Form 10-Q GARTNER INC For: Jun 30
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016 | |
OR | |
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. |
Commission File Number 1-14443
Gartner, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 04-3099750 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Identification Number) |
P.O. Box 10212 | 06902-7700 |
56 Top Gallant Road | (Zip Code) |
Stamford, CT | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 316-1111
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer þ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
As of July 31, 2016, 82,621,699 shares of the registrant’s common shares were outstanding.
Table of Contents
Page | |
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited; in thousands)
June 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 445,053 | $ | 372,976 | |||
Fees receivable, net of allowances of $7,350 and $6,900, respectively | 613,795 | 580,763 | |||||
Deferred commissions | 111,083 | 124,831 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 63,725 | 62,427 | |||||
Total current assets | 1,233,656 | 1,140,997 | |||||
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net | 117,255 | 108,733 | |||||
Goodwill | 742,752 | 715,359 | |||||
Intangible assets, net | 99,267 | 96,544 | |||||
Other assets | 111,591 | 113,053 | |||||
Total Assets | $ | 2,304,521 | $ | 2,174,686 | |||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 287,476 | $ | 387,691 | |||
Deferred revenues | 1,029,765 | 900,801 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 70,000 | 35,000 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,387,241 | 1,323,492 | |||||
Long-term debt | 756,015 | 790,000 | |||||
Other liabilities | 214,093 | 193,594 | |||||
Total Liabilities | 2,357,349 | 2,307,086 | |||||
Stockholders’ Deficit | |||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding | — | — | |||||
Common stock, $.0005 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized; 156,234,415 shares issued for both periods | 78 | 78 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 847,451 | 818,546 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | (48,003 | ) | (44,402 | ) | |||
Accumulated earnings | 1,538,762 | 1,450,684 | |||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 73,614,148 and 73,896,245 common shares, respectively | (2,391,116 | ) | (2,357,306 | ) | |||
Total Stockholders’ Deficit | (52,828 | ) | (132,400 | ) | |||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit | $ | 2,304,521 | $ | 2,174,686 | |||
See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||
Research | $ | 449,170 | $ | 385,718 | $ | 889,441 | $ | 766,808 | |||||||
Consulting | 94,068 | 88,336 | 179,008 | 165,128 | |||||||||||
Events | 66,760 | 73,882 | 98,815 | 87,186 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 609,998 | 547,936 | 1,167,264 | 1,019,122 | |||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of services and product development | 231,422 | 210,495 | 443,463 | 388,257 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 272,009 | 237,991 | 529,420 | 467,513 | |||||||||||
Depreciation | 9,025 | 8,440 | 17,859 | 16,429 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 6,210 | 2,107 | 12,393 | 4,246 | |||||||||||
Acquisition and integration charges | 8,033 | 3,683 | 16,401 | 8,775 | |||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 526,699 | 462,716 | 1,019,536 | 885,220 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 83,299 | 85,220 | 147,728 | 133,902 | |||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (7,356 | ) | (5,240 | ) | (13,362 | ) | (8,720 | ) | |||||||
Other income (expense), net | 1,248 | (468 | ) | 3,132 | (1,430 | ) | |||||||||
Income before income taxes | 77,191 | 79,512 | 137,498 | 123,752 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 29,280 | 28,357 | 49,420 | 44,246 | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 47,911 | $ | 51,155 | $ | 88,078 | $ | 79,506 | |||||||
Net income per share: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.58 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 1.07 | $ | 0.94 | |||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 0.92 | |||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 82,559 | 83,203 | 82,505 | 84,871 | |||||||||||
Diluted | 83,476 | 84,271 | 83,498 | 86,064 | |||||||||||
See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited; in thousands)
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 47,911 | $ | 51,155 | $ | 88,078 | $ | 79,506 | |||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 3,335 | 6,224 | 5,403 | (13,883 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest rate hedges – net change in deferred loss | (1,946 | ) | 434 | (9,079 | ) | (670 | ) | ||||||||
Pension – net change in actuarial deferred loss | 38 | 53 | 75 | 106 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 1,427 | 6,711 | (3,601 | ) | (14,447 | ) | |||||||||
Comprehensive income | $ | 49,338 | $ | 57,866 | $ | 84,477 | $ | 65,059 | |||||||
See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited; in thousands)
Six Months Ended | |||||||
June 30, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 88,078 | $ | 79,506 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 30,252 | 19,734 | |||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 26,607 | 27,392 | |||||
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation | (8,469 | ) | (11,117 | ) | |||
Deferred taxes | (845 | ) | 2,298 | ||||
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees | 2,158 | 1,595 | |||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Fees receivable, net | (20,380 | ) | 13,582 | ||||
Deferred commissions | 15,321 | 15,539 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 667 | (17,193 | ) | ||||
Other assets | (1,537 | ) | 11,164 | ||||
Deferred revenues | 106,771 | 93,454 | |||||
Accounts payable, accrued, and other liabilities | (85,309 | ) | (86,551 | ) | |||
Cash provided by operating activities | 153,314 | 149,403 | |||||
Investing activities: | |||||||
Additions to property, equipment and leasehold improvements | (25,337 | ) | (23,614 | ) | |||
Acquisitions - cash paid (net of cash acquired) | (29,896 | ) | — | ||||
Cash used in investing activities | (55,233 | ) | (23,614 | ) | |||
Financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan | 4,702 | 3,824 | |||||
Proceeds from borrowings | 830,000 | 320,000 | |||||
Payments for debt issuance costs | (4,975 | ) | — | ||||
Payments on borrowings | (820,000 | ) | (10,000 | ) | |||
Purchases of treasury stock | (51,967 | ) | (441,442 | ) | |||
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation | 8,469 | 11,117 | |||||
Cash used in financing activities | (33,771 | ) | (116,501 | ) | |||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 64,310 | 9,288 | |||||
Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | 7,767 | (17,009 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 372,976 | 365,302 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 445,053 | $ | 357,581 | |||
See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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GARTNER, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
Note 1 — Business and Basis of Presentation
Business. Gartner, Inc. is a global information technology research and advisory company with its headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Gartner delivers its products and services globally through three business segments: Research, Consulting, and Events. When used in these notes, the terms “Gartner,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Gartner, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Basis of presentation. The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 270 for interim financial information and with the applicable instructions of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X on Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company filed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The fiscal year of Gartner is the twelve-month calendar period from January 1 through December 31. In the opinion of management, all normal recurring accruals and adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented herein have been included. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 may not be indicative of the results of operations for the remainder of 2016 or beyond.
Principles of consolidation. The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Use of estimates. The preparation of the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the valuation of fees receivable, goodwill, intangible assets, and other long-lived assets, as well as tax accruals and other liabilities. In addition, estimates are used in revenue recognition, income tax expense, performance-based compensation charges, depreciation and amortization. Management believes its use of estimates in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements to be reasonable.
Management continuously evaluates and revises its estimates using historical experience and other factors, including the general economic environment and actions it may take in the future. Management adjusts these estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. However, these estimates may involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. In addition, these estimates are based on management’s best judgment at a point in time. As a result, differences between our estimates and actual results could be material and would be reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future periods.
Accounting standards issued but not yet adopted. The FASB has issued several accounting standards that have not yet become effective and that may impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures in future periods. These standards and their potential impact are discussed below:
Financial Instrument Credit Losses—In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments—Credit Losses" ("ASU No. 2016-13"). ASU No. 2016-13 amends the current financial instrument impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for Gartner on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Stock-Based Compensation—In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU No. 2016-09"). ASU No. 2016-09 modifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment awards, to include the accounting for award forfeitures, the amount of employer tax withholding on awards that vest or settle, and the financial statement impact of excess tax benefits or deficiencies. ASU No. 2016-09 also modifies the statement of cash flows presentation for certain components of share-based payment awards. The provisions of the new rule will be effective for Gartner on January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU No. 2016-09 on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
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Leases — In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" ("ASU No. 2016-02") which will require significant changes in the accounting and disclosure of lease arrangements. Among the significant changes required by ASU No. 2016-02 is that almost all lease obligations will be recorded on the balance sheet as a liability, along with a corresponding right of use asset. Currently under U.S. GAAP, lease arrangements that meet certain criteria are considered operating leases and are not recorded on the balance sheet. ASU No. 2016-02 also requires certain key information about leasing arrangements be disclosed. ASU No. 2016-02 will be effective for Gartner on January 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Revenue — In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU No. 2014-09"). ASU No. 2014-09 and related amendments require changes in revenue recognition policies as well as require enhanced disclosures. ASU No. 2014-09 is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue by removing inconsistencies and weaknesses in existing revenue recognition rules; provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue recognition issues; improve comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets; and provide more useful information to users of financial statements through improved revenue disclosures. ASU No. 2014-09 will be effective for Gartner on January 1, 2018, and the Company expects to complete its assessment of the estimated impact of ASU No. 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements by the end of 2016.
The FASB also continues to work on a number of other significant accounting standards which if issued could materially impact the Company's accounting policies and disclosures in future periods. However, since these standards have not yet been issued, the effective dates and potential impact are unknown.
Acquisitions. The Company accounts for business acquisitions in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting as prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. The acquisition method of accounting requires the Company to record the net assets and liabilities acquired based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with any excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, to be recorded to goodwill. Under the acquisition method, the operating results of acquired companies are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements beginning on the date of acquisition.
On June 28, 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Newco 5CL Limited (which operates under the trade name "SCM World"), a privately-held firm based in London with 60 employees. SCM World is a leading cross-industry peer network and learning community providing subscription-based research and conferences for supply chain executives. The Company paid $34.2 million of its cash held overseas at close and may also be required to pay up to an additional $15.0 million in cash for potential earn-out payments tied to the performance of SCM World through December 31, 2016. Any estimated earn-out payments determined as of the acquisition date will be recorded as part of the cost of the acquisition and will be adjusted to fair value at each reporting period through income until the amount is settled.
The Company may also be required to pay up to an additional $8.0 million in cash contingent on the achievement of certain employment conditions by several key employees (who are also former shareholders) of SCM World, which will be recognized as compensation expense. The Company recorded $37.0 million of goodwill and amortizable intangible assets for SCM World (see Note 5—Goodwill and Intangible Assets for additional information) and $2.8 million of liabilities on a net basis on the acquisition date. These amounts and the overall allocation of the purchase price is preliminary. The Company anticipates completing the valuation of the acquired assets and liabilities and the allocation of the purchase price in the third quarter of 2016. The operating results and the related goodwill will likely be reported as part of the Company's Research segment and goodwill resulting from the acquisition will not be deductible for tax purposes. Had the Company acquired SCM World in a prior period, the impact to the Company's results would not have been material, and as a result pro forma financial information for prior periods has not been provided.
The Company recognized $8.0 million and $3.7 million of acquisition and integration charges in the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $16.4 million and $8.8 million of acquisition and integration charges in the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These charges are classified in Acquisition and integration charges in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and include amounts accrued for payments contingent on the achievement of certain employment conditions, legal, consulting, and severance costs. The Company paid $22.7 million in cash during the six months ended June 30, 2016 for the achievement of certain employment conditions related to an acquisition completed in 2014, of which $13.6 million was paid from escrow and $9.1 million was paid from existing Company cash. On a net basis, and for cash flow reporting purposes, the Company paid $28.9 million in cash at close for SCM World, which represents the gross cash paid of $34.2 million less cash held by SCM World at the acquisition date. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company also paid $1.0 million for a working capital settlement related to a 2015 acquisition.
8
Note 2 — Earnings per Share
The following table sets forth the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Numerator: | |||||||||||||||
Net income used for calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share | $ | 47,911 | $ | 51,155 | $ | 88,078 | $ | 79,506 | |||||||
Denominator: | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares used in the calculation of basic earnings per share | 82,559 | 83,203 | 82,505 | 84,871 | |||||||||||
Common stock equivalents associated with stock-based compensation plans (1) | 917 | 1,068 | 993 | 1,193 | |||||||||||
Shares used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share | 83,476 | 84,271 | 83,498 | 86,064 | |||||||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.58 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 1.07 | $ | 0.94 | |||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 0.92 | |||||||
(1) | Certain common stock equivalents were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. These common share equivalents totaled less than 0.3 million in each of the periods presented. |
Note 3 — Stock-Based Compensation
The Company grants stock-based compensation awards as an incentive for employees and directors to contribute to the Company’s long-term success. The Company currently awards stock-settled stock appreciation rights, service-based and performance-based restricted stock units, and common stock equivalents. At June 30, 2016, the Company had a total of 6.2 million shares of its common stock, par value $.0005 per share (the “Common Stock”), available for stock-based compensation awards under its 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topics 505 and 718, as interpreted by SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins No. 107 (“SAB No. 107”) and No. 110 (“SAB No. 110”). Stock-based compensation expense is based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant, which is then recognized as expense over the related service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The service period is the period over which the related service is performed, which is generally the same as the vesting period. Currently, the Company issues treasury shares upon the exercise, release or settlement of stock-based compensation awards.
Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based compensation awards requires the input of certain complex and subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock-based compensation awards and the Common Stock price volatility. In addition, determining the appropriate amount of associated periodic expense requires management to estimate the amount of employee forfeitures and the likelihood of the achievement of certain performance targets. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based compensation awards and the associated periodic expense represent management’s best estimates, which involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company deems it necessary in the future to modify the assumptions it made or to use different assumptions, or if the quantity and nature of the Company’s stock-based compensation awards changes, then the amount of expense may need to be adjusted and future stock-based compensation expense could be materially different from what has been recorded in the current period.
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Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company recognized the following amounts of stock-based compensation expense by award type and expense category in the periods indicated (in millions):
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
Award type: | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Stock appreciation rights | $ | 1.3 | $ | 1.2 | $ | 3.0 | $ | 3.4 | ||||||||
Common stock equivalents | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||
Restricted stock units | 9.6 | 9.3 | 23.3 | 23.7 | ||||||||||||
Total (1) | $ | 11.1 | $ | 10.7 | $ | 26.6 | $ | 27.4 | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
Amount recorded in: | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Cost of services and product development | $ | 4.9 | $ | 4.7 | $ | 12.5 | $ | 11.6 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 6.2 | 6.0 | 14.1 | 15.8 | ||||||||||||
Total (1) | $ | 11.1 | $ | 10.7 | $ | 26.6 | $ | 27.4 | ||||||||
(1) | Includes charges of $3.8 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $14.1 million and $14.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for awards to retirement-eligible employees since these awards vest on an accelerated basis. |
As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $69.8 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost, which is expected to be expensed over the remaining weighted-average service period of approximately 2.6 years.
Stock-Based Compensation Awards
The following disclosures provide information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation awards, all of which are classified as equity awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 505:
Stock Appreciation Rights
Stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs) permit the holder to participate in the appreciation of the Common Stock. SARs are settled in shares of Common Stock by the employee once the applicable vesting criteria have been met. SARs vest ratably over a four-year service period and expire seven years from the grant date. The fair value of SARs awards is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over four years. SARs have only been awarded to the Company’s executive officers.
When SARs are exercised, the number of shares of Common Stock issued is calculated as follows: (1) the total proceeds from the SARs exercise (calculated as the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise less the exercise price of the SARs, multiplied by the number of SARs exercised) is divided by (2) the closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the exercise date. The Company withholds a portion of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise to satisfy minimum statutory tax withholding requirements. SARs recipients do not have any stockholder rights until after actual shares of Common Stock are issued in respect of the award, which is subject to the prior satisfaction of the vesting and other criteria relating to such grants.
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The following table summarizes changes in SARs outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2016:
SARs (in millions) | Per Share Weighted- Average Exercise Price | Per Share Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) | |||||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 | 1.3 | $ | 56.47 | $ | 14.92 | 4.46 | ||||||
Granted | 0.4 | 80.06 | 16.50 | 6.61 | ||||||||
Exercised | (0.3 | ) | 43.19 | 13.65 | n/a | |||||||
Outstanding at June 30, 2016 (1), (2) | 1.4 | $ | 64.48 | $ | 15.52 | 4.74 | ||||||
Vested and exercisable at June 30, 2016 (2) | 0.6 | $ | 52.45 | $ | 14.44 | 3.52 | ||||||
(1) As of June 30, 2016, 0.8 million of the SARs outstanding were unvested. The Company expects that substantially all of these unvested awards will vest in future periods.
(2) The total SARs outstanding as of June 30, 2016 had an intrinsic value of $46.6 million. SARs vested and exercisable had an intrinsic value of $27.8 million.
The fair value of the SARs is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
Six Months Ended | |||||
June 30, | |||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||
Expected dividend yield (1) | — | % | — | % | |
Expected stock price volatility (2) | 22 | % | 24 | % | |
Risk-free interest rate (3) | 1.1 | % | 1.5 | % | |
Expected life in years (4) | 4.4 | 4.4 | |||
(1) | The dividend yield assumption is based on the history and expectation of the Company’s dividend payouts. Historically, the Company has not paid cash dividends on its Common Stock. |
(2) | The determination of expected stock price volatility was based on both historical Common Stock prices and implied volatility from publicly traded options in the Common Stock. |
(3) | The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a maturity similar to the expected life of the award. |
(4) | The expected life represents the Company’s weighted-average estimate of the period of time the SARs are expected to be outstanding (that is, period between the service inception date and the expected exercise date). |
Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units (RSUs) give the awardee the right to receive shares of Common Stock when the vesting conditions are met and the restrictions lapse, and each RSU that vests entitles the awardee to one common share. RSU awardees do not have any of the rights of a Gartner stockholder, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends and distributions, until the shares are released. The fair value of RSUs is determined on the date of grant based on the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on that date. Service-based RSUs vest ratably over four years and are expensed on a straight-line basis over four years. Performance-based RSUs are subject to the satisfaction of both performance and service conditions, vest ratably over four years, and are expensed on an accelerated basis.
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The following table summarizes the changes in RSUs outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2016:
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) (in millions) | Per Share Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 | 1.4 | $ | 62.80 | |||
Granted (1) | 0.6 | 80.07 | ||||
Vested and released | (0.6 | ) | 57.94 | |||
Forfeited | (0.1 | ) | 26.57 | |||
Outstanding at June 30, 2016 (2), (3) | 1.3 | $ | 70.99 | |||
(1) | The 0.6 million RSUs granted consisted of 0.3 million performance-based RSUs awarded to executives and 0.3 million service-based RSUs awarded to non-executive employees and non-management board members. The 0.3 million performance-based RSUs represents the target amount of the grant for the year, which is tied to an increase in the Company’s total contract value for 2016. The final number of performance-based RSUs that will ultimately be awarded for 2016 ranges from 0% to 200% of the target amount, with the final number dependent on the actual increase in total contract value for 2016 as measured on December 31, 2016. If the specified minimum level of achievement is not met, the performance-based RSUs will be forfeited in their entirety, and any compensation expense previously recorded will be reversed. |
(2) | The Company expects that substantially all of the outstanding awards will vest in future periods. |
(3) | The weighted-average remaining contractual term of the outstanding RSUs is approximately 1.6 years. |
Common Stock Equivalents
Common stock equivalents (CSEs) are convertible into Common Stock and each CSE entitles the holder to one common share. Members of our Board of Directors receive directors’ fees payable in CSEs unless they opt to receive up to 50% of the fees in cash. Generally, the CSEs have no defined term and are converted into common shares when service as a director terminates unless the director has elected an accelerated release. The fair value of the CSEs awarded is determined on the date of grant based on the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on that date. CSEs vest immediately and as a result are recorded as expense on the date of grant.
The following table summarizes the changes in CSEs outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2016:
Common Stock Equivalents (CSEs) | Per Share Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 | 105,664 | $ | 19.57 | |||
Granted | 3,376 | 97.41 | ||||
Converted to common shares upon grant | (2,700 | ) | 97.41 | |||
Outstanding at June 30, 2016 | 106,340 | $ | 20.05 | |||
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company has an employee stock purchase plan (the “ESP Plan”) under which eligible employees are permitted to purchase Common Stock through payroll deductions, which may not exceed 10% of an employee’s compensation (or $23,750 in any calendar year), at a price equal to 95% of the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange at the end of each offering period. At June 30, 2016, the Company had 1.0 million shares available for purchase under the ESP Plan. The ESP Plan is considered non-compensatory under FASB ASC Topic 718, and as a result the Company does not record stock-based compensation expense for employee share purchases. The Company received $4.7 million and $3.8 million in cash from purchases under the ESP Plan during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
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Note 4 — Segment Information
The Company manages its business through three reportable segments: Research, Consulting and Events. Research consists primarily of subscription-based research products, access to research inquiry, peer networking services, and membership programs. Consulting consists primarily of consulting, measurement engagements, and strategic advisory services. Events consists of various symposia, conferences, and exhibitions.
The Company evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based on gross contribution margin. Gross contribution, as presented in the table below, is defined as operating income excluding certain Cost of services and product development expenses, Selling, general and administrative expense, depreciation, amortization of intangibles, and acquisition and integration charges. Certain bonus and fringe benefit costs included in consolidated Cost of services and product development are not allocated to segment expense. The accounting policies used by the reportable segments are the same as those used by the Company. There are no intersegment revenues. The Company does not identify or allocate assets, including capital expenditures, by reportable segment. Accordingly, assets are not reported by segment because the information is not available by segment and is not reviewed in the evaluation of segment performance or in making decisions in the allocation of resources.
The following tables present operating information about the Company’s reportable segments for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 | Research | Consulting | Events | Consolidated | |||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 449,170 | $ | 94,068 | $ | 66,760 | $ | 609,998 | |||||||
Gross contribution | 313,688 | 33,274 | 36,062 | 383,024 | |||||||||||
Corporate and other expenses | (299,725 | ) | |||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 83,299 | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Research | Consulting | Events | Consolidated | |||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 385,718 | $ | 88,336 | $ | 73,882 | $ | 547,936 | |||||||
Gross contribution | 269,846 | 33,255 | 39,442 | 342,543 | |||||||||||
Corporate and other expenses | (257,323 | ) | |||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 85,220 | |||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 | Research | Consulting | Events | Consolidated | |||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 889,441 | $ | 179,008 | $ | 98,815 | $ | 1,167,264 | |||||||
Gross contribution | 621,874 | 62,651 | 49,045 | 733,570 | |||||||||||
Corporate and other expenses | (585,842 | ) | |||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 147,728 | |||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Research | Consulting | Events | Consolidated | |||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 766,808 | $ | 165,128 | $ | 87,186 | $ | 1,019,122 | |||||||
Gross contribution | 536,911 | 59,582 | 41,884 | 638,377 | |||||||||||
Corporate and other expenses | (504,475 | ) | |||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 133,902 | |||||||||||||
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The following table provides a reconciliation of total segment gross contribution to net income for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Total segment gross contribution | $ | 383,024 | $ | 342,543 | $ | 733,570 | $ | 638,377 | |||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of services and product development - unallocated (1) | 4,448 | 5,102 | 9,769 | 7,512 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 272,009 | 237,991 | 529,420 | 467,513 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 15,235 | 10,547 | 30,252 | 20,675 | |||||||||||
Acquisition and integration charges | 8,033 | 3,683 | 16,401 | 8,775 | |||||||||||
Operating income | 83,299 | 85,220 | 147,728 | 133,902 | |||||||||||
Interest expense and other | 6,108 | 5,708 | 10,230 | 10,150 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 29,280 | 28,357 | 49,420 | 44,246 | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 47,911 | $ | 51,155 | $ | 88,078 | $ | 79,506 | |||||||
(1) | The unallocated amounts consist of certain bonus and related fringe costs recorded in Consolidated cost of services and product development expense that are not allocated to segment expense. The Company's policy is to only allocate bonus and related fringe charges to segments for up to 100% of the segment employee's target bonus. Amounts above 100% are absorbed by corporate. |
Note 5 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the estimated fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired. The evaluation of the recoverability of goodwill is performed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, which requires an annual assessment of potential goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. The annual assessment of the recoverability of recorded goodwill can be based on either a qualitative or quantitative assessment or a combination of the two. Both methods utilize estimates which in turn require judgments and assumptions regarding future trends and events. As a result, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates are subject to uncertainty. In connection with its most recent annual impairment test of goodwill performed as of September 30, 2015, the Company utilized the quantitative approach in assessing the fair value of its reporting units relative to their respective carrying value, which indicated no impairment of recorded goodwill. No triggering events or other circumstances have occurred since that annual testing date that would have necessitated an interim impairment test of goodwill.
