding Notes Being
Tendered

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

     PLEASE COMPLETE AND SIGN     
   
            
    (Signature(s) of Record Holder(s))    
   
         
    (Please Type or Print Name(s) of Record Holder(s))    
   
    Dated:                     , 2008    
   

Address:                                                                                                                                                    

   
(Zip Code)                
   
         
    (Daytime Area Code and Telephone No.)    
 

¨        Check this Box if the Outstanding Notes will be delivered by book-entry transfer to The Depository Trust Company.

   

Account Number:                                                                                                                                   

 

   

THE ACCOMPANYING GUARANTEE MUST BE COMPLETED.

 

2


 

GUARANTEE OF DELIVERY

(Not to be used for signature guarantee)

 

The undersigned, a member of a recognized signature medallion program or an “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), hereby (a) represents that the above person(s) “own(s)” the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4(b)(2) under the Exchange Act, (b) represents that the tender of those Outstanding Notes complies with Rule 14e-4 under the Exchange Act, and (c) guarantees to deliver to the Exchange Agent, at its address set forth in the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the certificates representing all tendered Outstanding Notes, in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation (a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of the Outstanding Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date.

 

Name of Firm:                                                                                                                                                            

(Authorized Signature)
 

Address:                                                                                                                                                                       

(Zip Code) 
 

Area Code and Tel. No.:                                                                                                                                            

 

Name:                                                                                                                                                                          

(Please Type or Print)
 

Title:                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Dated:                     , 2008

 

NOTE:  DO NOT SEND OUTSTANDING NOTES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. OUTSTANDING NOTES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

 

 

3


INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

 

1. Delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

A properly completed and duly executed copy of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and any other documents required by this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth on the cover page hereof prior to the Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer. The method of delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and any other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the election and risk of the holders and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Exchange Agent. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that the holders use an overnight or hand delivery service, properly insured. If such delivery is by mail, it is recommended that the holders use properly insured, registered mail with return receipt requested. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure timely delivery. For a description of the guaranteed delivery procedure, see Instruction 1 of the Letter of Transmittal. No notice of Guaranteed Delivery should be sent to the Company.

 

2. Signatures on this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes referred to herein, the signatures must correspond with the name(s) written on the face of the Outstanding Notes without alteration, addition, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of any Outstanding Notes listed, this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be accompanied by appropriate bond powers, signed as the name of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Outstanding Notes without alteration, addition, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing and, unless waived by the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority so to act must be submitted with this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

 

3. Questions and Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.

Questions and requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of the Prospectus may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the cover hereof. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.

 

4

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SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

2550 HANOVER STREET

PALO ALTO, CA 94304

(650) 251-5000

 

 

FACSIMILE: (650) 251-5002

April 15, 2008

VIA EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

  Re: Goodman Global, Inc. and Subsidiary Guarantors
    Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and the subsidiary guarantors (collectively, the “Guarantors” and, together with the Issuer, the “Registrants”), we hereby submit for filing by direct electronic transmission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “S-4 Registration Statement”), together with certain exhibits thereto, relating to the Registrants’ offer to exchange an aggregate of $500,000,000 in principal amount of its 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Exchange Notes”) for its outstanding 13.50%/14.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Outstanding Notes”) which were offered and sold on February 13, 2008 without registration in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The Outstanding Notes are, and the Exchange Notes will be, guaranteed by the Guarantors, who are also registrants under the S-4 Registration Statement.


Securities and Exchange Commission     April 15, 2008

The Registrants are registering the exchange offer on the S-4 Registration Statement in reliance on the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, available May 13, 1988 (“Exxon Capital”), Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated, available June 5, 1991 (regarding resales), and Shearman & Sterling, available July 2, 1993 (with respect to the participation of broker-dealers). The Registrants have further authorized us to include the following representation to the Staff of the Commission:

 

  1. The Registrants have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person to distribute the Exchange Notes and, to the best of each of the Registrants’ information and belief without independent investigation, each person participating in the exchange offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and is not engaged in, does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, the distribution of the Exchange Notes. In this regard, the Registrants will disclose to each person participating in the exchange offer that if such person is participating in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes, such person (i) could not rely on the Staff position enunciated in Exxon Capital or interpretive letters to similar effect and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction. The Registrants acknowledge that such a secondary resale transaction by such person participating in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling securityholder information required by Item 507 of Regulation S-K.

 

  2. No broker-dealer has entered into any arrangement or understanding with the Registrants or an affiliate of the Registrants to distribute the Exchange Notes. The Registrants will disclose to each person participating in the exchange offer (through the exchange offer prospectus) that any broker-dealer who receives the Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of those Exchange Notes. The Registrants will also include in the letter of transmittal to be executed by each holder participating in the exchange offer that each broker-dealer that receives the Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offers must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of those Exchange Notes and that by so acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, the broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

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Securities and Exchange Commission     April 15, 2008

The filing fee for the S-4 Registration Statement in the amount of $19,650 was previously deposited by wire transfer of same day funds to the Commission’s account at U.S. Bank.

If you have any questions on the above-referenced S-4 Registration Statement, please contact William B. Brentani at (650) 251-5110 or Louis P.A. Lehot at (650) 251-5064.

 

Sincerely,
/s/ SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

Attachments

 

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