The following table presents changes to the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment during the six months ended June 30, 2016 (in thousands):
Research | Consulting | Events | Total | ||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2015 (1) | $ | 575,292 | $ | 98,412 | $ | 41,655 | $ | 715,359 | |||||||
Additions due to acquisitions (2) | 24,128 | — | — | 24,128 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 3,049 | 164 | 52 | 3,265 | |||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2016 | $ | 602,469 | $ | 98,576 | $ | 41,707 | $ | 742,752 | |||||||
(1) | The Company does not have any accumulated goodwill impairment losses. |
(2) | The additions to goodwill include the acquisition of SCM World in June 2016 and certain measurement period working capital adjustments from a prior acquisition. |
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Amortizable Intangible Assets
The following tables present reconciliations of the carrying amounts of amortizable intangible assets as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
June 30, 2016 | Trade Name | Customer Relationships | Content | Software | Non-Compete | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross cost, December 31, 2015 | $ | 4,144 | $ | 62,860 | $ | 5,450 | $ | 16,219 | $ | 29,330 | $ | 118,003 | ||||||||||||
Additions due to acquisitions (1) | 740 | 7,399 | 4,439 | 740 | 1,480 | 14,798 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation impact | 29 | 310 | (140 | ) | (56 | ) | 25 | 168 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross cost | 4,913 | 70,569 | 9,749 | 16,903 | 30,835 | 132,969 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization (2), (3) | (1,209 | ) | (14,228 | ) | (4,434 | ) | (6,280 | ) | (7,551 | ) | (33,702 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2016 | $ | 3,704 | $ | 56,341 | $ | 5,315 | $ | 10,623 | $ | 23,284 | $ | 99,267 | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | Trade Name | Customer Relationships | Content | Software | Non-Compete | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross cost | $ | 4,144 | $ | 62,860 | $ | 5,450 | $ | 16,219 | $ | 29,330 | $ | 118,003 | ||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization (2), (3) | (681 | ) | (9,028 | ) | (3,525 | ) | (3,699 | ) | (4,526 | ) | (21,459 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2015 | $ | 3,463 | $ | 53,832 | $ | 1,925 | $ | 12,520 | $ | 24,804 | $ | 96,544 | ||||||||||||
(1) The additions are for the acquisition of SCM World in June 2016.
(2) Intangible assets are being amortized against earnings over the following periods: Trade name—2 to 4 years; Customer relationships—4 to 7 years; Content—1.5 to 4 years; Software—3 years; Non-compete—3 to 5 years.
(3) Aggregate amortization expense related to intangible assets was $6.2 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $12.4 million and $4.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The estimated future amortization expense by year from amortizable intangibles is as follows (in thousands):
2016 (remaining six months) | $ | 14,467 | |
2017 | 26,896 | ||
2018 | 20,911 | ||
2019 | 15,903 | ||
2020 | 13,812 | ||
2021 | 6,668 | ||
Thereafter | 610 | ||
$ | 99,267 | ||
Note 6 — Debt
2016 Credit Agreement
On June 17, 2016, the Company entered into a new credit arrangement (the "2016 Credit Agreement”) with several lenders to take advantage of favorable financing conditions and to obtain greater flexibility through a larger revolving credit facility. The 2016 Credit Agreement provides for a $600.0 million secured five-year term loan and a $1.2 billion secured five-year revolving credit facility. The term loan and revolving credit facility may be increased, at the Company's option and under certain conditions, by up to an additional $500.0 million in the aggregate plus additional amounts subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including a maximum secured leverage ratio. The term loan will be repaid in 16 consecutive quarterly installments commencing September 30, 2016, plus a final payment due on June 17, 2021, and may be prepaid at any time without penalty or premium (other than applicable breakage costs) at the option of the Company. The revolving credit facility may be used for loans, and up to $50.0
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million may be used for letters of credit. The revolving loans may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed until June 17, 2021, at which time all amounts borrowed must be repaid.
The 2016 Credit Agreement contains certain customary restrictive loan covenants, which the Company was in full compliance with as of June 30, 2016. In addition, the Company’s obligations under the 2016 Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). The Company’s obligations and the Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations are secured by first priority security interests in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, including pledges of all stock and other equity interests in direct subsidiaries owned by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (but only up to 66% of the voting stock of each direct foreign subsidiary or foreign subsidiary holding company owned by Gartner or any Subsidiary Guarantor). The security and pledges are subject to certain exceptions.
On June 17, 2016, the Company drew down $600.0 million in term loans and $200.0 million in revolving loans under the 2016 Credit Agreement which was used to pay down the amounts outstanding under the Company's prior credit arrangement, which was terminated. Additional amounts drawn down under the 2016 Credit Agreement will be used for general working capital purposes. The Company recorded $5.0 million in deferred financing fees related to the 2016 Credit Agreement, which will be amortized to Interest expense, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company also recorded a $1.3 million charge in the six months ended June 30, 2016 in connection with the new credit arrangement for the write-off of fees from a previous financing, which was recorded in Interest expense, net.
Amounts borrowed under the 2016 Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to, at Gartner’s option, either:
(1) the greatest of: (i) the Administrative Agent’s prime rate; (ii) the average rate on overnight federal funds plus 1/2 of 1%; (iii) and the eurodollar rate (adjusted for statutory reserves) plus 1%, in each case plus a margin equal to between 0.125% and 1.0% depending on Gartner’s consolidated leverage ratio as of the end of the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended; or
(2) the eurodollar rate (adjusted for statutory reserves) plus a margin equal to between 1.125% and 2.0%, depending on Gartner’s leverage ratio as of the end of the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended.
The Company’s total outstanding borrowings for the periods indicated were as follows (in thousands):
Balance | Balance | |||||||
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
Description: | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Term loans (1) | $ | 600,000 | $ | 380,000 | ||||
Revolver loans (1), (2) | 230,000 | 440,000 | ||||||
Other (3) | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
Subtotal (4) | $ | 835,000 | $ | 825,000 | ||||
Less: deferred financing fees (5) | (8,985 | ) | — | |||||
Net carrying amount | $ | 826,015 | $ | 825,000 | ||||
(1) | The contractual annualized interest rate as of June 30, 2016 on both the term loan and the revolver was 1.84%, which consisted of a floating eurodollar base rate of 0.46% plus a margin of 1.38%. However, the Company has outstanding interest rate swap contracts, accounted for as cash flow hedges, which effectively convert the floating eurodollar base rates to a fixed base rate on $700.0 million of borrowings (see below). |
(2) | The Company had $966.0 million of available borrowing capacity on the revolver (not including the expansion feature) as of June 30, 2016. |
(3) | Consists of a $5.0 million State of Connecticut economic development loan with a 3.00% fixed rate of interest. The loan was originated in 2012 and has a 10 year maturity. Principal payments are deferred for the first five years and the loan may be repaid at any point by the Company without penalty. The loan has a principal forgiveness provision in which up to $2.5 million of the loan may be forgiven if the Company meets certain employment targets during the first five years of the loan. |
(4) | The average annual effective rate on the Company's total debt outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2016, including the effect of the interest rate swaps discussed below, was approximately 2.75%. |
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(5) | Includes $5.0 million of deferred financing fees related to the 2016 Credit Agreement and $3.9 million of fees previously classified in Other Assets. The fees are being amortized to Interest Expense, net over the period of the 2016 Credit Agreement. |
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company has three fixed-for-floating interest rate swap contracts which it designates as accounting hedges of the forecasted interest payments on $700.0 million of the Company’s variable rate borrowings. The Company pays base fixed rates on these three swaps ranging from 1.53% to 1.60% and in return receives a floating eurodollar base rate on $700.0 million of 30 day notional borrowings.
The Company accounts for the interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815. Since the swaps hedge forecasted interest payments, changes in the fair value of the swaps are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of equity, as long as the swaps continue to be highly effective hedges of the designated interest rate risk. Any ineffective portion of change in the fair value of the hedges is recorded in earnings. All of the swaps were highly effective hedges of the forecasted interest payments as of June 30, 2016. The interest rate swaps had a total negative fair value (liability) to the Company of $20.3 million at June 30, 2016, which is deferred and recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect.
Letters of Credit
The Company had $4.0 million of letters of credit outstanding at June 30, 2016. The Company enters into these instruments in the ordinary course of business to facilitate transactions with customers and others.
Note 7 — Equity
Share Repurchase Program
The Company has a $1.2 billion board approved authorization to repurchase the Company's common stock. The Company may repurchase its common stock from time to time in amounts and at prices the Company deems appropriate, subject to the availability of stock, prevailing market conditions, the trading price of the stock, the Company’s financial performance and other conditions. Repurchases may be made through open market purchases, private transactions or other transactions and will be funded from cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s credit arrangement.
The Company’s recent share repurchase activity is presented in the following table:
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Number of shares repurchased (1) | 66,087 | 1,244,010 | 532,910 | 5,328,600 | |||||||||||
Cash paid for repurchased shares (in thousands) (2) | $ | 6,480 | $ | 117,400 | $ | 51,967 | $ | 441,442 | |||||||
(1) The average purchase price for repurchased shares was $98.03 and $84.00 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, and $84.03 and $82.34 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.
(2) The cash paid for the six months ended June 30, 2016 includes $7.2 million for share repurchases that were executed in late December 2015 and were settled in early January 2016.
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income ("AOCL/I")
The following tables disclose information about changes in AOCL/I by component and the related amounts reclassified out of AOCL/I to income during the periods indicated (net of tax, in thousands) (1):
For the three months ended June 30, 2016:
Interest Rate Swaps | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||||
Balance - March 31, 2016 | $ | (10,212 | ) | $ | (4,795 | ) | $ | (34,423 | ) | $ | (49,430 | ) | |||
Changes during the period: | |||||||||||||||
Change in AOCL/I before reclassifications to income | (3,095 | ) | — | 3,335 | 240 | ||||||||||
Reclassifications from AOCL/I to income during the period (2), (3) | 1,149 | 38 | — | 1,187 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income for the period | (1,946 | ) | 38 | 3,335 | 1,427 | ||||||||||
Balance – June 30, 2016 | $ | (12,158 | ) | $ | (4,757 | ) | $ | (31,088 | ) | $ | (48,003 | ) | |||
For the three months ended June 30, 2015:
Interest Rate Swaps | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2015 | $ | (2,844 | ) | $ | (5,975 | ) | $ | (33,509 | ) | $ | (42,328 | ) | |||
Changes during the period: | |||||||||||||||
Change in AOCL/I before reclassifications to income | (596 | ) | — | 6,224 | 5,628 | ||||||||||
Reclassifications from AOCL/I to income during the period (2), (3) | 1,030 | 53 | — | 1,083 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income for the period | 434 | 53 | 6,224 | 6,711 | |||||||||||
Balance – June 30, 2015 | $ | (2,410 | ) | $ | (5,922 | ) | $ | (27,285 | ) | $ | (35,617 | ) | |||
For the six months ended June 30, 2016:
Interest Rate Swaps | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2015 | $ | (3,079 | ) | $ | (4,832 | ) | $ | (36,491 | ) | $ | (44,402 | ) | |||
Changes during the period: | |||||||||||||||
Change in AOCL/I before reclassifications to income | (11,452 | ) | — | 5,403 | (6,049 | ) | |||||||||
Reclassifications from AOCL/I to income during the period (2), (3) | 2,373 | 75 | — | 2,448 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss for the period | (9,079 | ) | 75 | 5,403 | (3,601 | ) | |||||||||
Balance – June 30, 2016 | $ | (12,158 | ) | $ | (4,757 | ) | $ | (31,088 | ) | $ | (48,003 | ) | |||
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For the six months ended June 30, 2015:
Interest Rate Swaps | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2014 | $ | (1,740 | ) | $ | (6,028 | ) | $ | (13,402 | ) | $ | (21,170 | ) | |||
Changes during the period: | |||||||||||||||
Change in AOCL/I before reclassifications to income | (2,453 | ) | — | (13,883 | ) | (16,336 | ) | ||||||||
Reclassifications from AOCL/I to income during the period (2), (3) | 1,783 | 106 | — | 1,889 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss for the period | (670 | ) | 106 | (13,883 | ) | (14,447 | ) | ||||||||
Balance – June 30, 2015 | $ | (2,410 | ) | $ | (5,922 | ) | $ | (27,285 | ) | $ | (35,617 | ) | |||
(1) | Amounts in parentheses represent debits (deferred losses). |
(2) | The reclassifications related to interest rate swaps (cash flow hedges) were recorded in Interest expense, net of tax effect. See Note 9 – Derivatives and Hedging for information regarding the hedges. |
(3) | The reclassifications related to defined benefit pension plans were recorded in Selling, general and administrative expense, net of tax effect. See Note 11 – Employee Benefits for information regarding the Company’s defined benefit pension plans. |
Note 8 — Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes was $29.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $28.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015. The effective income tax rate was 37.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 35.7% for the same period in 2015. The quarter-over-quarter increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to increases in non-deductible expenses relating to acquisitions and unrecognized tax benefits partially offset by an estimated greater percentage of 2016 pretax income being earned in lower tax countries and favorable tax law changes.
The provision for income taxes was $49.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $44.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The effective income tax rate was 35.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 35.8% for the same period in 2015. The increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to increases in non-deductible expenses relating to acquisitions and unrecognized tax benefits mostly offset by an estimated greater percentage of 2016 pretax income being earned in lower tax countries and favorable tax law changes.
As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $31.6 million and $25.9 million, respectively. It is reasonably possible that gross unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $2.7 million within the next 12 months, due to the anticipated closure of audits and the expiration of certain statutes of limitation.
In July 2015, the United States Tax Court (the “Court”) issued an opinion relating to the treatment of stock-based compensation expense in an inter-company cost-sharing arrangement. In its opinion, the Court held that affiliated companies may exclude stock-based compensation expense from their cost-sharing arrangement. The Internal Revenue Service is currently appealing the decision. Because of uncertainty related to the final resolution of this litigation and the recognition of potential benefits to the Company, the Company has not recorded any financial benefit associated with this decision. The Company will monitor developments related to this case and the potential impact of those developments on the Company’s current and future consolidated financial statements.
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Note 9 — Derivatives and Hedging
The Company enters into a limited number of derivative contracts to mitigate the cash flow risk associated with changes in interest rates on variable rate debt and changes in foreign exchange rates on forecasted foreign currency transactions. The Company accounts for its outstanding derivative contracts in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815, which requires all derivatives, including derivatives designated as accounting hedges, to be recorded on the balance sheet and recognized at fair value. The following tables provide information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivatives contracts as of the dates indicated (in thousands, except for number of outstanding contracts):
June 30, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative Contract Type | Number of Outstanding Contracts | Notional Amounts | Fair Value Asset (Liability), Net (3) | Balance Sheet Line Item | Unrealized Loss Recorded in OCI | ||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (1) | 3 | $ | 700,000 | $ | (20,263 | ) | Other liabilities | $ | (12,158 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency forwards (2) | 22 | 31,900 | (93 | ) | Accrued liabilities | — | |||||||||||
Total | 25 | $ | 731,900 | $ | (20,356 | ) | $ | (12,158 | ) | ||||||||
December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative Contract Type | Number of Outstanding Contracts | Notional Amounts | Fair Value Asset (Liability), Net (3) | Balance Sheet Line Item | Unrealized Loss Recorded in OCI | ||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (1) | 3 | $ | 700,000 | $ | (5,132 | ) | Other liabilities | $ | (3,079 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency forwards (2) | 102 | 193,610 | 235 | Accrued liabilities | — | ||||||||||||
Total | 105 | $ | 893,610 | $ | (4,897 | ) | $ | (3,079 | ) | ||||||||
(1) | The swaps have been designated and are accounted for as cash flow hedges of the forecasted interest payments on borrowings. As a result, changes in fair value of the swaps are deferred and are recorded in AOCL/I, net of tax effect (see Note 6 — Debt for additional information). |
(2) | The Company has foreign exchange transaction risk since it typically enters into transactions in the normal course of business that are denominated in foreign currencies that differ from the local functional currency. The Company enters into short-term foreign currency forward exchange contracts to mitigate the cash flow risk associated with changes in foreign currency rates on forecasted foreign currency transactions. These contracts are accounted for at fair value with realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized in Other expense, net since the Company does not designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes. All of the contracts outstanding at June 30, 2016 matured by the end of July 2016. |
(3) | See Note 10 — Fair Value Disclosures for the determination of the fair value of these instruments. |
At June 30, 2016, all of the Company’s derivative counterparties were investment grade financial institutions. The Company did not have any collateral arrangements with its derivative counterparties, and none of the derivative contracts contained credit-risk related contingent features. The following table provides information regarding amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for derivative contracts for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
Amount recorded in: | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense, net (1) | $ | 1,969 | $ | 2,084 | $ | 3,956 | $ | 3,338 | ||||||||
Other expense (income), net (2) | 240 | 185 | 575 | 442 | ||||||||||||
Total expense, net | $ | 2,209 | $ | 2,269 | $ | 4,531 | $ | 3,780 | ||||||||
(1) | Consists of interest expense from interest rate swap contracts. |
(2) | Consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts. |
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Note 10 — Fair Value Disclosures
The Company’s financial instruments include cash equivalents, fees receivable from customers, accounts payable, and accruals which are normally short-term in nature. The Company believes the carrying amounts of these financial instruments reasonably approximate their fair value due to their short-term nature. The Company’s financial instruments also include its outstanding borrowings. The Company believes the carrying amount of the outstanding borrowings reasonably approximates their fair value since the rate of interest on these variable rate borrowings reflect current market rates of interest for similar instruments with comparable maturities.
The Company enters into a limited number of derivatives transactions but does not enter into repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, or master netting arrangements. Receivables or payables that result from derivatives transactions are recorded gross in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
FASB ASC Topic 820 provides a framework for the measurement of fair value and a valuation hierarchy based upon the transparency of inputs used in the valuation of assets and liabilities. Classification within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the resulting fair value measurement. The valuation hierarchy contains three levels. Level 1 measurements consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 measurements include significant other observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets; observable inputs such as interest rates and yield curves; and other market-corroborated inputs. Level 3 measurements include significant unobservable inputs, such as internally-created valuation models. The Company does not currently utilize Level 3 valuation inputs to remeasure any of its assets or liabilities. However, level 3 inputs may be used by the Company in its required annual impairment review of recorded goodwill. Information regarding the periodic assessment of the Company’s goodwill is included in Note 5 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets. The Company does not typically transfer assets or liabilities between different levels of the fair value hierarchy.
The Company’s assets and liabilities that are remeasured to fair value are presented in the following table (in thousands):
Fair Value | Fair Value | |||||||
Description: | June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
Assets: | ||||||||
Values based on Level 1 inputs: | ||||||||
Deferred compensation plan assets (1) | $ | 9,978 | $ | 8,671 | ||||
Total Level 1 inputs | 9,978 | 8,671 | ||||||
Values based on Level 2 inputs: | ||||||||
Deferred compensation plan assets (1) | 25,856 | 25,474 | ||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2) | 22 | 610 | ||||||
Total Level 2 inputs | 25,878 | 26,084 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 35,856 | $ | 34,755 | ||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||
Values based on Level 2 inputs: | ||||||||
Deferred compensation plan liabilities (1) | $ | 40,664 | $ | 39,071 | ||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2) | 115 | 375 | ||||||
Interest rate swap contracts (3) | 20,263 | 5,132 | ||||||
Total Level 2 inputs | 61,042 | 44,578 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | $ | 61,042 | $ | 44,578 | ||||
(1) | The Company has a deferred compensation plan for the benefit of certain highly compensated officers, managers and other key employees. The assets consist of investments in money market and mutual funds, and company-owned life insurance contracts, all of which are valued based on Level 1 or Level 2 valuation inputs. The related deferred compensation plan liabilities are recorded at fair value, or the estimated amount needed to settle the liability, which the Company considers to be a Level 2 input. |
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(2) | The Company enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Valuation of the foreign currency forward contracts is based on observable foreign currency exchange rates in active markets, which the Company considers a Level 2 input. |
(3) | The Company has interest rate swap contracts which hedge the risk of variability from interest payments on its borrowings (see Note 6 — Debt). The fair value of the swaps is based on mark-to-market valuations prepared by a third-party broker. The valuations are based on observable interest rates from recently executed market transactions and other observable market data, which the Company considers Level 2 inputs. The Company independently corroborates the reasonableness of the valuations prepared by the third-party broker through the use of an electronic quotation service. |
Note 11 — Employee Benefits
Defined-Benefit Pension Plans
The Company has defined-benefit pension plans in several of its international locations. Benefits paid under these plans are based on years of service and level of employee compensation. The Company’s defined-benefit pension plans are accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC Topics 715 and 960. Net periodic pension expense was $0.8 million and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, and $0.6 million and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.
Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies
Contingencies
The Company is involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the potential liability, if any, in excess of amounts already accrued from all proceedings, claims and litigation will not have a material effect on our financial position, cash flows, or results of operations when resolved in a future period.
The Company has various agreements that may obligate us to indemnify the other party with respect to certain matters. Generally, these indemnification clauses are included in contracts arising in the normal course of business under which we customarily agree to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations related to such matters as title to assets sold and licensed or certain intellectual property rights. It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnification agreements due to the conditional nature of the Company’s obligations and the unique facts of each particular agreement. Historically, payments made by us under these agreements have not been material. As of June 30, 2016, the Company did not have any material payment obligations under any such indemnification agreements.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The purpose of the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is to help facilitate the understanding of significant factors influencing the quarterly operating results, financial condition and cash flows of Gartner, Inc. Additionally, the MD&A also conveys our expectations of the potential impact of known trends, events or uncertainties that may impact future results. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "2015 Form 10-K"). Historical results and percentage relationships are not necessarily indicative of operating results for future periods. References to “Gartner,” the "Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” in this MD&A are to Gartner, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or other words of similar meaning.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in “Factors That May Affect Future Performance” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and in the 2015 Form 10-K. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur. Readers should review carefully our risk factors described in the 2015 Form 10-K.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Gartner, Inc. is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. We deliver the technology-related insight necessary for our clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior information technology (IT) leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to supply chain professionals, digital marketing professionals and technology investors, we are the valuable partner to clients in 10,477 distinct enterprises. We work with clients to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual roles. Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and as of June 30, 2016, had 8,338 associates, including 1,830 research analysts and consultants, and we operate in more than 90 countries.
The foundation for all Gartner products and services is our independent research on IT, supply chain, and digital marketing issues. The findings from this research are delivered through our three business segments – Research, Consulting and Events:
Research provides objective insight on critical and timely technology and supply chain initiatives for CIOs and other IT professionals, supply chain leaders, digital marketing and other business professionals, as well as technology companies and the institutional investment community, through reports, briefings, proprietary tools, access to our analysts, peer networking services and membership programs that enable our clients to make better decisions about their IT, supply chain and digital marketing initiatives.
Consulting provides customized solutions to unique client needs through on-site, day-to-day support, as well as proprietary tools for measuring and improving IT performance with a focus on cost, performance, efficiency and quality.
Events provides IT, supply chain, digital marketing, and other business professionals the opportunity to attend various symposia, conferences and exhibitions to learn, contribute and network with their peers. From our flagship event Symposium/ITxpo, to summits focused on specific technologies and industries, to experimental workshop-style seminars, our events distill the latest Gartner research into applicable insight and advice.
For more information regarding Gartner and our products and services, visit gartner.com.
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BUSINESS MEASUREMENTS
We believe the following business measurements are important performance indicators for our business segments:
BUSINESS SEGMENT | BUSINESS MEASUREMENTS | |
Research | Total contract value represents the value attributable to all of our subscription-related contracts. It is calculated as the annualized value of all contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to the duration of the contract. Total contract value primarily includes Research deliverables for which revenue is recognized on a ratable basis, as well as other deliverables (primarily Events tickets) for which revenue is recognized when the deliverable is utilized. | |
Research contract value represents the value attributable to all of our subscription-related research products that recognize revenue on a ratable basis. Contract value is calculated as the annualized value of all subscription research contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to the duration of the contract. | ||
Client retention rate represents a measure of client satisfaction and renewed business relationships at a specific point in time. Client retention is calculated on a percentage basis by dividing our current clients, who were also clients a year ago, by all clients from a year ago. Client retention is calculated at an enterprise level, which represents a single company or customer. | ||
Wallet retention rate represents a measure of the amount of contract value we have retained with clients over a twelve-month period. Wallet retention is calculated on a percentage basis by dividing the contract value of clients, who were clients one year ago, by the total contract value from a year ago, excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange. When wallet retention exceeds client retention, it is an indication of retention of higher-spending clients, or increased spending by retained clients, or both. Wallet retention is calculated at an enterprise level, which represents a single company or customer. | ||
Consulting | Consulting backlog represents future revenue to be derived from in-process consulting, measurement and strategic advisory services engagements. | |
Utilization rate represents a measure of productivity of our consultants. Utilization rates are calculated for billable headcount on a percentage basis by dividing total hours billed by total hours available to bill. | ||
Billing Rate represents earned billable revenue divided by total billable hours. | ||
Average annualized revenue per billable headcount represents a measure of the revenue generating ability of an average billable consultant and is calculated periodically by multiplying the average billing rate per hour times the utilization percentage times the billable hours available for one year. | ||
Events | Number of events represents the total number of hosted events completed during the period. | |
Number of attendees represents the total number of people who attend events. | ||
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION
We have executed a consistent growth strategy since 2005 to drive double-digit revenue and earnings growth. The fundamentals of our strategy include a focus on creating extraordinary research insight, delivering innovative and highly differentiated product offerings, building a strong sales capability, providing world class client service with a focus on client engagement and retention, and continuously improving our operational effectiveness.
We had total revenues of $610.0 million in the second quarter of 2016, an increase of 11% compared to the second quarter of 2015 and 12% adjusted for the foreign exchange impact. Revenues in our Research business increased 16% and 17% adjusted for the foreign exchange impact. In Consulting, revenues increased 6% on both a reported basis and adjusted for the foreign exchange impact. Events revenues decreased 10% on both a reported basis and adjusted for the foreign exchange impact due to timing. For a more complete discussion of our results by segment, see Segment Results below. For the second quarter of 2016, we had net income of $47.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.57.
Our operating cash flow was $153.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $149.4 million for the same period in 2015. We had $445.1 million of cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2016 and $966.0 million of available borrowing capacity on our revolver facility. We refinanced our debt in June 2016 to take advantage of favorable financing conditions and to obtain greater flexibility through a larger revolving credit facility. Our new credit arrangement provides for a $600.0 million secured five-year term loan and a $1.2 billion secured five-year revolving credit facility. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, we used $25.3 million in cash for capital expenditures, $52.0 million to repurchase our common shares, and $29.9 million for acquisitions.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements requires the application of appropriate accounting policies and the use of estimates. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Gartner, Inc. contained in the 2015 Form 10-K. Management considers the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements because their application requires complex and subjective management judgments and estimates. Specific risks for these critical accounting policies are also described below.
The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events. We develop our estimates using both current and historical experience, as well as other factors, including the general economic environment and actions we may take in the future. We adjust such estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. However, our estimates may involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. In addition, these estimates are based on our best judgment at a point in time and as such these estimates may ultimately differ materially from actual results. On-going changes in our estimates could be material and would be reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future periods.
Our critical accounting policies are as follows:
Revenue recognition — Revenue is recognized in accordance with the requirements of U.S. GAAP as well as SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition (“SAB 104”). Revenue is only recognized once all required criteria for revenue recognition have been met. Revenue by significant source is accounted for as follows:
• | Research revenues are mainly derived from subscription contracts for research products. The related revenues are deferred and recognized ratably over the applicable contract term. Fees derived from assisting organizations in selecting the right business software for their needs is recognized when the leads are provided to vendors. |
• | Consulting revenues are principally generated from fixed fee and time and material engagements. Revenues from fixed fee contracts are recognized on a proportional performance basis. Revenues from time and materials engagements are recognized as work is delivered and/or services are provided. Revenues related to contract optimization contracts are contingent in nature and are only recognized upon satisfaction of all conditions related to their payment. |
• | Events revenues are deferred and then recognized upon the completion of the related symposium, conference or exhibition. |
The majority of research contracts are billable upon signing, absent special terms granted on a limited basis from time to time. All research contracts are non-cancelable and non-refundable, except for government contracts that may have cancellation or fiscal funding clauses. It is our policy to record the amount of the contract that is billable as a fee receivable at the time the contract is signed with a corresponding amount as deferred revenue, since the contract represents a legally enforceable claim.
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Uncollectible fees receivable — We maintain an allowance for losses which is composed of a bad debt allowance and a sales reserve. Provisions are charged against earnings, either as a reduction in revenues or an increase to expense. The determination of the allowance for losses is based on historical loss experience, an assessment of current economic conditions, the aging of outstanding receivables, the financial health of specific clients, and probable losses. This evaluation is inherently judgmental and requires estimates. These valuation reserves are periodically re-evaluated and adjusted as more information about the ultimate collectability of fees receivable becomes available. Circumstances that could cause our valuation reserves to increase include changes in our clients’ liquidity and credit quality, other factors negatively impacting our clients’ ability to pay their obligations as they come due, and the effectiveness of our collection efforts.
The following table provides our total fees receivable and the related allowance for losses (in thousands):
June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
Total fees receivable | $ | 621,145 | $ | 587,663 | |||
Allowance for losses | (7,350 | ) | (6,900 | ) | |||
Fees receivable, net | $ | 613,795 | $ | 580,763 | |||
Goodwill and other intangible assets —The Company evaluates recorded goodwill in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic No. 350, which requires goodwill to be assessed for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In addition, an impairment evaluation of our amortizable intangible assets may also be performed if events or circumstances indicate potential impairment. Among the factors that could trigger an impairment review are our current operating results relative to our annual plan or historical performance; changes in our strategic plan or use of our assets; restructuring charges or other changes in our business segments; competitive pressures and changes in the general economy or in the markets in which we operate; and a significant decline in our stock price and our market capitalization relative to our net book value.
ASC Topic No. 350 requires an annual assessment of the recoverability of recorded goodwill, which can be either quantitative or qualitative in nature, or a combination of the two. Both methods require the use of estimates which in turn contain judgments and assumptions regarding future trends and events. As a result, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates are subject to uncertainty. If our annual goodwill impairment evaluation determines that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its related carrying amount, we may recognize an impairment charge against earnings. Among the factors we consider in a qualitative assessment are general economic conditions and the competitive environment; actual and projected reporting unit financial performance; forward-looking business measurements; and external market assessments. A quantitative analysis requires
management to consider all of the factors relevant to a qualitative assessment, as well as the utilization of detailed financial projections, to include the rate of revenue growth, profitability, and cash flows, as well as assumptions regarding discount rates, the Company's weighted-average cost of capital, and other data, in order to determine a fair value for our reporting units.
We conducted a quantitative assessment of the fair value of all of the Company's reporting units during the third quarter of 2015. The results of this test determined that the fair values of the Company's reporting units continue to exceed their respective carrying values.
Accounting for income taxes — The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. We estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions where we operate. This process involves estimating our current tax expense together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheets. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We consider the availability of loss carryforwards, projected reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position.
Accounting for stock-based compensation — The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic No. 505 and 718 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins No. 107 (“SAB No. 107”) and No. 110 (“SAB No. 110”). The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense, which is based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant, over the related service period, net of estimated forfeitures (see Note 3 — Stock-Based Compensation in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information). Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock compensation awards requires the input of certain complex and subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock compensation award and the Company’s Common Stock price volatility. In addition, determining the appropriate amount
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of associated periodic expense requires management to estimate the rate of employee forfeitures and the likelihood of achievement of certain performance targets. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock compensation awards and the associated periodic expense represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company deems it necessary in the future to modify the assumptions it made or to use different assumptions, or if the quantity and nature of the Company’s stock-based compensation awards changes, then the amount of expense may need to be adjusted and future stock-based compensation expense could be materially different from what has been recorded in the current period.
Restructuring and other accruals — We may record accruals for severance costs, costs associated with excess facilities that we have leased, contract terminations, asset impairments, and other costs as a result of on-going actions we undertake to streamline our organization, reposition certain businesses and reduce ongoing costs. Estimates of costs to be incurred to complete these actions, such as future lease payments, sublease income, the fair value of assets, and severance and related benefits, are based on assumptions at the time the actions are initiated. These accruals may need to be adjusted to the extent actual costs differ from such estimates. In addition, these actions may be revised due to changes in business conditions that we did not foresee at the time such plans were approved. We also record accruals during the year for our various employee cash incentive programs. Amounts accrued at the end of each reporting period are based on our estimates and may require adjustment as the ultimate amount paid for these incentives are sometimes not known with certainty until the end of our fiscal year.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overall Results
The following tables present selected line items and period-over-period changes in our interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 | Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Income Increase (Decrease) $ | Increase (Decrease) % | |||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 609,998 | $ | 547,936 | $ | 62,062 | 11 | % | ||||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||
Cost of services and product development | 231,422 | 210,495 | (20,927 | ) | (10 | ) | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 272,009 | 237,991 | (34,018 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation | 9,025 | 8,440 | (585 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 6,210 | 2,107 | (4,103 | ) | >(100) | |||||||||
Acquisition and integration charges | 8,033 | 3,683 | (4,350 | ) | >(100) | |||||||||
Operating income | 83,299 | 85,220 | (1,921 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||
Interest expense, net | (7,356 | ) | (5,240 | ) | (2,116 | ) | (40 | ) | ||||||
Other income (expense), net | 1,248 | (468 | ) | 1,716 | >100 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 29,280 | 28,357 | (923 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 47,911 | $ | 51,155 | $ | (3,244 | ) | (6 | )% | |||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Income Increase (Decrease) $ | Increase (Decrease) % | |||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 1,167,264 | $ | 1,019,122 | $ | 148,142 | 15 | % | ||||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||
Cost of services and product development | 443,463 | 388,257 | (55,206 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 529,420 | 467,513 | (61,907 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation | 17,859 | 16,429 | (1,430 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 12,393 | 4,246 | (8,147 | ) | >(100) | |||||||||
Acquisition and integration charges | 16,401 | 8,775 | (7,626 | ) | (87 | ) | ||||||||
Operating income | 147,728 | 133,902 | 13,826 | 10 | ||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (13,362 | ) | (8,720 | ) | (4,642 | ) | (53 | ) | ||||||
Other income (expense), net | 3,132 | (1,430 | ) | 4,562 | >100 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 49,420 | 44,246 | (5,174 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 88,078 | $ | 79,506 | $ | 8,572 | 11 | % | ||||||
Total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2016 increased $62.1 million, to $610.0 million, an increase of 11% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015, and 12% adjusted for the impact of foreign currency exchange. Reported revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2016 increased $148.1 million, to $1,167.3 million, an increase of 15% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015, and 16% adjusted for foreign exchange impact. Please refer to the section of this MD&A below entitled “Segment Results” for a discussion of revenues and results by segment.
Cost of services and product development increased $20.9 million, or 10%, in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the second quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to $16.0 million in higher payroll and related benefits costs resulting from increased headcount and approximately $9.0 million in additional program costs. These increases were partially offset by $4.0 million in lower events costs, which was due to timing, as three large events held in the first quarter of 2016 were held in the
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second quarter of 2015. Excluding the foreign exchange impact, costs also increased 10% quarter-over-quarter. Cost of services and product development as a percentage of revenues was 38% for both second quarter of 2016 and 2015. For the six month periods, Cost of services and product development expense increased $55.2 million, or 14% (15% adjusted for the foreign exchange impact) in 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Consistent with the quarterly increase, the additional expense was primarily due to higher payroll and benefit costs due to increased headcount. Cost of services and product development as a percentage of revenues was 38% for both the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense increased $34.0 million, or 14% quarter-over-quarter. Adjusted for the foreign exchange impact, quarter-over-quarter SG&A expense increased 15%.The increase was primarily due to $29.0 million of additional payroll cost and commissions. We also had $5.0 million in higher program costs, such as recruiting and relocation, internal meetings, and facilities costs. The higher payroll cost was mostly driven by additional headcount, which increased 15% quarter-over-quarter overall. The headcount increase includes additional quota-bearing sales associates, which increased 11%, to 2,297 at June 30, 2016. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, SG&A expense increased 13%, driven by the same factors as the quarterly increase. Adjusted for the foreign exchange impact, SG&A expense increased 15%.
Depreciation expense increased in both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2016 due to our additional investment in property, equipment, and leasehold improvements.
Amortization of intangibles increased in both the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 due to the additional amortization resulting from the intangibles recorded from our 2015 acquisitions.
Acquisition and integration charges are directly-related to our business acquisitions and include amounts accrued for payments contingent on the achievement of certain employment conditions, legal, consulting, and severance costs. These charges amounted to $8.0 million and $16.4 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, which represent substantially higher charges compared to the similar periods in 2015. Both the three and six month increases are attributable to our 2015 acquisitions.
Operating income decreased $1.9 million, or 2%, quarter-over-quarter. Operating income as a percentage of revenues was approximately 14% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to 16% in the prior year quarter. The decrease was primarily due to higher SG&A expenses and acquisition and integration charges in the 2016 quarter, as well as lower contributions in our Consulting and Events segments (see the Segment Results section below for further discussion). For the six month periods, operating income increased 10% in 2016 compared to 2015, while operating income as a percentage of revenues was 13% for both six month periods.
Interest expense, net increased in both the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 primarily due to additional borrowings in 2016, and to a lesser extent, the write-off of $1.3 million in previously capitalized debt issuance costs related to our refinancing in June 2016.
Other income (expense), net for the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily reflects the net impact of foreign currency gains and losses from our hedging activities, and for the six months ended June 30, 2016 it also includes the sale of certain state tax credits and the recognition of other tax incentives. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, Other income (expense) primarily includes the net impact of foreign currency exchange gains and losses related to certain hedging activities.
Provision for income taxes was $29.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $28.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015. The effective income tax rate was 37.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 35.7% for the same period in 2015. The quarter-over-quarter increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to increases in non-deductible expenses relating to acquisitions and unrecognized tax benefits partially offset by an estimated greater percentage of 2016 pretax income being earned in lower tax countries and favorable tax law changes.
The provision for income taxes was $49.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $44.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The effective income tax rate was 35.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 35.8% for the same period in 2015. The increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to increases in non-deductible expenses relating to acquisitions and unrecognized tax benefits mostly offset by an estimated greater percentage of 2016 pretax income being earned in lower tax countries and favorable tax law changes.
Net income decreased 6% quarter-over-quarter, to $47.9 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016, while diluted earnings per share decreased 7%, to $0.57 per share. The decreases in 2016 were primarily driven by lower operating income, as well as additional interest expense and a higher effective tax rate. For the six month periods, net income increased 11% in 2016 compared to 2015 while diluted earnings per share increased 14%, to $1.05 per share due to higher operating income and a lower share count.
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SEGMENT RESULTS
We evaluate reportable segment performance and allocate resources based on gross contribution margin. Gross contribution is defined as operating income excluding certain Cost of services and product development charges, SG&A expenses, Depreciation, Acquisition and integration charges, and Amortization of intangibles. Gross contribution margin is defined as gross contribution as a percentage of revenues.
The following sections present the results of our three reportable business segments:
Research
As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 | As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Increase (Decrease) | Percentage Increase (Decrease) | As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 | As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Increase (Decrease) | Percentage Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Measurements: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues (1) | $ | 449,170 | $ | 385,718 | $ | 63,452 | 16 | % | $ | 889,441 | $ | 766,808 | $ | 122,633 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||
Gross contribution (1) | $ | 313,688 | $ | 269,846 | $ | 43,842 | 16 | % | $ | 621,874 | $ | 536,911 | $ | 84,963 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||
Gross contribution margin | 70 | % | 70 | % | — | — | 70 | % | 70 | % | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Business Measurements: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total contract value (1), (2) | $ | 1,754,100 | $ | 1,613,000 | $ | 141,100 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Research contract value (1), (3) | $ | 1,735,000 | $ | 1,594,800 | $ | 140,200 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Client retention | 83 | % | 85 | % | (2) points | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wallet retention | 104 | % | 106 | % | (2) points | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | In thousands. |
(2) | Total contract value represents the value attributable to all of our subscription-related contracts. It is calculated as the annualized value of all contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to the duration of the contract. Total contract value primarily includes Research deliverables for which revenue is recognized on a ratable basis, as well as other deliverables (primarily Events tickets) for which revenue is recognized when the deliverable is utilized. |
(3) | Research contract value represents the value attributable to all of our subscription-related research products that recognize revenue on a ratable basis. Contract value is calculated as the annualized value of all subscription research contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to the duration of the contract. |
Research segment revenues increased 16% in the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same quarter in 2015. Adjusted for the impact of foreign currency exchange, revenues increased by 17% in the 2016 period. The segment gross contribution margin was 70% for both the second quarter of 2016 and 2015. For the six month periods, revenues increased 16% in 2016 on a reported basis and 18% adjusted for the foreign currency impact, while the gross contribution margin was 70% for both six month periods.
Total contract value at June 30, 2016 increased 9% compared to June 30, 2015 on a reported basis and 13% adjusted for the negative impact of foreign currency exchange. Total contract value as of June 30, 2016 increased by double-digits across all of the Company’s sales regions and client sizes and virtually every industry segment compared to June 30, 2015. At June 30, 2016, enterprise client retention was 83% and enterprise wallet retention was 104%.
30
Consulting
As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 | As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Increase (Decrease) | Percentage Increase (Decrease) | As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 | As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Increase (Decrease) | Percentage Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Measurements: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues (1) | $ | 94,068 | $ | 88,336 | $ | 5,732 | 6 | % | $ | 179,008 | $ | 165,128 | $ | 13,880 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||
Gross contribution (1) | $ | 33,274 | $ | 33,255 | $ | 19 | — | % | $ | 62,651 | $ | 59,582 | $ | 3,069 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||
Gross contribution margin | 35 | % | 38 | % | (3) points | — | 35 | % | 36 | % | (1) point | — | |||||||||||||||||
Business Measurements: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Backlog (1) | $ | 108,600 | $ | 97,400 | $ | 11,200 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Billable headcount | 626 | 564 | 62 | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consultant utilization | 69 | % | 68 | % | 1 point | — | 68 | % | 68 | % | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Average annualized revenue per billable headcount (1) | $ | 408 | $ | 409 | $ | (1 | ) | — | % | $ | 397 | $ | 402 | $ | (5 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||||||
(1) | Dollars in thousands. |
Consulting revenues increased $5.7 million, or 6%, quarter-over-quarter. The impact of foreign currency exchange was not significant. Revenue increased in core consulting but declined in our contract optimization practice. The gross contribution margin was 35% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 38% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, with the decline driven by higher delivery costs in core consulting and lower revenue in contract optimization.
For the six month periods, Consulting revenues increased $13.9 million, or 8%, in 2016 and adjusted for foreign exchange impact, revenue growth was 9%, while the gross contribution margin declined by 1 point. Backlog was $108.6 million at June 30, 2016, an increase of 11% compared to June 30, 2015.
31
Events
As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 | As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Increase (Decrease) | Percentage Increase (Decrease) | As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 | As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Increase (Decrease) | Percentage Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Measurements: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues (1) | $ | 66,760 | $ | 73,882 | $ | (7,122 | ) | (10 | )% | $ | 98,815 | $ | 87,186 | $ | 11,629 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||
Gross contribution (1) | $ | 36,062 | $ | 39,442 | $ | (3,380 | ) | (9 | )% | $ | 49,045 | $ | 41,884 | $ | 7,161 | 17 | % | ||||||||||||
Gross contribution margin | 54 | % | 53 | % | 1 point | — | 50 | % | 48 | % | 2 points | — | |||||||||||||||||
Business Measurements: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of events | 25 | 26 | (1 | ) | (4 | )% | 37 | 35 | 2 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Number of attendees | 15,451 | 17,107 | (1,656 | ) | (10 | )% | 23,091 | 21,172 | 1,919 | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Dollars in thousands. |
Events revenues decreased 10% quarter-over-quarter on both a reported basis and adjusted for foreign currency impact. The revenue and the gross contribution decreases were due to timing, as three large events that were held in the second quarter of 2015 were held in the first quarter in 2016. In total, we held 25 events in second quarter 2016, which consisted of 21 ongoing events, 3 new events and 1 event moved into the quarter. Revenue from the 21 events that were held in both second quarter 2016 and 2015 increased by 16%. Both the number of attendees and exhibitors declined in the second quarter of 2016 compared to 2015 due to the calendar shift, while average revenue per attendee declined slightly and average revenue per exhibitor increased by 7%. The gross contribution margin increased by 1 point due to the stronger average revenue per exhibitor.
For the six month periods, revenues increased $11.6 million in 2016 when compared to 2015, or 13%, on both a reported basis and adjusted for foreign currency impact. The 37 events held through June 30, 2016 consisted of 33 ongoing events, 3 new events, and one event moved into the period. The number of attendees increased 9% and exhibitors increased 2%, while average revenue decreased slightly for attendees but increased 12% for exhibitors. The gross contribution margin increased 2 points, and consistent with the quarter, the increase was primarily due to stronger average revenue per exhibitor.
32
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We finance our operations through cash generated from our operating activities and borrowings under our 2016 Credit Agreement. At June 30, 2016, we had $445.1 million of cash and cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents are held in numerous locations throughout the world, with 94% held outside the United States at June 30, 2016.
Our 2016 Credit Agreement provides for a secured five-year $600.0 million term loan and a secured five-year $1.2 billion revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $600.0 million outstanding under the term loan and $230.0 million outstanding under the revolver. As of June 30, 2016 the Company had $966.0 million of available borrowing capacity under the revolver. We believe we have adequate liquidity to meet our currently anticipated needs.
The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s cash and cash equivalents for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Cash Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 153,314 | $ | 149,403 | $ | 3,911 | |||||
Cash used in investing activities | (55,233 | ) | (23,614 | ) | (31,619 | ) | |||||
Cash used in financing activities | (33,771 | ) | (116,501 | ) | 82,730 | ||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 64,310 | 9,288 | 55,022 | ||||||||
Effects of exchange rates | 7,767 | (17,009 | ) | 24,776 | |||||||
Beginning cash and cash equivalents | 372,976 | 365,302 | 7,674 | ||||||||
Ending cash and cash equivalents | $ | 445,053 | $ | 357,581 | $ | 87,472 | |||||
Operating
Operating cash flow increased by $3.9 million, or 3%, when comparing the six months ended June 30, 2016 to the same period in 2015. The increase was primarily due to higher net income and lower cash payments for income taxes in the first half of 2016, which was substantially offset by higher cash payments for bonuses, commissions, and interest on our borrowings.
Investing
We used $55.2 million of cash in our investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $23.6 million of cash used in the prior year period. Cash used in 2016 was higher primarily due to the acquisition of SCM World in the second quarter.
Financing
Cash used was $33.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $116.5 million of cash used in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The decrease in cash used in 2016 was due to lower share repurchases in the 2016 period. In total we used $52.0 million in cash for share repurchases in the 2016 period and realized $18.2 million from net borrowings and employee share-related activities, resulting in the net use of cash of $33.8 million. In the 2015 period, we used $441.4 million in cash for share repurchases, while we realized $324.9 million from net borrowings and employee share-related activities, resulting in the net use of cash of $116.5 million.
33
OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS
2016 Credit Agreement
The Company has a five-year secured credit arrangement that it entered into in June 2016 that provides for a $600.0 million term loan and a $1.2 billion revolving credit facility. Under the revolving credit facility, amounts may be borrowed, repaid, and re-borrowed through the maturity date of the agreement in December 2021. The term and revolving facilities may be increased, at the Company's option, by up to an additional $500.0 million in the aggregate. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $600.0 million outstanding under the term loan and $230.0 million under the revolver. See Note 6 - Debt in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the 2016 Credit Agreement.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Through June 30, 2016, we have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions with unconsolidated entities or other persons.
BUSINESS AND TRENDS
Our quarterly and annual revenues, operating income, and cash flows fluctuate as a result of many factors, including: the timing of our Symposium/ITxpo series that normally occurs during the fourth quarter, as well as our other events; the amount of new business generated; the mix of domestic and international business; domestic and international economic conditions; changes in market demand for our products and services; changes in foreign currency rates; the timing of the development, introduction and marketing of new products and services; competition in the industry; the payment of performance compensation; and other factors. The potential fluctuations in our operating income could cause period-to-period comparisons of operating results not to be meaningful and could provide an unreliable indication of future operating results.
FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE PERFORMANCE
We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment that involves numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. A description of the risk factors associated with our business is included under “Risk Factors” contained in Item 1A. of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K which is incorporated herein by reference.
34
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Accounting standards issued by the various U.S. standard setting and governmental authorities that have not yet become effective and may impact our Consolidated Financial Statements in future periods are described below, together with our assessment of the potential impact they may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures in future periods:
Financial Instrument Credit Losses
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments—Credit Losses" ("ASU No. 2016-13"). ASU No. 2016-13 amends the current financial instrument impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for Gartner on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Stock-Based Compensation
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU No. 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 modifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, to include the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as the classification of related amounts within the statement of cash flows. The provisions of the new rule will be effective for Gartner on January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements.
Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" ("ASU No. 2016-02") which will require significant changes in the accounting and disclosure of lease arrangements. Among the significant changes required by ASU No. 2016-02 is that almost all lease obligations will be recorded on the balance sheet as a liability, along with a corresponding right of use asset. Currently under U.S. GAAP, lease arrangements that meet certain criteria are considered operating leases and are not recorded on the balance sheet. ASU No. 2016-02 also requires certain key information about leasing arrangements be disclosed. ASU No. 2016-02 will be effective for Gartner on January 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU No. 2014-09"). ASU No. 2014-09 and related amendments require changes in revenue recognition policies as well as require enhanced disclosures. ASU No. 2014-09 is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue by removing inconsistencies and weaknesses in existing revenue recognition rules; provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue recognition issues; improve comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets; and provide more useful information to users of financial statements through improved revenue disclosures. ASU No. 2014-09 will be effective for Gartner on January 1, 2018, and the Company expects to complete its assessment of the estimated impact of ASU No. 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements by the end of 2016.
35
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
INTEREST RATE RISK
The Company has a five-year secured credit arrangement that it entered into in June 2016 that provides for a $600.0 million term loan and a $1.2 billion revolving credit facility. At June 30, 2016, we had $600.0 million outstanding under the term loan and $230.0 million under the revolver. We have exposure to changes in interest rates since amounts borrowed under our 2016 Credit Agreement are based on a floating base rate of interest. However, we reduce our exposure to changes in interest rates through our interest rate swap contracts which effectively convert the floating base interest rate on the first $700.0 million of our variable rate borrowings to fixed rates. Thus we are exposed to interest rate risk on borrowings under the 2016 Credit Agreement only in excess of $700.0 million. At June 30, 2016, the amount of unhedged borrowings under the 2016 Credit Agreement was $130.0 million. As an indication of our exposure to interest rate risk, a hypothetical 25 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates could change our 2016 pre-tax annual interest expense on the $130.0 million of unhedged borrowings by approximately $0.3 million.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK
A significant portion of our revenues are earned outside of the U.S., and as a result we conduct business in numerous currencies other than the U.S dollar. Among the major foreign currencies in which we conduct business are the Euro, the British Pound, the Japanese Yen, the Australian dollar, and the Canadian dollar. The reporting currency of our consolidated financial statements is the U.S. dollar. As the values of the foreign currencies in which we operate fluctuate over time relative to the U.S dollar, the Company is exposed to both foreign currency translation and transaction risk.
Translation risk arises as our foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars since the functional currencies of our foreign operations are generally denominated in the local currency. Adjustments resulting from the translation of these assets and liabilities are deferred and recorded as a component of stockholders’ (deficit) equity. A measure of the potential impact of foreign currency translation can be determined through a sensitivity analysis of our cash and cash equivalents. At June 30, 2016, we had $445.1 million of cash and cash equivalents, a substantial portion of which was denominated in foreign currencies. If the exchange rates of the foreign currencies we hold all changed in comparison to the U.S. dollar by 10%, the amount of cash and cash equivalents we would have reported on June 30, 2016 would have increased or decreased by approximately $22.0 million. The translation of our foreign currency revenues and expenses historically has not had a material impact on our consolidated earnings since movements in and among the major currencies in which we operate tend to impact our revenues and expenses fairly equally. However, our earnings could be impacted during periods of significant exchange rate volatility, or when some or all of the major currencies in which we operate move in the same direction against the U.S dollar.
Transaction risk arises when our foreign subsidiaries enter into transactions that are denominated in a currency that may differ from the local functional currency. As these transactions are translated into the local functional currency, a gain or loss may result, which is recorded in current period earnings. We typically enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to mitigate the effects of some of this foreign currency transaction risk.
CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of short-term, highly liquid investments classified as cash equivalents, accounts receivable, interest rate swap contracts and foreign exchange contracts. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, interest rate swap contracts, and its foreign exchange contracts are with large investment grade commercial banks. Accounts receivable balances deemed to be collectible from customers have limited concentration of credit risk due to our diverse customer base and geographic dispersion.
36
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We have established disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner. Specifically, these controls and procedures ensure that the information is accumulated and communicated to our executive management team, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management conducted an evaluation, as of June 30, 2016, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them in a timely manner to material Company information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Exchange Act.
In addition, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
37
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in legal and administrative proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the potential liability, if any, in excess of amounts already accrued from all proceedings, claims and litigation will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations when resolved in a future period.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
A description of the risk factors associated with our business is included under “Risk Factors” contained in Item 1A. of the Company's 2015 Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the period covered by this report.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We have a $1.2 billion board approved authorization to repurchase the Company's common stock. The Company may repurchase its common stock from time to time in amounts and at prices the Company deems appropriate, subject to the availability of stock, prevailing market conditions, the trading price of the stock, the Company’s financial performance and other conditions. Repurchases may be made through open market purchases, private transactions or other transactions and will be funded from cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s credit agreement.
The following table provides detail related to repurchases of our outstanding Common Stock during the six months ended June 30, 2016:
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that may yet be purchased under our Share Repurchase Program (in billions) (1) | ||||||||
2016 | |||||||||||
January | 36,554 | $ | 82.00 | ||||||||
February | 299,211 | 81.14 | |||||||||
March | 131,058 | 84.02 | |||||||||
Total for quarter | 466,823 | $ | 82.02 | ||||||||
April | 428 | $ | 88.06 | ||||||||
May | 64,551 | 98.04 | |||||||||
June | 1,108 | 100.81 | |||||||||
Total for quarter | 66,087 | $ | 98.03 | $ | 1.1 | ||||||
(1) As of June 30, 2016.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NUMBER | DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT | |
4.2 | Credit Agreement, dated as June 17, 2016, among the Company, the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent. | |
4.3 | Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2016, among the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. | |
31.1 | Certification of chief executive officer under Rule 13a — 14(a)/15d — 14(a). | |
31.2 | Certification of chief financial officer under Rule 13a — 14(a)/15d — 14(a). | |
32 | Certification under 18 U.S.C. 1350. | |
101 | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
Items 3, 4, and 5 of Part II are not applicable and have been omitted.
39
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Gartner, Inc. | ||
Date: | August 4, 2016 | /s/ Craig W. Safian |
Craig W. Safian | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
40
Execution Version
$1,800,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
among
GARTNER, INC.,
as Borrower,
The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto,
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CITIZENS BANK, N.A., TD BANK, N.A. and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Syndication Agents,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUNTRUST BANK and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Documentation Agents,
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
Dated as of June 17, 2016
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, CITIZENS BANK, N.A., TD
SECURITIES (USA) LLC and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Defined Terms ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions ............................................................................................ 26
SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS ............................................................ 27
2.1 Term Commitments ........................................................................................................... 27
2.2 Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing ................................................................................. 29
2.3 Repayment of Term Loans ................................................................................................. 29
2.4 Revolving Commitments ................................................................................................... 29
2.5 Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing ......................................................................... 31
2.6 Commitment Fees, etc........................................................................................................ 31
2.7 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Commitments ..................................................... 31
2.8 Optional Prepayments ........................................................................................................ 32
2.9 Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions ..................................................... 32
2.10 Conversion and Continuation Options ............................................................................... 32
2.11 Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches .................................................................................. 33
2.12 Interest Rates and Payment Dates ...................................................................................... 33
2.13 Computation of Interest and Fees ...................................................................................... 33
2.14 Inability to Determine Interest Rate ................................................................................... 34
2.15 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments ..................................................................................... 34
2.16 Requirements of Law ......................................................................................................... 36
2.17 Taxes .................................................................................................................................. 37
2.18 Indemnity ........................................................................................................................... 40
2.19 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.......................................... 40
2.20 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .............................................................. 41
2.21 Defaulting Lenders ............................................................................................................. 42
SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT .................................................................................................... 43
3.1 L/C Commitment ............................................................................................................... 43
3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit ......................................................................... 43
3.3 Fees and Other Charges ..................................................................................................... 44
3.4 L/C Participations .............................................................................................................. 44
3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower ...................................................................... 45
3.6 Obligations Absolute ......................................................................................................... 46
3.7 Letter of Credit Payments .................................................................................................. 46
3.8 Applications ....................................................................................................................... 47
3.9 Existing Letters of Credit ................................................................................................... 47
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ................................................................. 47
4.1 Financial Condition ............................................................................................................ 47
4.2 No Change ......................................................................................................................... 47
4.3 Existence; Compliance with Law ...................................................................................... 47
4.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations ................................................................ 48
4.5 No Legal Bar ...................................................................................................................... 48
4.6 Litigation ............................................................................................................................ 48
4.7 No Default .......................................................................................................................... 48
4.8 Ownership of Property; Liens ............................................................................................ 48
4.9 Intellectual Property ........................................................................................................... 48
4.10 Taxes .................................................................................................................................. 49
4.11 Federal Regulations ........................................................................................................... 49
4.12 Labor Matters ..................................................................................................................... 49
4.13 ERISA ................................................................................................................................ 49
4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations ................................................................... 49
4.15 Subsidiaries ........................................................................................................................ 49
4.16 Use of Proceeds .................................................................................................................. 50
4.17 Environmental Matters ....................................................................................................... 50
4.18 Accuracy of Information, etc ............................................................................................. 50
4.19 Solvency ............................................................................................................................. 51
4.20 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions ................................................................................. 51
4.21 Security Documents ........................................................................................................... 51
4.22 EEA Financial Institutions ................................................................................................. 51
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT .......................................................................................... 51
5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit ........................................................................... 51
5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit ............................................................................. 53
SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS ...................................................................................... 53
6.1 Financial Statements .......................................................................................................... 53
6.2 Certificates; Other Information .......................................................................................... 54
6.3 Payment of Obligations ...................................................................................................... 55
6.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance ............................................................................. 55
6.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance .................................................................................. 55
6.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions .................................................. 56
6.7 Notices ............................................................................................................................... 56
6.8 Environmental Laws .......................................................................................................... 56
6.9 Additional Subsidiaries, Collateral, etc .............................................................................. 57
6.10 Post-Closing Covenant. ...................................................................................................... 58
SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS ............................................................................................. 58
7.1 Financial Condition Covenants .......................................................................................... 58
7.2 Indebtedness ....................................................................................................................... 59
7.3 Liens ................................................................................................................................... 61
7.4 Fundamental Changes ........................................................................................................ 64
7.5 Disposition of Property ...................................................................................................... 65
7.6 Restricted Payments ........................................................................................................... 66
7.7 Lines of Business ............................................................................................................... 68
7.8 Investments ........................................................................................................................ 68
7.9 Transactions with Affiliates ............................................................................................... 71
7.10 Sales and Leasebacks ......................................................................................................... 71
7.11 Swap Agreements .............................................................................................................. 71
7.12 Changes in Fiscal Periods .................................................................................................. 71
7.13 Negative Pledge Clauses .................................................................................................... 71
7.14 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions ..................................................................... 72
7.15 Use of Proceeds .................................................................................................................. 73
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT .................................................................................................. 73
8.1 Events of Default ............................................................................................................... 73
SECTION 9. THE AGENTS .................................................................................................................. 75
9.1 Appointment ...................................................................................................................... 75
9.2 Delegation of Duties .......................................................................................................... 76
9.3 Exculpatory Provisions ...................................................................................................... 76
9.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent ..................................................................................... 76
9.5 Notice of Default ................................................................................................................ 76
9.6 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders ..................................................................... 77
9.7 Indemnification .................................................................................................................. 77
9.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity ........................................................................................ 78
9.9 Successor Administrative Agent ........................................................................................ 78
9.10 Co-Syndication Agents and Co-Documentation Agents .................................................... 78
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS ......................................................................................................... 78
10.1 Amendments and Waivers ................................................................................................. 78
10.2 Notices ............................................................................................................................... 80
10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies .................................................................................... 81
10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties ...................................................................... 81
10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes ........................................................................................ 81
10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments ................................................. 83
10.7 Adjustments; Set-off .......................................................................................................... 86
10.8 Counterparts ....................................................................................................................... 87
10.9 Severability ........................................................................................................................ 87
10.10 Integration .......................................................................................................................... 87
10.11 GOVERNING LAW ........................................................................................................ 87
10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers ................................................................................ 87
10.13 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 88
10.14 Releases of Guarantees and Liens ...................................................................................... 88
10.15 Confidentiality ................................................................................................................... 89
10.16 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL ......................................................................................... 90
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act ........................................................................................................... 90
10.18 Keepwell ............................................................................................................................ 90
10.19 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions ........................ 90
SCHEDULES:
1.1A Commitments
3.9 Existing Letters of Credit
4.6 Litigation
4.10 Tax Claims
4.15 Subsidiaries
4.21 Perfection requirements
7.2(d) Existing Indebtedness
7.3(h) Existing Liens
7.8(e) Existing Investments
EXHIBITS:
A Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
B Form of Compliance Certificate
C Form of Closing Certificate
D Form of Assignment and Assumption
E Form of Legal Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
F Form of Exemption Certificate
G Form of Increasing Lender Supplement
H Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 17, 2016 among
GARTNER, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial
institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement (the “Lenders”), WELLS FARGO
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CITIZENS BANK, N.A., TD BANK, N.A. and U.S. BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as co-syndication agents (in such capacity, the “Co-Syndication Agents”),
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUNTRUST BANK and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as
co-documentation agents (in such capacity, the “Co-Documentation Agents”), and JPMORGAN CHASE
BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).
The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this
Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.
“ABR”: for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect
on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the
Eurodollar Rate that would be calculated as of such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, as of the
next preceding Business Day) in respect of a proposed Eurodollar Loan with a one-month Interest Period
plus 1.0%; provided that for the purposes of clause (c) of this definition, the Eurodollar Rate for any day
shall be based on the Eurodollar Screen Rate (or if the Eurodollar Screen Rate is not available for such
one-month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day.
Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or such
Eurodollar Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day of such change in the Prime
Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or such Eurodollar Rate, respectively.
“ABR Loans”: Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the ABR.
“Acquisition Step-Up Period”: a period of four fiscal quarters commencing with the fiscal
quarter in which the threshold for a Designated Acquisition has been met in accordance with the
definition thereof and ending on the last day of the fourth fiscal quarter ending after the date on which the
threshold for a Designated Acquisition is met.
“Adjustment Date”: as defined in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.
“Administrative Agent”: JPMorgan Chase Bank, together with its affiliates, as the
arranger of the Commitments and as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, together with any of its successors.
“Affiliate”: as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of,
is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control”
of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 20% or more of the securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such
Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by
contract or otherwise.
“Agents”: the collective reference to the Co-Syndication Agents, the Co-Documentation
Agents and the Administrative Agent.
2
“Aggregate Exposure”: with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to (a)
until the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Commitments at such time and (b)
thereafter, the sum of (i) the aggregate then unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans and
(ii) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then in effect or, if the Revolving Commitments
have been terminated, the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.
“Aggregate Exposure Percentage”: with respect to any Lender at any time, the ratio
(expressed as a percentage) of such Lender’s Aggregate Exposure at such time to the Aggregate Exposure
of all Lenders at such time; provided, that in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall
exist, “Aggregate Exposure Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the Aggregate Exposure of all
Lenders (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Aggregate Exposure) represented by such Lender’s
Aggregate Exposure. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Aggregate Exposure
Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any
assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.
“Agreement”: as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Anti-Corruption Laws”: all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
“Applicable Margin”: for each Type of Loan or the Commitment Fee Rate, the rate per
annum set forth under the relevant column heading below:
Level Consolidated
Leverage Ratio
Applicable Margin
for Eurodollar Loans
Applicable Margin
for ABR Loans
Commitment Fee
Rate
I
> 4.00 to 1.00 2.00% 1.00% 0.35%
II
> 3.50 to 1.00
≤ 4.00 to 1.00 1.75% 0.75%
0.30%
III
> 2.75 to 1.00
≤ 3.50 to 1.00 1.50% 0.50%
0.25%
IV
> 1.75 to 1.00
≤ 2.75 to 1.00 1.375% 0.375% 0.20%
V
> 0.75 to 1.00
≤ 1.75 to 1.00 1.25% 0.25% 0.175%
VI
≤ 0.75 to 1.00 1.125% 0.125% 0.15%
The Applicable Margin and Commitment Fee Rate on the Closing Date and until the Adjustment Date (as
defined below) corresponding to the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016 shall be the rate per annum
set forth in Level IV above. Changes in the Applicable Margin and the Commitment Fee Rate resulting
from changes in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the date (the “Adjustment
Date”) that is three Business Days after the date on which financial statements are delivered to the
Lenders pursuant to Section 6.1 and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to
this paragraph. If any financial statements referred to above are not delivered within the time periods
specified in Section 6.1, then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such
3
financial statements are delivered, the highest Applicable Margin and Commitment Fee Rate shall apply.
Each determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio pursuant hereto shall be made in a manner
consistent with the determination thereof pursuant to Section 7.1(a). In the event that any financial
statement or certification delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(a) is shown to be 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, the Borrower
shall immediately (a) deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Compliance Certificate for such
Applicable Period, (b) determine the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period based upon the
corrected Compliance Certificate, and (c) immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
the Lenders the accrued additional interest and other fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable
Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly distributed by the Administrative
Agent to the Lenders entitled thereto.
“Application”: an application, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time
to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to open a Letter of Credit.
“Approved Fund”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).
“Asset Sale”: any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property
(excluding any such Disposition permitted by clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (g) of Section 7.5) that yields
gross proceeds to any Group Member (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-
cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of
other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $100,000,000.
“Assignee”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).
“Assignment and Assumption”: an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the
form of Exhibit D.
“Augmenting Revolving Lender”: as defined in Section 2.4(b).
“Augmenting Term Lender”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“Available Revolving Commitment”: as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then in effect over (b) such
Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.
“Bail-In Action”: the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the
applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation”: with respect to any EEA Member Country which has implemented,
or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of
the Council of the European Union, the relevant implementing law for such EEA Member Country from
time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“Bankruptcy Event”: with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian,
assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its
business appointed for it, or in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any
action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding
4
or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership
interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or
instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such
Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of
judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or
instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such
Person.
“Benefitted Lender”: as defined in Section 10.7(a).
“Board”: the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or
any successor).
“Borrower”: as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Borrowing Date”: any Business Day specified by the Borrower as a date on which the
Borrower requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans hereunder.
“Business Day”: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close, provided, that with respect to notices
and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Eurodollar Loans, such
day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar market.
“Capital Lease Obligations”: as to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent
or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal
property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as
capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP (as in effect on the Closing Date) and, for
the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized
amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP (as in effect on the Closing Date).
Any lease that would be characterized as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP on the Closing
Date (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as
an operating lease (and not as a capital lease) for purposes of this Agreement, regardless of any change in
GAAP following the Closing Date that would otherwise require such lease to be re-characterized (on a
prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) as a capitalized lease.
“Capital Stock”: 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.
“Cash Equivalents”: (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally
guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith
and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b)
certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, eurodollar certificates or overnight bank
deposits of (i) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess
of $500,000,000, (ii) any U.S. branch or agency of a non−U.S. commercial bank of internationally
recognized standing, having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose
short−term commercial paper rating is at least A−2 or the equivalent thereof from Standard & Poor’s
Rating Services (“S&P”) or at least P−2 or the equivalent thereof from Moody’s Investment Service, Inc.
(“Moody’s”) (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than
three hundred sixty−four (364) days from the date of acquisition; (c) commercial paper and variable or
5
fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof) or any variable
rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by any domestic corporation rated A−2 (or the equivalent thereof) or
better by S&P or P−2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by
a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings
of commercial paper issues generally, and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition; (d)
repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b)
of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully
guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less
from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the
United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or
territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political
subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A
by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by
standby letters of credit issued by any Lender (or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof) or any commercial
bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; (g) money market mutual or similar funds
that invest primarily in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; (h)
money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated A by S&P and A1 by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio
assets of at least $5,000,000,000; or (i) other short-term investments utilized by the Borrower’s Foreign
Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments of a
type analogous to the foregoing.
“Closing Date”: the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall
have been satisfied.
“Co-Documentation Agent”: as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Co-Syndication Agent”: as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Code”: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Collateral”: all property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, subject
to a Lien pursuant to any Security Document.
“Commitment”: as to any Lender, the sum of the Term Commitment and the Revolving
Commitment of such Lender.
“Commitment Fee Rate”: at any date, the rate set forth under the heading “Commitment
Fee Rate” in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.
“Commodity Exchange Act”: the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as
amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Commonly Controlled Entity”: an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under
common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group
that includes the Borrower and that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“Compliance Certificate”: a certificate duly executed by a Responsible Officer
substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
6
“Conduit Lender”: any special purpose corporation organized and administered by any
Lender for the purpose of making Loans otherwise required to be made by such Lender and designated by
such Lender in a written instrument; provided, that the designation by any Lender of a Conduit Lender
shall not relieve the designating Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if,
for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and the designating Lender (and not the
Conduit Lender) shall have the sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers required or
requested under this Agreement with respect to its Conduit Lender, and provided, further, that no Conduit
Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 or 10.5 than
the designating Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the extensions of credit made by
such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed to have any Commitment.
“Confidential Information Memorandum”: the Confidential Information Memorandum
dated May 2016 and furnished to certain Lenders.
“Consolidated EBITDA”: for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus,
without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net
Income for such period, the sum of:
(a) income tax expense,
(b) interest expense, amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and
commissions, prepayment penalties, agency fees under debt facilities, amortization or expensing of
deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, discounts and other fees and charges associated
with Indebtedness (including the Loans),
(c) depreciation, accretion and amortization expense,
(d) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization
costs,
(e) (i) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring cash expenses or cash losses not to
exceed 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for any fiscal year when aggregated with any amounts under
clause (j) below (determined after giving effect to all items added to and subtracted from Consolidated
EBITDA pursuant hereto and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) and (ii) any extraordinary non-cash or
non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (each including, in any event, (w) compensation charges or
other expenses or charges arising from the grant of or issuance of stock, stock options, other equity-based
awards, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock units to the directors, officers and employees of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (x) loss on investments excluding marketable securities, (y) writeoffs of
fixed assets not included in depreciation, and (z) write-offs or impairment of any goodwill or intangible
assets),
(f) costs and expenses incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions, Material
Dispositions, and debt issuances or equity financings, including restructuring and integration expenses
(whether or not consummated),
(g) non-cash charges related to the application of purchase accounting for Permitted
Acquisitions,
(h) non-cash expenses and losses relating to hedging activities,
(i) charges taken related to stock repurchases,
7
(j) cost savings, business optimization expenses, operating expense reductions and
synergies related to any Specified Transaction, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other initiatives
and/or actions (together, “Operating Expense Initiatives”) (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that
any such amounts that would not be of the type that would be permitted to be included in pro forma
financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X shall not exceed, when aggregated with
any amounts under clause (e)(i) above, 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for any fiscal year (determined
after giving effect to all items added to and subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant hereto and
calculated on a Pro Forma Basis); provided, further that a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall have
certified to the Administrative Agent that any such Operating Expense Initiatives (whether or not
permitted in accordance with Regulation S-X) (i) are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and
reasonably anticipated to result from the actions taken or expected to be taken, and (ii) any such
Operating Expense Initiatives are taken or initiated, or expected to be taken or initiated and the benefits of
such actions are anticipated to be realized, on or prior to the date that is 18 months after the end of the
fiscal quarter in which the event giving rise to the taking of such Operating Expense Initiative occurs;
(k) any other non-cash charges,
minus,
(a) to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such
period, the sum of (i) interest income, (ii) any extraordinary non-cash or non-recurring non-cash income
or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such
Consolidated Net Income for such period) in the ordinary course of business, (iii) income tax credits (to
the extent not netted from income tax expense), and (iv) any other non-cash income (other than accruals
of revenue by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business) and
(b) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clauses
(e)(i) and (j) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses
were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a
consolidated basis.
“Consolidated Interest Expense”: for any period, total cash interest expense (including
that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with
respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance
financing and net payments made (less net payments, if any, received) under Swap Agreements in respect
of interest rates to the extent such net payments are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP)
minus, to the extent included in cash interest expense, any payments required in connection with the
termination of any Swap Agreement and all premiums paid, gains/losses incurred, charges and fees paid,
in each case by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with the redemption, repurchase or
retirement of Indebtedness, amortization of debt discounts and premiums and any interest income for the
period.
“Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio”: for any period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated
EBITDA for such period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio”: as at the last day of any period, the ratio of (a)
Consolidated Total Debt on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.
“Consolidated Net Income”: for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided
8
that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a
Subsidiary of the Borrower or, other than an existing Subsidiary, is merged into or consolidated with the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Borrower) in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the
extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of
dividends or similar distributions, (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the
extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the
Borrower or another Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation
(other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary, (d) any
gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
(including pursuant to any sale and leaseback arrangement) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in
the ordinary course of business, (e) any net after-tax gain (loss) attributable to the early repurchase,
extinguishment or conversion of Indebtedness, hedging obligations or other derivative instruments, (f)
any unrealized foreign currency gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a
currency other than the functional currency of such Person, and (g) any income or loss from discontinued
operations.
“Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio”: as at the last day of any period, the ratio of (a)
the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, that is secured by a Lien on any property
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such
period.
“Consolidated Total Debt”: at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
“Contractual Obligation”: as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such
Person or of any material agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or
by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Credit Party”: the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any other Lender.
“Default”: any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for
the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.
“Defaulting Lender”: any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the
date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its
participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be
paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent
in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition
precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been
satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to
the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this
Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s
good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular
default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other
agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request
by a Credit Party or the Borrower, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an
authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet
such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under
9
this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause
(c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the
Administrative Agent, (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event or (e) has, or has a direct or
indirect parent company that has, become the subject of a Bail-In Action.
“Designated Acquisition”: means one or more transactions or series of transactions
consummated within a period of six consecutive months, (i) with a total aggregate purchase price of not
less than $200,000,000, and (ii) which involve the acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
of any portion of the assets of a Person or line of business of such Person or any equity interests of a
Person.
“Designated Non-Cash Consideration”: the fair market value of non-cash consideration
received by a Loan Party in connection with a Disposition pursuant to Section 7.5(q) that is designated as
Designated Non-Cash Consideration by a Responsible Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation
(which amount shall be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of non-cash consideration
converted to cash within 180 days following consummation of the applicable Disposition).
“Designated Foreign Currencies”: Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros, Hong
Kong dollars, New Zealand dollars, Singapore dollars, Sterling, Swiss francs, Indian rupees, Korean won,
Mexican pesos, Yen and other currencies to be agreed upon by the Issuing Lenders.
“Disposition”: with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback,
assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of”
shall have correlative meanings.
“Disqualified Institutions”: (i) competitors of the Borrower and its respective Subsidiaries
specified to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in writing prior to the Closing Date and otherwise
specified in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time and provided to the Lenders (it being
understood that any update shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any parties that have previously
acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Facilities), (ii) certain banks, financial institutions,
other institutional lenders and other entities that have been specified to the Administrative Agent by the
Borrower in writing on or prior to the Closing Date and provided to the Lenders and (iii) in the case of
each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, any of their known Affiliates that are clearly identifiable as such on the
basis of such Affiliates’ names or that are identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent and provided to the Lenders (in each case other than any Affiliate that is a bona fide diversified
debt fund) it being understood that any update shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any parties that
have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Facilities, provided that once
designated, any such party shall not be entitled to acquire any additional assignments or participation
interests in the Facilities. Any updates to the list by the Borrower shall not be effective until one Business
Day after notice is provided to the Administrative Agent. The list of Disqualified Institutions and any
changes, modifications or updates thereto shall be provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent
and to the email address: [email protected] (or as otherwise notified by the
Administrative Agent to the Borrower from time to time) and failure to provide the list or any updates
thereto to the specified email address shall result in notification being deemed not to be effective.
“Dollars” and “$”: dollars in lawful currency of the United States.
“Dollar Equivalent”: with respect to any amount in respect of any Letter of Credit
denominated in any Designated Foreign Currency, at any date of determination thereof, an amount in
Dollars equivalent to such amount calculated on the basis of the Spot Rate of Exchange.
10
“Domestic Subsidiary”: any Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under the laws of any
jurisdiction within the United States.
“EEA Financial Institution”: (a) any bank, investment firm or other financial institution
or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution established in any EEA Member
Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in
an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or
(c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution
described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country”: any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland,
Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority”: any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted
with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having
responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Environmental Laws”: any and all applicable foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal
laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental
Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing
liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health as it relates to any Materials of
Environmental Concern, or the protection of the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in
effect.
“ERISA”: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from
time to time.
“Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements”: for any day as applied to a Eurodollar Loan, the
aggregate (without duplication) of the maximum rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve
requirements in effect on such day (including basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves)
under any regulations of the Board or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect
thereto dealing with reserve requirements prescribed for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
“Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board) maintained by a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System.
“Eurodollar Base Rate”: with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining
to a Eurodollar Loan, the Eurodollar Screen Rate as at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for
such Interest Period; provided that if the Eurodollar Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for
such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”) with respect to Dollars then the Eurodollar Base Rate
shall be the Interpolated Rate; provided that if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate
shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Eurodollar Loans”: Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the
Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate”: with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a
Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined for such day in accordance with the following formula
(rounded upward to the nearest 1/100,000th of 1%):
Eurodollar Base Rate
1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements
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“Eurodollar Screen Rate”: for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for
any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration
(or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for a period equal in length to such
Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen
that displays such rate (rounded to four decimal places), or, in the event such rate does not appear on a
Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on
the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as
selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (in each case rounded to four decimal
places), provided that if the Eurodollar Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to
zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Eurodollar Tranche”: the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans under a particular
Facility the then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same date and end on
the same later date (whether or not such Loans shall originally have been made on the same day).
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule”: the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the
Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default”: any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any
requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.
“Exchange Act”: as defined in Section 8.1(k).
“Excluded Collateral”: as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.
“Excluded Foreign Subsidiary”: any Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holdco (i)
the entire Capital Stock of which is owned by a Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holdco or (ii)
in respect of which the pledge of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary as Collateral would, in the
good faith judgment of the Borrower, result in adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.
“Excluded Swap Obligation”: with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, any Swap
Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor of, or
the grant by such Subsidiary Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any
guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or
order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any
thereof) by virtue of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as
defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to
any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Subsidiary Guarantor and any
and all guarantees by the other Loan Parties of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations in respect of
Swap Obligations), at the time the guarantee of or grant of such security interest by such Subsidiary
Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap
Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap Obligation, such exclusion
shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swaps for which such
guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
“Existing Credit Agreement”: the credit agreement dated as of December 16, 2014,
among the Borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
the administrative agent, and the other agents party thereto, as amended.
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“Existing Letters of Credit”: those letters of credit individually described on Schedule
3.9.
“Facility”: each of (a) the Term Commitments and the Term Loans made thereunder (the
“Term Facility”) and (b) the Revolving Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder (the
“Revolving Facility”).
“FATCA”: (a) Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations; (b) any
treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between
the United States and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any
law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or (c) any agreement pursuant to the implementation
of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the U.S. Internal Revenue
Service, the United States government or the government or tax authority of any other jurisdiction.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate”: for any day, the weighted average of the 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank from three federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it; provided that, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be
less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Fee Payment Date”: (a) the third Business Day following the last day of each March,
June, September and December and (b) the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period.
“Foreign Subsidiary”: any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Foreign Subsidiary Holdco”: any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower all or
substantially all of whose assets consist of Capital Stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are
“controlled foreign corporations” as defined in Section 957 of the Code.
“Funding Office”: the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or
such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its funding office
by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“GAAP”: generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from
time to time, except that for purposes of Section 7.1, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such
principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent
audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.1. In the event that any “Accounting Change” (as
defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial
covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree
to enter into negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably
such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial
condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been
made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this
Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred.
“Accounting Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required by (x) the promulgation of any
rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the SEC, or (y) the adoption by the Borrower of
International Financial Reporting Standards.
13
“Governmental Authority”: any nation or government, any state or other political
subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other
entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
“Group Members”: the collective reference to the Borrower and its respective
Subsidiaries.
“Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”: the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to be
executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A.
“Guarantee Obligation”: as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation
(other than, with respect to any guaranteeing person, any Excluded Swap Obligations of such
guaranteeing person), including a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, of the
guaranteeing person that guarantees or in effect guarantees, or which is given to induce the creation of a
separate obligation by another Person (including any bank under any letter of credit) that guarantees or in
effect guarantees, any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the “primary obligations”) of
any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including
any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary
obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds
(1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or
equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary
obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of
any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary
obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against
loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include
endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of
any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount
equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee
Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable
pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary
obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or
determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s
maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
“Impacted Interest Period” as defined in the definition of “Eurodollar Base Rate”.
“Increasing Revolving Lender”: as defined in Section 2.4(b).
“Increasing Term Lender”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“Incremental Amendment”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“Incremental Extensions of Credit”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“Incremental Facility Closing Date”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“Incremental Term Loans”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
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“Indebtedness”: of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of
such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price or
deferred consideration or similar arrangements in respect of property or services (other than (i) current
trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and (ii) any earnout obligation
until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP
(excluding disclosure on the notes and footnotes thereto)), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even
though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are
limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all
obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of
acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements, except that, for the purposes of the
definition of “Consolidated Total Debt” only, obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers’
acceptances issued in support of obligations not otherwise constituting Indebtedness shall not constitute
Indebtedness except to the extent such letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance is drawn, (g) all Guarantee
Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (f)
above, (h) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which
the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on
property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has
assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, and (i) for the purposes of Section 8.1(e)
only, all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, neither
deferred compensation nor any pension obligations or liabilities shall be deemed to constitute
“Indebtedness.” The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity
(including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable
therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to
the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“Insolvency”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is
insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.
“Insolvent”: pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.
“Intellectual Property”: the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges
relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or
otherwise, including, without limitation, copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, domain
names, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law
or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds
and damages therefrom.
“Interest Payment Date”: (a) as to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June,
September and December to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such
Loan, (b) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such
Interest Period, (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period longer than three months, each
day that is three months, or a whole multiple thereof, after the first day of such Interest Period and the last
day of such Interest Period, and (d) as to any Loan (other than any Revolving Loan that is an ABR Loan),
the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.
“Interest Period”: as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period commencing on the
borrowing or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one
week or one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing or
notice of conversion, as the case may be, given with respect thereto (provided that the initial Interest
15
Period for the Term Loans shall commence on the Closing Date and end on June 30, 2016; provided
further that for the purposes of the initial Interest Period only, all necessary calculations related thereto
shall be determined as if the Borrower had selected a one month Interest Period); and (b) thereafter, each
period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar
Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable
notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date that is
three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto; provided
that, all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:
(i) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day,
such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of
such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event
such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(ii) the Borrower may not select an Interest Period under a particular Facility that
would extend beyond the Revolving Termination Date or beyond the Term Loan Maturity Date,
as the case may be;
(iii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or
on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of
such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of a calendar month; and
(iv) the Borrower shall select Interest Periods so as not to require a payment or
prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan during an Interest Period for such Loan.
“Interpolated Rate”: for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same
number of decimal places as the Eurodollar Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which
determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results
from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the Eurodollar Screen Rate for the longest period for
which the Eurodollar Screen Rate is available for Dollars that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period;
and (b) the Eurodollar Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available for
Dollars) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, as at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the
Quotation Day for such Interest Period. When determining a rate for a period which is less than the
shortest period for which the Eurodollar Screen Rate is available, the Eurodollar Screen Rate for the
purposes of clause (a) above shall be deemed to be the overnight rate for Dollars determined by the
Administrative Agent from such information service as the Administrative Agent may select in its
reasonable discretion.
“Investments”: as defined in Section 7.8.
“Issuing Lender”: each of (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, (b) Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, (c) Citizens Bank, N.A., (d) T.D. Bank, N.A. and (e) U.S. Bank National Association or any
of their respective affiliates, in each case in its capacity as an issuer of any Letter of Credit. Each
reference herein to “the Issuing Lender” shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Lender.
“JPMorgan Chase Bank”: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
“Junior Debt”: any Permitted Senior Unsecured Debt, the Permitted Senior Unsecured
Notes, any Permitted Subordinated Debt or any other Indebtedness of any Loan Party that is secured by
Liens on all or a portion of any Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing
the Obligations (other than any Indebtedness owed by any Group Member to any Loan Party).
16
“L/C Commitment”: with respect to each Issuing Lender individually, $10,000,000 or
such other amount as the Issuing Lender and the Borrower may agree; provided that at no time shall the
aggregate amount of the L/C Commitments exceed $50,000,000.
“L/C Obligations”: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then
undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of
drawings under Letters of Credit that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5. The L/C
Obligations in respect of any Letter of Credit in a Designated Foreign Currency shall be deemed for the
purposes of calculating the Available Revolving Commitments and similar amounts from time to time
and commitment fees and Letter of Credit and fronting fees to be equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the
amount of such Designated Foreign Currency as at the date of issuance thereof, and such Dollar
Equivalent shall be thereafter re-calculated by the Issuing Lender from time to time in its discretion (but
no less often than quarterly); any such determination by the Issuing Lender of any such Dollar Equivalent
amount shall be conclusive and binding on the other parties hereto in the absence of manifest error.
“L/C Participants”: the collective reference to all the Revolving Lenders other than the
Issuing Lender.
“Lenders”: as defined in the preamble hereto; provided, that unless the context otherwise
requires, each reference herein to the Lenders shall be deemed to include any Conduit Lender.
“Letters of Credit”: as defined in Section 3.1(a).
“Lien”: any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement,
encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other
security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Limited Conditionality Representations”: (a) those representations and warranties
enumerated in Sections 4.3 (but only with respect to its obligations under this Agreement), 4.4 (but only
with respect to its obligations under this Agreement), 4.5 (but only with respect to no violation of any
Requirement of Law on any material Contractual Obligation and not with respect to the creation or
imposition of any Lien or any Material Adverse Effect), 4.11, 4.14, 4.19 and 4.20 and (b) with respect to
any acquisition, those representations and warranties that are made by the target of the applicable
acquisition in the acquisition agreement related thereto as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but
only to the extent that the accuracy of such representations and warranties is a condition to the obligations
of the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary to close under such acquisition agreement or the Borrower or
the applicable Subsidiary has the right to decline to consummate the acquisition as a result of a breach of
such representations and warranties in such acquisition agreement.
“Loan”: any loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.
“Loan Documents”: this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Notes and any
amendment, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the foregoing.
“Loan Party”: each Group Member that is a party to a Loan Document.
“Majority Facility Lenders”: with respect to any Facility, the holders of more than 50%
of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans or the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit,
as the case may be, outstanding under such Facility (or, in the case of the Revolving Facility, prior to any
17
termination of the Revolving Commitments, the holders of more than 50% of the Total Revolving
Commitments).
“Margin Stock”: “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U.
“Market Disruption Event”: as defined in Section 2.14(b).
“Material Acquisition”: any acquisition of assets or series of related acquisitions of
property that (a) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or
constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves payment of total
consideration by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000.
“Material Adverse Effect”: a material adverse effect on (a) the business, property,
operations, or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the validity
or enforceability of any of the material provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.
“Material Disposition”: any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of
property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary”: any Subsidiary of the Borrower that either (i) holds assets having
a total book value of greater than five percent (5%) of the total assets held by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (as determined as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the
date of determination) or (ii) has revenues representing greater than five percent (5%) of total revenues of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most
recently ended at or prior to such time and for which financial statements are available); provided, that (x)
any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Material Subsidiary shall itself be a Material Subsidiary
and (y) in the event Subsidiaries that would otherwise not be Material Subsidiaries shall in the aggregate
account for a percentage in excess of 10% of the total assets attributable to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (as determined as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the
date of determination) or 30% of the revenue of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (for
the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended at or prior to such time and for which
financial statements are available) then, in each case, one or more of such Subsidiaries designated by the
Borrower (or, if the Borrower shall make no designation, one or more of such Subsidiaries in descending
order based on their respective contributions to the total assets held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole), shall be included as Material Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to eliminate such
excess.
“Materials of Environmental Concern”: any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or
any fraction thereof) or petroleum products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde
insulation and any other substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as “hazardous” or “toxic”,
under, or that could give rise to liability pursuant to, any Environmental Law.
“Multiemployer Plan”: a Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Net Cash Proceeds”: (a) in connection with any Asset Sale (including in connection
with any Permitted Sale Leaseback) or any Recovery Event, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and
Cash Equivalents (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal
pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only
as and when received), net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, amounts
18
required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder
on any asset that is the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a
Security Document) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and
net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any
available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (b) in connection with any
issuance or sale of Capital Stock or any incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds received from such
issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting
discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection
therewith.
“Non-Excluded Taxes”: as defined in Section 2.17(a).
“Non-U.S. Lender”: as defined in Section 2.17(d).
“Notes”: the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.
“Obligations”: the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after
the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding,
relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such
proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent or to any Lender (or, in the case of Specified Swap Agreements and Specified Cash Management
Agreements, any affiliate of any Lender), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with,
this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Letters of Credit, any Specified Swap Agreement, any
Specified Cash Management Agreements or any other document made, delivered or given in connection
herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees,
indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto) or
otherwise.
“Operating Expense Initiatives”: as defined in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.
“Other Taxes”: any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other
excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the
execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a
security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Parent”: with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or
indirectly, a subsidiary.
“Participant”: as defined in Section 10.6(c).
“Participant Register”: as defined in Section 10.6(c)(i).
“PBGC”: the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of
Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).
“Permitted Acquisitions”: any acquisition (by way of merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, purchase of assets or otherwise) permitted pursuant to Section 7.4 or Section 7.8.
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“Permitted Preferred Stock”: preferred stock issued by the Borrower that (a) does not
require any repurchase or redemption (other than conversion or exchange into the common stock of the
Borrower), whether contingent or not, prior to the date that is 91 days after the later of the Revolving
Termination Date or Term Loan Maturity Date and (b) is in the Borrower’s good faith opinion on terms
and conditions customary in the relevant capital markets for preferred stock issued by issuers similar to
the Borrower.
“Permitted Sale Leaseback”: any sale-leaseback transaction consummated by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; provided that, at the time of the consummation
of such sale-leaseback transaction, the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds received from all such
sale-leaseback transactions do not exceed 5.0% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately prior to the date of such sale-leaseback
transaction for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.1; provided, further,
that any such sale-leaseback transactions not among the Borrower or its Subsidiaries must be
consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by the Borrower or
such Subsidiary.
“Permitted Senior Unsecured Debt”: senior unsecured Indebtedness of a Loan Party that
(a) requires no scheduled cash payments of principal and no mandatory repurchase or redemption
obligations prior to the date that is 91 days after the later of the Revolving Termination Date or Term
Loan Maturity Date, other than in connection with a change of control of Borrower or similar event, an
asset disposition or, if the Indebtedness is incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition (or refinance,
replace, modify, repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend Indebtedness in connection therewith) and
related costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid interest (including any refinancing,
replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof), subject to
conditions relating to the non-occurrence of such Permitted Acquisition, and (b) does not impose financial
“maintenance” (as distinct from “incurrence”) covenants on the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that
are more restrictive than the maintenance covenants herein.
“Permitted Senior Unsecured Notes”: one or more series of senior unsecured notes
constituting Permitted Senior Unsecured Debt that may be issued by following the Closing Date in an
aggregate principal amount not exceeding $500,000,000 (including any refinancing, replacement,
modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof).
“Permitted Subordinated Debt”: unsecured Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations
that (a) requires no scheduled cash payments of principal and no mandatory repurchase or redemption
obligations prior to the date that is 91 days after the later of the Revolving Termination Date or Term
Loan Maturity Date, other than in connection with a change of control of Borrower or similar event, an
asset disposition or, if the Indebtedness is incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition (or refinance,
replace, modify, repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend Indebtedness in connection therewith) and
related costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid interest (including any refinancing,
replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof), subject to
conditions relating to the non-occurrence of such Permitted Acquisition, (b) does not impose financial
“maintenance” (as distinct from “incurrence”) covenants on the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that
are more restrictive than the maintenance covenants herein, and (c) contains customary subordination
terms that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Person”: an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business
trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or
other entity of whatever nature.
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“Plan”: at a particular time, any employee benefit plan that is covered by ERISA and in
respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at
such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section
3(5) of ERISA.
“Pledged Stock”: as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.
“Prime Rate”: the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the
Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City (the Prime Rate
not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by the Administrative Agent in connection
with extensions of credit to debtors).
“Pro Forma Basis”: with respect to any calculation required by the terms of this
Agreement to be made on a Pro Forma Basis, that such calculation shall be made after taking into account
(a) any Specified Transaction, (b) any Operating Expense Initiative and (c) any redemption, repurchase,
retirement, defeasance, discharge or incurrence of Indebtedness that has occurred on or by such time, as
though such Specified Transaction, Operating Expense Initiative, redemption, repurchase, retirement,
discharge or incurrence had occurred at or prior to such date or on the first day of such period, as the case
may be, including pro forma adjustments arising out of events attributable to or actions taken in
connection with such Specified Transaction, Operating Expense Initiative or such redemption, repurchase,
retirement, defeasance, discharge or incurrence of Indebtedness. Upon giving effect to a Specified
Transaction on a “Pro Forma Basis,” (i) any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with such Specified Transaction (or any other transaction that occurred during
the relevant period) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the relevant period; (ii)
income statement items (whether positive or negative) and Consolidated EBITDA attributable to all
property acquired in such Specified Transaction or to the Investment constituting such Specified
Transaction, as applicable, shall be included as if such Specified Transaction has occurred as of the first
day of the relevant period; (iii) income statement items (whether positive or negative) and Consolidated
EBITDA attributable to all property disposed of in any Specified Transaction (including any income
statement items attributable to disposed abandoned or discontinued operations), shall be excluded as if
such Specified Transaction has occurred as of the first day of the relevant period; and (iv) such other pro
forma adjustments which would be permitted or required by Regulations S-K and S-X under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be taken into account (in addition to any adjustments permitted
pursuant to any applicable financial definition or test). For the purposes of any such calculation, if any
Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such
Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of the event for which the calculation is
made had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest hedging
arrangements applicable to such Indebtedness); provided, in the case of repayment of any Indebtedness, to
the extent actual interest related thereto was included during all or any portion of the applicable period,
the actual interest may be used for the applicable portion of such period. Interest on a Capital Lease
Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Borrower to be the
rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. Interest on
Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or
similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based
upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrower or a
Subsidiary may designate.
“Projections”: as defined in Section 6.2(b).
“Quotation Day”: with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period, two
Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
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“Recovery Event”: any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty
insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of any Group Member.
“Register”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).
“Regulation U”: Regulation U of the Board as in effect from time to time.
“Regulation S-X”: Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
“Reimbursement Obligation”: the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing
Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.
“Reimbursement Percentage”: as defined in Section 3.5.
“Reinvestment Deferred Amount”: with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the
aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by any Group Member in connection therewith that are not applied
to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.9(a) as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.
“Reinvestment Event”: any Asset Sale or Recovery Event in respect of which the
Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.
“Reinvestment Notice”: a written notice executed by a Responsible Officer stating that
no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and that the Borrower (directly or indirectly through a
Subsidiary) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale
or Recovery Event for (i) capital expenditures or to restore, rebuild, repair, construct, improve, replace or
otherwise acquire the assets similar to those that are the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event or
that are used or useful in its business or (ii) a Permitted Acquisition or any acquisition of all or
substantially all of the assets of, or all of the Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) of a
Person or business unit, division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent investment made in a
Person, or business unit, division or line of business of a Person previously acquired)).
“Reinvestment Prepayment Amount”: with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the
Reinvestment Deferred Amount relating thereto less any amount expended prior to the relevant
Reinvestment Prepayment Date for capital expenditures or to restore, rebuild, repair, construct, improve,
replace or otherwise acquire the assets similar to those that are the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery
Event or that are used or useful in the Borrower’s business or pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or any
acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of, or all of the Capital Stock (other than directors’
qualifying shares) of a Person or business unit, division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent
investment made in a Person or business unit, division or line of business of a Person previously
acquired).
“Reinvestment Prepayment Date”: with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the earlier of
(a) the date occurring twelve months after such Reinvestment Event and (b) the date on which the
Borrower shall have determined not to, or shall have otherwise ceased to, restore, rebuild, repair,
construct, improve, replace or otherwise acquire the assets similar to these that are the subject of such
Asset Sale or Recovery Event or that are used or useful in the Borrower’s business with all or any portion
of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.
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“Reportable Event”: any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than
those events as to which the thirty day notice period is waived under subsections .27, .28, .29, .30, .31,
.32, .34 or .35 of PBGC Reg. § 4043.
“Required Lenders”: at any time, the holders of more than 50% of (a) until the Closing
Date, the Commitments then in effect and (b) thereafter, the sum of (i) the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) the Total Revolving Commitments then in effect or,
if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit then
outstanding.
“Requirement of Law”: as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or
determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or
binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
“Responsible Officer”: the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer,
treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Borrower, but in any event, with respect to financial matters, the
chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Borrower.
“Restricted Debt Payments”: as defined in Section 7.6.
“Restricted Equity Payments”: as defined in Section 7.6.
“Restricted Payments”: as defined in Section 7.6.
“Revolving Commitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to
make Revolving Loans and participate in Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal and/or face amount
not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Revolving Commitment” opposite such Lender’s
name on Schedule 1.1A or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a
party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original
amount of the Total Revolving Commitments is $1,200,000,000.
“Revolving Commitment Increase”: as defined in Section 2.4.
“Revolving Commitment Period”: the period from and including the Closing Date to the
Revolving Termination Date.
“Revolving Extensions of Credit”: as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount
equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans held by such Lender then
outstanding and (b) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding.
“Revolving Facility”: as defined in the definition of “Facility”.
“Revolving Lender”: each Lender that has a Revolving Commitment or that holds
Revolving Loans.
“Revolving Loans”: as defined in Section 2.4(a).
“Revolving Percentage”: as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the percentage which
such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then constitutes of the Total Revolving Commitments or, at any
time after the Revolving Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the
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aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans then outstanding constitutes of the
aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans then outstanding, provided that, in the event that the
Revolving Loans are paid in full prior to the reduction to zero of the Total Revolving Extensions of
Credit, the Revolving Percentages shall be determined in a manner designed to ensure that the other
outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit shall be held by the Revolving Lenders on a comparable
basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, (i) in the case of Section 2.21,
the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Percentages shall be determined without regard to any Defaulting
Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (ii) in the case of the defined term “Revolving Extensions of
Credit” (other than as used in Section 2.21(c)) and Section 2.4(a), the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving
Percentages shall be adjusted to give effect to any reallocation effected pursuant to Section 2.21(c).
“Revolving Termination Date”: June 17, 2021.
“Sanctioned Country”: at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the
subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba,
Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
“Sanctioned Person”: at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of
designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the
Treasury or the U.S. Department of State or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union,
Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a
Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any Person or Persons described in the
foregoing clauses (a) and (b).
“Sanctions”: economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered
or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the
United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.
“SEC”: the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto and any
analogous Governmental Authority.
“Secured Parties”: the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Lenders, the Lenders and any affiliate of any Lender to which Obligations are owed.
“Security Documents”: the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Administrative Agent granting a
Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any
Loan Document.
“Single Employer Plan”: any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but that is not a
Multiemployer Plan.
“Solvent”: when used with respect to any Person, means that, as of any date of
determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person and its
subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such
Person and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such
quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing
determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person
and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be
required to pay the liability of such Person and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, on its debts as
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such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis,
will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct their
business, and (d) such Person and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be able to pay their debts
as they mature. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in
light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that would reasonably
be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“Specified Cash Management Agreement”: any agreement providing for treasury,
depositary, purchasing card or cash management services, including in connection with any automated
clearing house transfers of funds or any similar transactions between the Borrower or any Subsidiary
Guarantor and any Lender or Affiliate thereof.
“Specified Swap Agreement”: any Swap Agreement entered into by the Borrower and
any Lender or affiliate thereof at the time of entering into such Swap Agreement in respect of interest
rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
“Specified Transaction” means any (a) Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, (b)
Permitted Acquisition, (c) Investment that results in a Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower
(which, for purposes hereof, shall be deemed to also include (1) the merger, consolidation, liquidation or
similar amalgamation of any Person into the Borrower or any Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower or such
Subsidiary is the surviving Person, and (2) the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person
to the Borrower or any Subsidiary) or (d) the proposed incurrence of Indebtedness or making of a
Restricted Payment or payment in respect of Indebtedness in respect of which compliance with any
financial ratio is by the terms of this Agreement required to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.
“Spot Rate of Exchange”: with respect to any Designated Foreign Currency, at any date
of determination thereof, the spot rate of exchange in London that appears on the display page applicable
to such Designated Foreign Currency on the Telerate System (or such other page as may replace such
page for the purpose of displaying the spot rate of exchange in London); provided that if there shall at any
time no longer exist such a page, the spot rate of exchange shall be determined by reference to another
similar rate publishing service selected by the Administrative Agent and, if no such similar rate
publishing service is available, by reference to the published rate of the Administrative Agent in effect at
such date for similar commercial transactions.
“Subsidiary”: as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or
other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other
than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a
contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation,
partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled,
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise
qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“Subsidiary Guarantor”: each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Material
Subsidiary.
“Swap”: any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the
meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Swap Agreement”: any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or
derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more
25
rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing
indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any
combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments
only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be a “Swap Agreement”.
“Swap Obligation”: with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under
any Swap.
“Term Commitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a
Term Loan to the Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading
“Term Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1A. The original aggregate amount of
the Term Commitments is $600,000,000.
“Term Facility”: as defined in the definition of “Facility”.
“Term Lender”: each Lender that has a Term Commitment or that holds a Term Loan.
“Term Loan”: as defined in Section 2.1.
“Term Loan Maturity Date”: June 17, 2021.
“Term Percentage”: as to any Term Lender at any time, the percentage which such
Lender’s Term Commitment then constitutes of the aggregate Term Commitments (or, at any time after
the Closing Date, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans then
outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, (i) in the case of Section 2.21, the
Term Lenders’ Term Percentages shall be determined without regard to any Defaulting Lender’s Term
Commitment and (ii) in the case of the defined term “Term Extensions of Credit” (other than as used in
Section 2.21(c)) and Section 2.4(a), Term Lenders’ Term Percentages shall be adjusted to give effect to
any reallocation effected pursuant to Section 2.21(c).
“Total Revolving Commitments”: at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving
Commitments then in effect.
“Total Revolving Extensions of Credit”: at any time, the aggregate amount of the
Revolving Extensions of Credit of the Revolving Lenders outstanding at such time.
“Transferee”: any Assignee or Participant.
“Type”: as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.
“United States”: the United States of America.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity”: 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 of the Indebtedness, 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
26
(b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary”: as to any Person, any other Person all of the Capital Stock
of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or similar third party share agreements required by law)
is owned by such Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor”: any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Withholding Agent”: any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers”: with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority,
the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the
Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers
are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) Unless otherwise specified therein, all
terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents
or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.
(b) As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, (i) accounting terms relating to any Group
Member not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent
not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP (provided that all terms of
an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and
ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to (i) any election under Accounting
Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard
having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of
convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other
Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or
effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and
such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof), (ii) the
words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without
limitation”, (iii) the word “incur” shall be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become
liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative
meanings), (iv) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, Capital
Stock, securities, revenues, accounts, leasehold interests and contract rights, and (v) references to
agreements or other Contractual Obligations shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to
such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time.
(c) The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import,
when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement
unless otherwise specified.
(d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to
both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
27
(e) To the extent that any provision hereof requires (x) compliance with any
financial ratio or test, including the Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio, the Consolidated Leverage
Ratio and the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, (y) the absence of any Default or Event of
Default (or any type of Default or Event of Default) or (z) compliance with any cap expressed as a
percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, total assets or consolidated total assets as a condition to (1) the
consummation of any transaction in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar permitted
Investment, (2) the incurrence of any Indebtedness (and any Liens related thereto) incurred to finance,
or in connection with, such Permitted Acquisition or similar permitted Investment, or (3) the
incurrence of any Indebtedness (and any Liens related thereto) incurred to refinance, replace, modify,
repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement, the determination
of whether the relevant provision is satisfied may be made, at the election of the Borrower: (A) in the
case of any acquisition or similar permitted Investment, either (I) at the time of the execution of the
definitive agreement with respect to the relevant acquisition or investment or (II) at the time of the
consummation of the relevant acquisition or investment, in either case after giving effect to the
acquisition and any related Indebtedness and Liens on a Pro Forma Basis or (B) in the case of any
Indebtedness (or any liens related thereto) incurred to finance or in connection with such acquisition
or similar investment (in each case or to refinance, replace, modify, repay, redeem, refund, renew or
extend Indebtedness in connection therewith), either (I) at the time of entry into the commitment for
such Indebtedness, (II) at the time the Borrower delivers irrevocable notice to refinance, replace,
modify, repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend such Indebtedness, or (III) at the time of the
incurrence of such Indebtedness or Liens, in each case as applicable and after giving effect to the
relevant Indebtedness, Liens and any related acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis or (C) in the case of
any Indebtedness (or any liens related thereto) incurred to refinance, replace, modify, repay, redeem,
refund, renew or extend Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement, either (I) at the time of entry into
the commitment for such Indebtedness, (II) at the time the Borrower delivers irrevocable notice to
refinance, replace, modify, repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend the Indebtedness being refinanced,
replaced, modified, repaid, redeemed, refunded, renewed or extended, or (III) at the time of the
incurrence of such Indebtedness or Liens, in each case as applicable and after giving effect to the
relevant Indebtedness, Liens and any related acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis .
SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS
2.1 Term Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Term Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (a “Term Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars on the
Closing Date in an amount not to exceed the amount of the Term Commitment of such Lender. The Term
Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and
notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.10.
(b) (i) The Borrower may at any time or from time to time after the Closing
Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly
deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request one or more additional tranches of term loans (the
“Incremental Term Loans” and such borrowing, an “Incremental Extension of Credit”); provided that
both at the time of any such request and upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment (other
than with respect to any acquisition permitted by this Agreement) referred to below, no Default or
Event of Default shall exist. Each Incremental Extension of Credit shall be in an aggregate principal
amount that is not less than $5,000,000 or such lower amount if such amount represents all remaining
availability under the limit set in this Section 2.1(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
the aggregate amount of any Incremental Extension of Credit, when taken together with all other
Incremental Extensions of Credit and all Revolving Commitment Increases, shall not exceed (x)
$500,000,000 plus (y) an additional unlimited amount, provided, that (A) at the time of incurrence (or
the making of commitments if not drawn in full when committed) on a Pro Forma Basis (assuming
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that any such Incremental Extensions of Credit are drawn in full and excluding the cash proceeds of
such Incremental Extension of Credit), the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed
3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements
have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or 6.1(b) and (B) committed but undrawn amounts for
which the requirements in clause (A) are met when committed shall subsequently be available to be
drawn without a need to meet such requirements. The Incremental Term Loans shall rank pari passu
in right of payment and of security with the Term Loans. The Incremental Term Loans (i) shall not
mature earlier than the Revolving Termination Date and shall have a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity no shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans (except by virtue
of amortization of or prepayment of the Term Loans and prepayments of scheduled amortization prior
to such date of determination) and (i) except as set forth above and below, shall be treated
substantially the same as the Term Loans (in each case, including with respect to mandatory and
voluntary prepayments); provided that (x) the interest rates and amortization schedule (subject to
clause (i) above) applicable to the Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrower and
the lenders thereof and (y) to the extent such terms applicable to the Incremental Term Loans are not
consistent with the then existing Term Loans (except as permitted by the immediately preceding
clause (x)) such terms shall be mutually agreed to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall set forth the requested
amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Extension of Credit. The Borrower may arrange
for any such increase to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in
its Term Commitment, an “Increasing Term Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions
or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Term
Lender”); provided that (i) each Augmenting Term Lender, shall be subject to the approval of the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent (such approval by the Administrative Agent not to be
unreasonably withheld) and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Term Lender, the Borrower and such
Increasing Term Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto, and (y) in the
case of an Augmenting Term Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Term Lender execute an
agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, no existing Lender
will be required to provide any Incremental Term Loans and the Borrower shall have no obligation to
offer any existing Lender the opportunity to provide any commitment for any Incremental Term Loans.
(iii) Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans shall become Commitments
under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and,
as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Lender agreeing to provide
such Commitment, if any, each Increasing Term Lender, if any, each Augmenting Term Lender, if any,
and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other
Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary
or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the
provisions of this Section; provided that any amendments included in any Incremental Amendment meant
to effect changes not relating to this Section 2.1(b) shall require the vote of the Lenders as described in
Section 10.1 hereof. The making of any loans pursuant to any Incremental Amendment shall not be
effective unless on the date thereof (each, an “Incremental Facility Closing Date”), after giving effect to
such Incremental Extension of Credit (i) the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied; provided that
with respect to Incremental Term Loans used to finance an acquisition (or refinance, replace, modify,
repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend Indebtedness in connection therewith) or to refinance, replace,
modify, repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement, as of the date
of consummation of such acquisition or refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption,
refunding, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness, (x) the only representations and warranties that are
required to be true as a condition to the borrowing of such Incremental Term Loans are the Limited
Conditionality Representations and (y) no payment Event of Default shall have occurred and be
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continuing, (ii) subject to Section 1.2(e), the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 7.1, (iii) the
Administrative Agent shall have received documents consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date
under Section 5.1(f) as to the corporate power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after
giving effect to such increase, and (iv) such other conditions as the Borrower and the Lender(s) of
Incremental Term Loans may agree. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans
for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any
Incremental Term Loans unless it so agrees.
2.2 Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent
prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, three Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing Date)
requesting that the Term Lenders make the Term Loans on the Closing Date and specifying the amount to
be borrowed. The Term Loans made on the Closing Date shall initially be Eurodollar Loans. Upon
receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Term Lender thereof. Not
later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Closing Date each Term Lender shall make available
to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office an amount in immediately available funds equal to the
Term Loan or Term Loans to be made by such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall credit the account
of the Borrower on the books of such office of the Administrative Agent with the aggregate of the
amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Term Lenders in immediately available
funds.
2.3 Repayment of Term Loans. The Term Loan of each Lender shall mature
in 16 consecutive quarterly installments (with the balance of the Term Loan of each Lender maturing on
the Term Loan Maturity Date), each of which shall be in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term
Percentage multiplied by the amount set forth below opposite such installment:
Installment Principal Amount
September 30, 2016
December 31, 2016
March 31, 2017
June 30, 2017
September 30, 2017
December 31, 2017
March 31, 2018
June 30, 2018
September 30, 2018
December 31, 2018
March 31, 2019
June 30, 2019
September 30, 2019
December 31, 2019
March 31, 2020
June 30, 2020
Term Loan Maturity Date
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$11,250,000
$11,250,000
$11,250,000
$11,250,000
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
$435,000,000
2.4 Revolving Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (“Revolving Loans”) to
the Borrower in Dollars from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period in an aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding which, when added to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage
of the L/C Obligations then outstanding does not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving
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Commitment. During the Revolving Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Revolving
Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Revolving Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Revolving Loans may from time to time be
Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent
in accordance with Sections 2.5 and 2.10.
(b) The Borrower may from time to time elect to increase the Revolving
Commitments (a “Revolving Commitment Increase”) in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or such
lower amount if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set in this Section
2.4(b) so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of the Incremental Extensions of
Credit and Revolving Commitment Increases does not exceed (i) $500,000,000 plus (ii) an additional
unlimited amount, provided, that (A) at the time of incurrence (or the making of commitments if not
drawn in full when committed) on a Pro Forma Basis (assuming that any such Revolving
Commitment Increase is drawn in full and excluding the cash proceeds of such Revolving
Commitment Increase), the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00 as of
the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered
pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or 6.1(b) and (B) committed but undrawn amounts for which the
requirements in clause (A) are met when committed shall subsequently be available to be drawn
without a need to meet such requirements. The Borrower may arrange for any such increase to be
provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Revolving
Commitment, an “Increasing Revolving Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions
or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Revolving
Lender”), to increase their existing Revolving Commitments, or extend Revolving Commitments, as
the case may be, provided that (i) each Augmenting Revolving Lender, shall be subject to the
approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (such approval by the Administrative Agent
not to be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Revolving Lender, the
Borrower and such Increasing Revolving Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit G hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Revolving Lender, the Borrower and such
Augmenting Revolving Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto.
Increases and new Revolving Commitments created pursuant to this clause shall become effective on
the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (such approval by the Administrative
Agent not to be unreasonably withheld) and the relevant Increasing Revolving Lenders or
Augmenting Revolving Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender
thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Revolving Commitments (or in the
Revolving Commitment of any Lender), shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the
proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase, the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b)
of Section 5.2 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent
shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Responsible Officer
of the Borrower, (ii) after giving effect to such Revolving Commitment Increase, subject to Section
1.2(e), the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 7.1, and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall
have received documents consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Section 5.1(f) as
to the corporate power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such
increase. On the effective date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments, (i) each relevant
Increasing Revolving Lender and Augmenting Revolving Lender shall make available to the
Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall
determine, for the benefit of the other Revolving Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after
giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Revolving
Lenders, each Revolving Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Revolving
Lenders to equal its Revolving Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the
Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the
date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of
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Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the
Borrower in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.5). The deemed payments made pursuant
to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence in respect of each Eurodollar Loan shall be
subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.18 if the deemed
payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. For the avoidance of doubt,
no existing Lender will be required to provide any Revolving Commitment Increase and the Borrower
shall have no obligation to offer any existing Lender the opportunity to provide any commitment for
any Revolving Commitment Increase.
(c) The Borrower shall repay all outstanding Revolving Loans on the Revolving
Termination Date.
2.5 Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing. The Borrower may borrow
under the Revolving Commitments during the Revolving Commitment Period on any Business Day,
provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be
received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, (a) three Business Days
prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, or (b) one Business Day prior to
the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans) (provided that any such notice of a borrowing
of ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility to finance payments required by Section 3.5 may be given
not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date of the proposed borrowing), specifying (i) the
amount and Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date and (iii) in the
case of Eurodollar Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of
the initial Interest Period therefor. Any Revolving Loans made on the Closing Date shall initially be
ABR Loans. Each borrowing under the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the
case of ABR Loans, $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof (or, if the then aggregate Available
Revolving Commitments are less than $1,000,000, such lesser amount) and (y) in the case of Eurodollar
Loans, $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Upon receipt of any such notice
from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender thereof. Each
Revolving Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Funding Office prior to 12:00 Noon, New
York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the
Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office with the
aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Revolving Lenders and in
like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
2.6 Commitment Fees, etc. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee for the period from
and including the date hereof to the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period, computed at the
Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such
Lender during the period for which payment is made, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment
Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof.
(b) 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 and to
perform any other obligations contained therein.
2.7 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Commitments. The Borrower
shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to
terminate the Revolving Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Revolving
Commitments; provided that no such termination or reduction of Revolving Commitments shall be
32
permitted to the extent that, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Loans
made on the effective date thereof, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total
Revolving Commitments. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $5,000,000, or a whole
multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Commitments then in effect.
2.8 Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to
time prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice delivered
to the Administrative Agent no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, three Business Days prior
thereto, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, and no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, one Business
Day prior thereto, in the case of ABR Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of
prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans; provided, that if a
Eurodollar Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the
Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.18. Upon receipt of any such notice
the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given,
the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with
(except in the case of Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans) accrued interest to such date on the amount
prepaid. Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall
be applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.15(b). Partial prepayments
of Term Loans and Revolving Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole
multiple thereof.
2.9 Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions. (a) If on any
date any Group Member shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event, and the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Borrower for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters is greater
than 2.50 to 1.00, then, unless a Reinvestment Notice shall be delivered in respect thereof, an amount
equal to 50% of such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied on such date to the prepayment of the Term
Loans as set forth in Section 2.9(b); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, on each Reinvestment
Prepayment Date, an amount equal to the Reinvestment Prepayment Amount with respect to the relevant
Reinvestment Event shall be applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.9(b).
(b) Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to this
Section 2.9 shall be applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.15(b).
The application of any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall be made on a pro rata basis to
the then outstanding Term Loans being repaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans
are ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans. Each prepayment of the Loans under this Section 2.9 shall be
accompanied by accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.
2.10 Conversion and Continuation Options. (a) The Borrower may elect
from time to time to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior
irrevocable notice of such election no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Business Day
preceding the proposed conversion date, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only
be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The Borrower may elect from time to
time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable
notice of such election no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third Business Day
preceding the proposed conversion date (which notice shall specify the length of the initial Interest Period
therefor), provided that no ABR Loan under a particular Facility may be converted into a Eurodollar Loan
when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Majority
Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit
such conversions. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
relevant Lender thereof.
33
(b) Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of the
then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the Borrower giving irrevocable notice to the
Administrative Agent, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set
forth in Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided
that no Eurodollar Loan under a particular Facility may be continued as such when any Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Facility
Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such
continuations, and provided, further, that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required notice as
described above in this paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding
proviso such Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then
expiring Interest Period. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each relevant Lender thereof.
2.11 Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, all borrowings, conversions and continuations of Eurodollar Loans and all
selections of Interest Periods shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that, (a)
after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each
Eurodollar Tranche shall be equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and
(b) no more than ten Eurodollar Tranches shall be outstanding at any one time.
2.12 Interest Rates and Payment Dates. (a) Each Eurodollar Loan shall bear
interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the
Eurodollar Rate determined for such day plus the Applicable Margin.
(b) Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the ABR plus
the Applicable Margin.
(c) (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or Reimbursement
Obligation shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise),
all outstanding Loans and Reimbursement Obligations (whether or not overdue) shall bear interest at
a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of the Loans, the rate that would otherwise be applicable
thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section plus 2% or (y) in the case of
Reimbursement Obligations, the rate applicable to ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility plus 2%,
and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest payable on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or any
commitment fee or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to the rate then applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility plus 2% (or, in the case of
any such other amounts that do not relate to a particular Facility, the rate then applicable to ABR
Loans under the Revolving Facility plus 2%), in each case, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above,
from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before
judgment).
(d) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, provided
that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable from time to time on
demand.
2.13 Computation of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest and fees payable pursuant
hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with
respect to ABR Loans the rate of interest on which is calculated on the basis of the Prime Rate, the
interest thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the
actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the
34
relevant Lenders of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan
resulting from a change in the ABR or the Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements shall become effective as
of the opening of business on the day on which such change becomes effective. The Administrative
Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of the effective date and
the amount of each such change in interest rate.
(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant
to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders
in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower,
deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in
determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.12(a).
2.14 Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of any
Interest Period:
(a) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall
be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant
market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such
Interest Period, or
(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Majority
Facility Lenders in respect of the relevant Facility that the Eurodollar Rate determined or to be
determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as
conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected Loans during such
Interest Period (each of clause (a) and (b), a “Market Disruption Event”),
the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the relevant
Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. If such notice is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans under the
relevant Facility requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as ABR
Loans, (y) any Loans under the relevant Facility that were to have been converted on the first day of such
Interest Period to Eurodollar Loans shall be continued as ABR Loans and (z) any outstanding Eurodollar
Loans under the relevant Facility shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period, to
ABR Loans; provided that, subject to Section 2.18, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a
borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of such Eurodollar Loans. Until such notice has been
withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans under the relevant Facility shall be
made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert Loans under the relevant
Facility to Eurodollar Loans; provided that during any period in which a Market Disruption Event is in
effect, the Borrower may request that the Administrative Agent request the Majority Facility Lenders to
confirm that the circumstances giving rise to the Market Disruption Event continue to be in effect;
provided that (A) the Borrower shall not be permitted to submit any such request more than once in any
30-day period and (B) nothing contained in this Section 2.14 or the failure to provide confirmation of the
continued effectiveness of such Market Disruption Event shall in any way affect the Administrative
Agent’s or Majority Facility Lenders’ right to provide any additional notices of a Market Disruption
Event as provided in this Section 2.14.
2.15 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a) Each borrowing by the Borrower
from the Lenders hereunder, each payment by the Borrower on account of any commitment fee and any
reduction of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the respective Term
Percentages or Revolving Percentages, as the case may be, of the relevant Lenders.
35
(b) Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of
principal of and interest on the Term Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective
outstanding principal amounts of the Term Loans then held by the Term Lenders. The amount of
each principal prepayment of the Term Loans shall be applied to reduce the then remaining
installments of the Term Loans pro rata based upon the then remaining principal amounts thereof.
Amounts prepaid on account of the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
(c) Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of
principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective
outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving Loans then held by the Revolving Lenders.
(d) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower
hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without setoff or
counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the due date thereof to
the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Funding Office, in Dollars and in
immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Lenders
promptly upon receipt in like funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on
the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan
becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended
to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such
payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the
preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such
extension.
(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any
Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share
of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that
such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative
Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding
amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on
the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such
amount with interest thereon, at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and
(ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available
to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with
respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest
error. If such Lender’s share of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by
such Lender within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall
also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to ABR
Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrower.
(f) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the
Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower hereunder that the
Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may
assume that the Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not
be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their respective pro
rata shares of a corresponding amount. If such payment is not made to the Administrative Agent by
the Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available
36
pursuant to the preceding sentence, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to
the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.
2.16 Requirements of Law. (a) If the adoption of or any change in any
Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender (which
shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any Issuing Lender) with any request or directive (whether or
not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to
the date hereof:
(i) shall subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect
to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Application or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or
change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for in each
case Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes, which are covered by Section 2.17, changes in the
rate or basis of imposition of tax imposed on or measured by the net income of such Lender,
franchise taxes in lieu of such net income taxes and branch profits taxes);
(ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit,
compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or
for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of
funds by, any office of such Lender that is not otherwise included in the determination of the
Eurodollar Rate; or
(iii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition affecting this
Agreement;
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender, by an amount that such
Lender reasonably deems to be material, of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining Eurodollar
Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in
respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly pay such Lender upon its demand,
any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount
receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this paragraph, it
shall promptly notify the Borrower in writing (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of the event by
reason of which it has become so entitled.
(b) If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or any change in
any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements or in the interpretation
or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with
any request or directive regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements (whether or not having
the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof shall have the
effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence
of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which
such Lender, or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance
(taking into consideration such Lender’s, or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital
adequacy or liquidity requirements) by an amount reasonably deemed by such Lender to be material,
then from time to time, after submission by such Lender or to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, or such corporation for such
reduction; provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to pay additional amounts to compensate
any Lender (i) any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes, which are covered by Section 2.17 or (ii)
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any change in the rate or basis of imposition of applicable taxes imposed on or measured by net
income, franchise taxes in lieu of such net income taxes and branch profits taxes.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) all requests, rules,
guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or by United States
or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, and (ii) the Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and
directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof shall in each case
be deemed to be a change in a Requirement of Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or
implemented; provided that the protection of this Section 2.16(c) shall be available to each Lender
regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the law, rule, regulation,
guideline or other change or condition which shall have occurred or been imposed, so long as it shall
be customary for Lenders affected thereby to comply therewith. No Lender shall be entitled to
compensation under this Section 2.16(c) with respect to any date unless it shall have notified the
Borrower that it will demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.16(c) not more than 90 days
after the date on which it shall have become aware of such incurred costs or reductions.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, no Lender shall demand compensation pursuant to this
Section 2.16(c) if it shall not at the time be the general policy or practice of such Lender to demand
such compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other credit agreements,
if any.
(d) A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section
submitted by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall set forth in
reasonable detail the calculation of such amounts and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest
error. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the Borrower shall not be required to
compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any amounts incurred more than nine months prior
to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation
therefor; provided that, if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then
such nine-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect. The
obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement
and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
2.17 Taxes. (a) All payments made by or on behalf of any Loan Party under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or
withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees,
deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any
Governmental Authority, unless such taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, as determined in good faith by the applicable Withholding Agent, in
which case (i) such amounts shall be paid to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law and (ii) if the taxes so withheld are any taxes other than net income taxes, branch profits
taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on the Administrative Agent or
any Lender by the jurisdiction under the laws of which the Administrative Agent or such Lender is
organized or as a result of a present or former connection between the Administrative 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 the
Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received
a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Loan Document) (such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, the “Non-Excluded Taxes”) or are
Other Taxes, the amounts payable by the applicable Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or such
Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender
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(after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes including any such taxes imposed on amounts
payable under this Section) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the
amounts specified in this Agreement as if such withholding or deduction had not been made, provided
further, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes (i) that are attributable to
such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d), (e), (f) or (i) of this Section, (ii)
that are United States withholding taxes imposed under FATCA or (iii) that are United States withholding
taxes resulting from any Requirement of Law in effect on the date the Administrative Agent or such
Lender becomes a party to this Agreement or designates a new lending office, except to the extent that the
Administrative Agent or such Lender (or its assignor (if any)) was entitled, immediately prior to such
designation of a new lending office or at the time of assignment, as applicable, to receive additional
amounts from the Borrower with respect to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to this paragraph.
(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other 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 the relevant Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an
original official receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. If (i) the Borrower fails
to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority, (ii) the
Borrower fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required
documentary evidence or (iii) any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes are imposed directly upon the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders for such amounts and any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure, in the case of (i) and (ii), or
any such direct imposition, in the case of (iii); provided that the requirement to indemnify shall apply
only if the Borrower is required under this Section 2.17 to pay additional amounts with respect to
such Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes.
(d) Each Lender (or Transferee) that is not a “United States Person” as defined in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “Non-U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related
participation shall have been purchased) (i) two copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)
Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8ECI or Form W-8IMY (together with any applicable
underlying IRS forms), (ii) in the case of a 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”, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit F and the applicable IRS Form W-8, or any
subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, properly completed and duly executed by such
Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal withholding
tax on all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or (iii) any
other form prescribed by applicable requirements of U.S. federal income tax law as a basis for
claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax duly completed together with
such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law to
permit the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction
required to be made. Such forms shall be delivered by each Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it
becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such
Participant purchases the related participation) and from time to time thereafter upon the request of
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a
Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this Section that such Non-U.S.
Lender is not legally able to deliver.
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(e) A Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of non-U.S.
withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to
which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the
Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law
or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and
executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made
without withholding or at a reduced rate, provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete,
execute and deliver such documentation and in such Lender’s judgment such completion, execution
or submission would not materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(f) The Administrative Agent and each Lender, in each case that is organized
under the laws of the United States or a state thereof, shall, on or before the date of any payment by
the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to, or for the account of, such
Administrative Agent or Lender, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, in the
case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased),
two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or successor form, certifying that
such Administrative Agent or Lender is a “United States Person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30)
of the Code) and that such Administrative Agent or Lender is entitled to a complete exemption from
United States backup withholding tax.
(g) If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion,
that it has received a refund of any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been
indemnified by a Loan Party or with respect to which a Loan Party has paid additional amounts
pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to such Loan Party (but only to the extent
of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section 2.17
with respect to the Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-
pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any
interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that such
Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount
paid over to such Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant
Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative
Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This
paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available
its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to any Loan
Party or any other Person.
(h) Each Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after
demand therefor, for the full amount of (i) any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees,
deductions, withholdings or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority that are
attributable to such Lender and (ii) any taxes attributable to such Lender's failure to comply with the
provisions of Section 10.6(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, in each case, that
are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent, together with all interest, penalties, reasonable costs
and expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, as determined by the Administrative Agent in
good faith, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant
Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any
Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error; provided that if it is
demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent that any Lender has overpaid
in respect of any such amounts due, the Administrative Agent shall reimburse such Lender for such
overpaid amount. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any
and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by
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the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the
Administrative Agent under this paragraph (h).
(i) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject
to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the
applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or
1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as
prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably
requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such
Lender has complied with such Lender's obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to
deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (i), "FATCA" shall
include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(j) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered
under this Section expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form
or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal
inability to do so.
(k) For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any other
Issuing Lender and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
(l) The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this
Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
2.18 Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender for, and to
hold each Lender harmless from, any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of
Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of or conversion
from Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on a day that is not the last day of
an Interest Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess,
if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed,
converted or continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow,
convert or continue to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or
continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the
applicable rate of interest for such Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Margin
included therein, if any) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that
would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable
period with leading banks in the interbank eurodollar market. A certificate setting forth the calculation in
reasonable detail as to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted to the Borrower by any
Lender shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination
of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
2.19 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs. If any
Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Sections 2.15(e), 2.15(f), 3.4,
3.5 or 9.7, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of
41
such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to satisfy such Lender’s
obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold
any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding
obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any
order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
2.20 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender
requests compensation under Section 2.16, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to
any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then
such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its
Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or
reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.16 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would
not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be
disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses
incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.16, or does not consent
to any proposed amendment, supplement, modification, consent, or waiver of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document requested by the Borrower which requires the consent of all the Lenders
(including such Lender’s consent) and which has been consented to by the Required Lenders, or if the
Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for
the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16 and Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a
Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender
and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in
accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.6), all its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee
may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) such assignment does
not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) the Borrower shall be liable to the assigning Lender
under Section 2.18 if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such assigning Lender shall be purchased other
than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (iii) until such time as such assignment
shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to
Section 2.16 or 2.17(a), as the case may be, (iv) if the assignee is not already a Lender, the Borrower
shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving
Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be
withheld, (v) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees
and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding
principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (vi) in the
case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.16 or payments
required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such
compensation or payments and (vii) any such assignment 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. No action by or consent of the replaced Lender shall be necessary in connection with such
removal or assignment, which shall be immediately and automatically effective upon payment of such
purchase price. In connection with any such assignment, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
such replaced Lender and the replacement Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 10.6; provided
that if such replaced Lender does not comply with Section 10.6 within three Business Days after the
Borrower’s request, compliance with Section 10.6 shall not be required to effect such assignment. A
Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result
42
of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such
assignment and delegation cease to apply.
2.21 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so
long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of
such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.6;
(b) the Commitments of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in
determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including
any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.1); provided, that
this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver
or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender affected thereby;
(c) if any L/C Obligations exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting
Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the L/C Obligations of such Defaulting Lender shall be
reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Aggregate
Exposure Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Aggregate
Exposure Percentages plus such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations does not exceed the total of
all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only
partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the
Administrative Agent cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Lender only the Borrower’s
obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations (after giving effect to any
partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Section 8.1 for so long as such L/C Obligations are outstanding;
(iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting
Lender’s L/C Obligations pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay
any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.3 with respect to such Defaulting
Lender’s L/C Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations are cash
collateralized;
(iv) if the L/C Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated
pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.3 shall be
adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Aggregate Exposure Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations is
neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without
prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all Letter
of Credit fees payable under Section 3.3 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C
Obligations shall be payable to the Issuing Lender until and to the extent that such L/C
Obligations are reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(d) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Lender shall not
be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related
43
exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding L/C Obligations will be 100% covered by the
Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower
in accordance with Section 2.21(c), and participating interests in any newly issued or increased Letter
of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section
2.21(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Parent of any Lender shall occur following the
date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Issuing Lender has a good faith belief
that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which
such Lender commits to extend credit, the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase
any Letter of Credit, unless the Issuing Lender, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or
such Lender, satisfactory to the Issuing Lender, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender
hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Issuing Lender each
agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a
Defaulting Lender, then the L/C Obligations of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of
such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the
other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to
hold such Loans in accordance with its Aggregate Exposure Percentage.
SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT
3.1 L/C Commitment. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a),
agrees to issue letters of credit (“Letters of Credit”) for the account of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and with the Borrower as the applicant on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period in
such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender; provided that no Issuing Lender
shall have any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) its L/C
Obligations would exceed its L/C Commitment, (ii) the aggregate amount of L/C Obligations would
exceed the aggregate amount of L/C Commitments or (iii) the aggregate amount of the Available
Revolving Commitments would be less than zero. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in
Dollars or in any Designated Foreign Currency and (ii) expire no later than the earlier of (x) the first
anniversary of its date of issuance and (y) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving
Termination Date, provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term may provide for the renewal
thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date referred to in
clause (y) above).
(b) The Issuing Lender shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of
Credit if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to
exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law.
3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit. The Borrower may from time
to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its
address for notices specified herein an Application therefor (with a copy to the Administrative Agent),
completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other
papers and information as the Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing
Lender will process such Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information
delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly
issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required to issue
any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all
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such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the
original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to by the Issuing
Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the
Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof. The Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the
Administrative Agent, which shall in turn promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each
Letter of Credit (including the amount thereof).
3.3 Fees and Other Charges. (a) The Borrower will pay a fee on all
outstanding Letters of Credit at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect with
respect to Eurodollar Loans under the Revolving Facility, which fee shall be shared ratably among the
Revolving Lenders and payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date. In
addition, the Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee of 0.125% per
annum on the undrawn and unexpired amount of each Letter of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears on
each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date. Such fees shall be payable in Dollars.
(b) In addition to the foregoing fees, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse the
Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by the
Issuing Lender in issuing, negotiating, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering
any Letter of Credit.
3.4 L/C Participations. (a) The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant
and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit,
each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from
the Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions set forth below, for such L/C Participant’s own account
and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Percentage in the Issuing
Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amount of each draft
paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft
is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (or in the event that any reimbursement received by the
Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by it at any time), such L/C Participant shall pay to the
Issuing Lender upon demand (which demand, in the case of any demand made in respect of any draft
under a Letter of Credit denominated in any Designated Foreign Currency, shall not be made prior to the
date that the amount of such draft shall be converted into Dollars in accordance with Section 3.5) at the
Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving
Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, that is not so reimbursed (or is so returned).
Each L/C Participant’s obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be
affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right
that such L/C Participant may have against the Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any
reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to
satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 5, (iii) any adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other L/C Participant or (v) any other circumstance,
happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
(b) If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to the Issuing
Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the
Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit is paid to the Issuing Lender within three Business Days
after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand an
amount equal to the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Effective
Rate during the period from and including the date such payment is required to the date on which
such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of
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which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If
any such amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant pursuant to Section 3.4(a) is not made
available to the Issuing Lender by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such
payment is due, the Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such L/C Participant, on demand,
such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to
ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility. A certificate of the Issuing Lender submitted to any L/C
Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error.
(c) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under any
Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its pro rata share of such payment in
accordance with Section 3.4(a), the Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of
Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied
thereto by the Issuing Lender), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Lender will
distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, however, that in the event that
any such payment received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing
Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously
distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.
3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. If any draft is paid under
any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender for the amount of (a) the draft so
paid and (b) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in
connection with such payment, not later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that
the Borrower receives notice of such draft, if such notice is received on such day prior to 10:00 A.M.,
New York City time, or (ii) if clause (i) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following
the day that the Borrower receives such notice. Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing Lender at
its address for notices referred to herein in the currency in which such Letter of Credit is denominated
(except that, in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in any Designated Foreign Currency, upon
notice by the Issuing Lender to the Borrower, such payment shall be made in Dollars from and after the
date on which the amount of such payment shall have been converted into Dollars at the Spot Rate of
Exchange on such date of conversion, which date of conversion may be any Business Day after the
Business Day on which such payment is due) and in immediately available funds. Any conversion by the
Issuing Lender of any payment to be made in respect of any Letter of Credit denominated in any
Designated Foreign Currency into Dollars in accordance with this Section 3.5 shall be conclusive and
binding upon the other parties hereto in the absence of manifest error; provided that upon the request of
the Borrower, the Issuing Lender shall provide to the Borrower a certificate including reasonably detailed
information as to the calculation of such conversion. Interest shall be payable on any such amounts from
the date on which the relevant draft is paid until payment in full at the rate set forth in (x) until the
Business Day next succeeding the date of the relevant notice, Section 2.12(b) and (y) thereafter, Section
2.12(c); provided that if any such amount is denominated in a Designated Foreign Currency for any
period, such interest shall be payable at the rate charged by the Issuing Lender for reimbursement of
overdue obligations in such Designated Foreign Currency owing by account parties with similar credit
profiles to that of the Borrower; provided, further, that if any reimbursement is required to be paid in
respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars, and such reimbursement is not made in accordance
with this Section 3.5, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Extension of Credit in
an equivalent amount of such owed reimbursement (provided such request would not result in the Total
Revolving Extensions of Credit at such time exceeding Total Revolving Commitments) and provided,
further, that if any reimbursement is required to be paid in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in
any Designated Foreign Currency, and such reimbursement is not made in accordance with this Section
3.5, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Extension of Credit in an equivalent
amount of such owed reimbursement, which amount shall have been converted into Dollars at the Spot
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Rate of Exchange on the date of conversion, which dated of conversion may be any Business Day after
the Business Day on which such payment is due (provided such request would not result in the Total
Revolving Extensions of Credit at such time exceeding Total Revolving Commitments) to the extent so
financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the
resulting Revolving Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such reimbursement when due, the
Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable disbursement, the payment
then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s share thereof based on the Revolving
Percentages (the “Reimbursement Percentage”). Promptly following receipt of such notice, each
Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Reimbursement Percentage of the payment
then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.5 hereof with respect to Loans
made by such Lender (and Section 2.5 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the
relevant Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing
Lender the amounts so received by it from such Lenders.
3.6 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 3
shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of
validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein,
(ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or
invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by
the Issuing Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not
comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute
a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower's obligations hereunder.
Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Lender, nor any of their related parties,
shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any
Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the
circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in
transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of
Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of
technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender;
provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Lender from liability to the
Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive
damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by
applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Lender's failure to exercise care
when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the
terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of the Issuing Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction),
the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of
the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents
presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit,
the Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents
without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or
refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance
with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
3.7 Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for payment
under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower of the date and amount
thereof. The responsibility of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented
for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for
in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered
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under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are substantially in conformity with such
Letter of Credit.
3.8 Applications. To the extent that any provision of any Application related
to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 3, the provisions of this Section 3
shall apply.
3.9 Existing Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
each Existing Letter of Credit that is outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 3.9 shall,
effective as of the Closing Date and without any further action by the Borrower, be continued as a Letter
of Credit hereunder and from and after the Closing Date shall be deemed a Letter of Credit for all
purposes hereof and shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof and shall cease to
be outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to
make the Loans and issue or participate in the Letters of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and
warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:
4.1 Financial Condition. The audited consolidated balance sheets of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2013, December 31, 2014 and December
31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations and of cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 2013, the year ended December 31, 2014, and the year ended December 31, 2015, reported
on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from KPMG LLP, present fairly, in all material respects,
the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date, and
the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the respective fiscal periods
then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as
approved by the aforementioned firm of accountants and disclosed therein). No Group Member has any
material Guarantee Obligations, contingent liabilities and liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or
unusual forward or long-term commitments, including any interest rate or foreign currency swap or
exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives that are not reflected in the most recent
financial statements referred to in this paragraph. During the period from December 31, 2013 to and
including the date hereof there has been no Disposition by any Group Member of any material part of its
business or property.
4.2 No Change. Since December 31, 2015, there has been no development
or event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.3 Existence; Compliance with Law. Each Group Member (a) is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b)
has the power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it
operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation or other organization and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where
its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and
(d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law; except, in each case except clause (a) (only with
respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors), to the extent that the failure to comply therewith
could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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4.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. Each Loan Party has the
power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is
a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder. Each Loan Party has
taken all necessary organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on
the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other
act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the
extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of
this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and
delivered on behalf of each Loan Party party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan
Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party party
thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party 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 general equitable principles (whether
enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
4.5 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the issuance of Letters of Credit, the borrowings hereunder
and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any material Contractual
Obligation (except those to which waivers or consents have been obtained or to the extent the violation of
such material Contractual Obligation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect)
of any Group Member and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than
the Liens created by the Security Documents) on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to
any Requirement of Law or any such material Contractual Obligation. No Requirement of Law
applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.6 Litigation. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.6 hereto, no litigation,
investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing by or against any Group Member or against any of their
respective properties or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, or (b) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.7 No Default. No Group Member is in default under or with respect to any
of its Contractual Obligations in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
4.8 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Group Member has title in fee
simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold
interest in, all its other property (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents), and none of
such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.3, except as could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9 Intellectual Property. Each Group Member owns, or is licensed to use,
all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted, except as would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim has been asserted and is pending
by any Person challenging any Intellectual Property owned by any Group Member, which would
reasonably be expected to have any Material Adverse Effect. The conduct of the business by each Group
Member does not infringe the rights of any Person, and to its knowledge, each Group Member’s
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Intellectual Property is not being infringed by any Person, except in each case as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.10 Taxes. Each Group Member has filed or caused to be filed all Federal,
state, and other material tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown to be due and
payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other taxes,
fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (other than
taxes not yet due and payable or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with
respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the relevant
Group Member); no tax Lien has been filed, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, other than as
disclosed on Schedule 4.10, no material claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other
charge.
4.11 Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loans, and no other
extensions of credit hereunder, will be used (a) for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the
respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time
hereafter in effect for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board or (b) for
any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board. If requested by any Lender or
the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a
statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1,
as applicable, referred to in Regulation U. The Borrower is not principally engaged in the business of
extending credit for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of
the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect for any purpose that
violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board.
4.12 Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any
Group Member pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened; (b) hours worked by and
payment made to employees of each Group Member have not been in violation in any material respect or
in respect of any material amount under the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable
Requirement of Law dealing with such matters; and (c) all material payments due from any Group
Member on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on
the books of the relevant Group Member.
4.13 ERISA. Neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has
(a) any Single Employer Plan that is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or
Section 303 of ERISA), (b) failed to make a material contribution or material payment to any Single
Employer Plan, or made any amendment to any Single Employer Plan, which has resulted in the
imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section
401(a)(29) of the Code, or (c) incurred, or is reasonably likely to incur, any material liability under Title
IV of ERISA (other than for premiums to the PBGC).
4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. No Loan Party is required
to register as an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No Loan Party is subject to regulation
under any Requirement of Law (other than Regulation X of the Board) that limits its ability to incur
Indebtedness.
4.15 Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed to the Administrative Agent by the
Borrower in writing from time to time after the Closing Date, (a) Schedule 4.15 sets forth the name and
jurisdiction of incorporation of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each
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class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party and (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options, stock appreciation
rights or restricted stock units granted to employees, officers, consultants or directors or stock issued
pursuant to the Borrower’s stock purchase plans to employees, officers, consultants or directors and
directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary, except as
created by the Loan Documents.
4.16 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term Loans and Revolving Loans
shall be used to repay amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement (including to pay related
fees and expenses) and for working capital or general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, including the financing of Permitted Acquisitions, capital expenditures and the repurchase of
shares to the extent permitted by this Agreement. The Letters of Credit shall be used for general
corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
4.17 Environmental Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) each Group Member is, and within the period of all applicable statutes of
limitation has been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(b) Materials of Environmental Concern have not been released and are not
present under circumstances that could be expected to result in a release at, on, under, in, or about any
real property now or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or at any other location
(including, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any location to which Materials of Environmental
Concern have been sent for re-use or recycling or for treatment, storage, or disposal) which could
reasonably be expected to give rise to liability of any Group Member under any applicable
Environmental Law;
(c) there is no judicial, administrative, or arbitral proceeding (including any
notice of violation or alleged violation) under or relating to any Environmental Law to which any
Group Member is, or to the knowledge of the Borrower will be, named as a party that is pending or,
to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened;
(d) no Group Member has received any written request for information, or been
notified that it is a potentially responsible party under or relating to the federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act or any similar Environmental Law, or
with respect to any Materials of Environmental Concern;
(e) no Group Member has entered into or agreed to any consent decree, order, or
settlement or other agreement, nor is subject to any judgment, decree, or order or other agreement, in
any judicial, administrative, arbitral, or other forum, relating to compliance with or liability under any
Environmental Law; and
(f) no Group Member has entered into any agreement assuming any liabilities of
any other Person under or related to any Environmental Law.
4.18 Accuracy of Information, etc. No statement or information contained in
this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Confidential Information Memorandum or any other
document, certificate or written statement furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, for use in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, taken as a whole, contained as of the date
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such statement, information, document or certificate was so furnished (or, in the case of the Confidential
Information Memorandum, as of the date of this Agreement), any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances in which such information was provided. The projections and
pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith
estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it
being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as it relates to future events is not to be
viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such financial information
may differ from the projected results set forth therein by a material amount. There is no fact known to
any Loan Party that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been
expressly disclosed herein (including the Schedules hereto), in the other Loan Documents, in the
Confidential Information Memorandum or in any other documents, certificates and statements furnished
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby and by the other Loan Documents.
4.19 Solvency. Each Loan Party is, and after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being incurred in connection
herewith and therewith will be and will continue to be, Solvent.
4.20 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented
and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, their respective directors, officers, employees and
agents, with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and to the
knowledge of the Borrower, their respective officers, employees, directors and agents, are in compliance
with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee or other
person acting on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is a Sanctioned Person. No Loan or Letter of
Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by the Credit Agreement will violate any Anti-
Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.
4.21 Security Documents. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is
effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal,
valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral and proceeds thereof. In the case of the Pledged
Stock, when stock certificates representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the Administrative Agent
(together with a properly completed and signed stock power or endorsement), and in the case of the other
Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, when the appropriate filings and
recordings specified on Schedule 4.21 are made in the offices specified on Schedule 4.21, the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title
and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations
(as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), in each case prior and superior in right to any
other Person (except Liens permitted by Section 7.3).
4.22 EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial
Institution.
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender
to make the initial extension of credit requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or
concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Closing Date, of the following conditions
precedent:
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(a) Credit Agreement; Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. The Administrative
Agent shall have received (i) this Agreement, executed and delivered by the Administrative Agent,
the Borrower and each Person listed on Schedule 1.1A and (ii) the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor.
(b) Financial Statements. The Lenders shall have received (i) audited
consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the 2013, 2014
and 2015 fiscal years and (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for each fiscal
quarter ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause
(i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements
shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Lenders, reflect any material adverse change in the
consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as reflected in the
financial statements or projections contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum.
(c) Approvals. All governmental and third party approvals necessary or, in the
reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the continuing
operations of the Group Members and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained
and be in full force and effect, and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any
action being taken or threatened by any competent authority that would restrain, prevent or otherwise
impose adverse conditions on the financing contemplated hereby.
(d) Fees. The Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the arrangers and counsel to
the Administrative Agent and the arrangers shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all
expenses for which invoices have been presented at least three Business Days prior to the Closing
Date or such later time as may be reasonable under the circumstances, but at least one Business Day
prior to the Closing Date (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before
the Closing Date. All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of Loans made on the Closing Date
and will be reflected in the funding instructions given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent
on or before the Closing Date.
(e) Closing Certificate; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing
Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated
the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments,
including the certificate of incorporation of each Loan Party that is a corporation certified by the
relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party, and (ii) a long form good
standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.
(f) Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a
recent Lien search with respect to each Loan Party, and such search shall reveal no Liens on any of
the assets of the Loan Parties except for Liens permitted by Section 7.3 or discharged on or prior to
the Closing Date pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Administrative Agent
shall have received (i) other than with respect to the certificated shares of Gartner Japan Limited and
Gartner Group (Thailand) Limited, the certificates representing the certificated shares of Pledged
Stock, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly
authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement endorsed (without
recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.
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(h) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any
Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Security Documents to be filed,
registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other
Person (other than with respect to Liens permitted by Section 7.3), shall be in proper form for filing,
registration or recordation.
(i) Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the legal
opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in
the form of Exhibit E.
(j) Existing Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received
satisfactory evidence that the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been
terminated and all amounts owing by the Borrower under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have
been paid in full.
(k) KYC. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all
documentation and other information about the Borrower and the other Loan Parties as has been
reasonably requested at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date that they reasonably
determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-
money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.
5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender
to make any extension of credit requested to be made by it on any date (including its initial extension of
credit) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties
made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material
respects (unless such representations and warranties are already so qualified in which case, such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such date as if
made on and as of such date unless such representation relates solely to an earlier date, in which case
such representation shall be true and correct as of such date.
(b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on such date or after giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made on such
date.
Each borrowing by and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower hereunder shall constitute
a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such extension of credit that the
conditions contained in this Section 5.2 have been satisfied.
SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any
Letter of Credit remains outstanding (other than Letters of Credit which have been cash collateralized or
backstopped in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender thereof) or any Loan or other
amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder (other than pursuant to any
Specified Cash Management Agreement), the Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:
6.1 Financial Statements. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender:
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(a) as soon as available, but in any event (i) within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Borrower or (ii) if the Borrower has been granted an extension by the Securities and
Exchange Commission permitting the late filing by the Borrower of any annual report on form 10-K
the earlier of (x) 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower or (y) the last day of any
such extension, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of operations
and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the
previous year, reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or
qualification arising out of the scope of the audit (other than, in each case, any qualification or
exception solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, the impending maturity date of any
indebtedness under this Agreement), by KPMG LLP or other independent certified public accountants
of nationally recognized standing; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event (i) not later than 45 days after the end
of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower or (ii) if the Borrower has
been granted an extension by the Securities and Exchange Commission permitting the late filing by
the Borrower of any quarterly report on form 10-Q the earlier of (x) 60 days after the end of the
relevant fiscal quarter or (y) the last day of any such extension, the unaudited consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related
unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations and of cash flows for such quarter and the
portion of the fiscal year through the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative
form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous year, certified by a Responsible
Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).
All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects and shall be prepared
in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP applied (except as approved by such accountants or
officer, as the case may be, and disclosed in reasonable detail therein and except, in the case of unaudited
financials, for the absence of footnotes) consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with
prior periods. Reports or financial information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.1 (to
the extent any such financial statements, reports, proxy statements or other materials are included in
materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so, shall be deemed to have
been delivered on the date on which the Borrower gives notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall
then give notice to the Lenders) that the Borrower has filed such report or financial information through
the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System or posted such report or financial
information or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the internet. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of any report or financial statement referred to in this
Section 6.1 to any Lender if the Administrative Agent, on behalf and upon the reasonable request of such
Lender, requests the Borrower to furnish such paper copies.
6.2 Certificates; Other Information. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender (or, in the case of clause (f), to the relevant Lender):
(a) concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Section
6.1, (i) a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that, to the best of such Responsible Officer’s
knowledge, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, except as specified in such
certificate and (ii) a Compliance Certificate containing all information and calculations necessary for
determining compliance by each Group Member with the provisions of this Agreement referred to
therein as of the last day of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year of the Borrower, as the case may be;
(b) as soon as available, and in any event no later than 60 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Borrower, a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
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Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected
cash flow, projected changes in financial position and projected income and a description of the
underlying assumptions applicable thereto), and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of
projections with respect to such fiscal year (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in
each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections are
based on reasonable estimates, information and assumptions and that such Responsible Officer has no
reason to believe that such Projections are incorrect or misleading in any material respect;
(c) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower other than
the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year, and 90 days after the end of the Borrower’s fiscal
year, a narrative discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then
current fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter, as compared to the portion of the Projections
covering such periods and to the comparable periods of the previous year; provided, that this
requirement shall be deemed satisfied on delivery of the Borrower’s 10-Q or 10-K, as applicable,
which is in compliance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Regulation S -X
(which may be delivered in the same manner provided for in Section 6.1);
(d) within five days after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and
reports that the Borrower sends to the holders of any class of its debt securities or public equity
securities, and, within five days after the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and reports
that the Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC (which may be delivered in the same manner
provided for in Section 6.1); and
(e) promptly, such additional financial and other information as the
Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender, may from time to time reasonably request.
6.3 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before
maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its material obligations (including
taxes) of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have
been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member.
6.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance. (a)(i) Preserve, renew and keep
in full force and effect its organizational existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights,
privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each
case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) comply with all
Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith
could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) maintain in
effect and enforce in accordance with its internal business practices, policies and procedures designed to
promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees
and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
6.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) Keep all material property
necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and
casualty excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect and (b) maintain with reputable insurance companies that are financially sound at
the time such insurance is purchased insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and against at
least such risks as are customarily insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the
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same or a similar business; provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may self-insure to
the extent consistent with prudent business practice.
6.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. (a) Keep
proper books of records and accounts in which true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all
Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and
activities from which financial statements in conformity with GAAP can be prepared, in each case in all
material respects, and (b) following reasonable advance notice, permit representatives of the
Administrative Agent and any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make
abstracts from any of its books and records (but in such a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with
the normal business operations of any Group Member) and to discuss the business, operations, properties
and financial and other condition of the Group Members with officers and employees of the Group
Members and with their independent certified public accountants during normal business hours not more
than one time per fiscal year, or if an Event of Default then exists, as often as reasonably requested.
6.7 Notices. Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender of:
(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b) any (i) default under any material Contractual Obligation of any Group
Member or (ii) litigation, investigation or proceeding that may exist at any time between any Group
Member and any Governmental Authority, that in either case, if not cured or if adversely determined,
as the case may be, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) any litigation or proceeding affecting any Group Member (i) in which the
amount involved is $50,000,000 or more and not covered by insurance, (ii) in which injunctive or
similar relief is sought that if granted would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect or (iii) which relates to any Loan Document;
(d) the following events, as soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days
after the Borrower knows thereof: (i) the occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any
Plan; a failure to make any minimum required contribution to a Plan, a determination that any Single
Employer Plan is in “at risk” status, or a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in
“endangered” or “critical” status, and in each case that could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, the creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; or any withdrawal
from, or the termination or Insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan, or (ii) the institution of
proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any Commonly
Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination
or Insolvency of, any Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA; and
(e) any development or event that has had or would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer
setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the relevant Group
Member proposes to take with respect thereto.
6.8 Environmental Laws. (a) Comply with all applicable Environmental
Laws, and obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications,
registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws. For purposes of this Section 6.8(a),
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noncompliance by the Borrower with any applicable Environmental Law shall be deemed not to
constitute a breach of this covenant provided that, upon learning of any actual or suspected
noncompliance, the Borrower shall promptly undertake all reasonable efforts to achieve compliance, and
provided further that, in any case, such non -compliance, and any other noncompliance with
Environmental Law, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to give rise to a
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and
all remedial, removal and other actions required by a Governmental Authority to be conducted by a
Group Member under Environmental Laws or any other Requirement of Law and promptly comply
with all orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws, in each
case except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect and other than such orders and directives as to which an appeal has been timely and properly
taken in good faith, and provided that the pendency of any and all such appeals could not reasonably
be expected to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect.
6.9 Additional Subsidiaries, Collateral, etc. (a) With respect to any new
Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Foreign Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Closing Date by any
Group Member (which, for the purposes of this Section 6.9, shall include any existing Material
Subsidiary that ceases to be a Foreign Subsidiary), within 60 days (or such longer period agreed to by the
Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such
amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems reasonably
necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a
perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by any
Loan Party, (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock,
together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the
relevant Loan Party, and (iii) in the case of any new Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Foreign
Subsidiary) that is a Material Subsidiary, cause such new Material Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (B) to take such actions reasonably necessary or advisable to grant
to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a perfected first priority (subject to
Liens permitted by Section 7.3) security interest in the Collateral described in the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement with respect to such new Material Subsidiary, including the filing of Uniform
Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement or as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) to deliver
to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Material Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit
C, with appropriate insertions and attachments.
(b) With respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party
(other than (x) any property described in paragraph (a) or (c) of this Section 6.9, (y) any property subject
to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(i) and (z) any Excluded Collateral) as to which the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, does not have a perfected Lien, within 60
days (or such longer period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) (i) execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or such
other documents as the Administrative Agent deems reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such property and (ii)
take all actions reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, a perfected first priority (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.3) security interest in such
property, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as
may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or as may be reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent.
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(c) With respect to any new Excluded Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after
the Closing Date by any Group Member (other than by any Group Member that is an Excluded Foreign
Subsidiary), within 60 days (or such longer period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole
discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to
the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority (subject to Liens
permitted by Section 7.3) security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Excluded Foreign Subsidiary
that is owned by any such Group Member (provided that in no event shall more than 66% of the total
outstanding voting Capital Stock of any such new Excluded Foreign Subsidiary be required to be so
pledged) and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock,
together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the
relevant Group Member, and take such other action as may be reasonably necessary.
6.10 Post-Closing Covenant.
(a) Within 60 days of the Closing Date, (i) cause the Administrative Agent, for
the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, to be named as loss payees
(with respect to property insurance covering Collateral) or additional insured party (with respect to
liability policies), as applicable, under insurance policies maintained by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and (ii) deliver insurance certificates to the Administrative Agent evidencing such
insurance referred to in clause (i).
(b) Use commercially reasonable efforts following the Closing Date to deliver
to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing the certificated shares of Pledged Stock of
Gartner Japan Limited, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in
blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof.
SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any
Letter of Credit remains outstanding (other than Letters of Credit which have been cash collateralized or
backstopped in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender thereof) or any Loan or other
amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder (other than pursuant to any
Specified Cash Management Agreement), the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
7.1 Financial Condition Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. (i) Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio,
calculated as at the end of any fiscal quarter for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the
Borrower then ended, to exceed 4.50 to 1.00 (other than in the case of any such period ending during an
Acquisition Step-Up Period) or (ii) permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, calculated as at the end of
any fiscal quarter ending during any Acquisition Step-Up Period, to exceed 4.75 to 1.00;
(b) Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio. (i) Permit the Consolidated Secured
Leverage Ratio, calculated as at the end of any fiscal quarter for the period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters of the Borrower then ended, to exceed 3.50 to 1.00 (other than in the case of any such period
ending during an Acquisition Step-Up Period) or (ii) permit the Consolidated Secured Leverage
Ratio, calculated as at the end of any fiscal quarter ending during any Acquisition Step-Up Period, to
exceed 3.75 to 1.00; or
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(c) Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest
Expense Ratio, calculated as at the end of such fiscal quarter for the period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters of the Borrower then ended, to be less than 3.25 to 1.00.
Each of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio and
Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio shall be calculated for purposes of this Section 7.1 on a Pro Forma
Basis.
7.2 Indebtedness. Create, issue, incur, assume, become liable in respect of or
suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or any
refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension
thereof (including any associated costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid interest);
(b) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the
Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor shall be
subject to Section 7.8(g);
(c) Guarantee Obligations (i) incurred in the ordinary course of business by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) incurred in
the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of (or to) suppliers, customers, franchisees,
lessors and licensees, and (iii) otherwise constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.8;
(d) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.2(d)
and any refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or
extension thereof (including any associated costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid
interest);
(e) Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations,
industrial development or similar bonds, or tax-advantaged governmental or quasi-governmental
financings) and purchase money obligations (including obligations in respect of mortgage or other
similar financings) to finance the purchase, repair or improvement of fixed or capital assets or real or
personal property secured by Liens permitted by Section 7.3(i) in an aggregate principal amount not
to exceed, as at the date of any incurrence thereof, 5.0% of the total assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of the fiscal quarter most recently ended at or prior to such time and for
which financial statements are available, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(f) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of standby or
performance letters of credit, trade letters of credit, surety bonds, security deposits or other
performance guarantees in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof
and any refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or
extension thereof (including any associated costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid
interest); provided that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is
not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary;
(h) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an
aggregate principal amount (for the Borrower and all Subsidiaries) not to exceed at any one time
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outstanding the greater of (A) $175,000,000 and (B) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the period
of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended at or prior to such time and for which financial
statements are available, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(i) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of
bank guarantees issued 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; provided that any reimbursement obligations in respect
thereof are reimbursed within 30 days following the due date thereof;
(j) (i) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections,
automatic clearinghouse arrangements and similar arrangements in each case in connection with
deposit accounts and (ii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring of a bank or other financial
institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary
course of business; provided that any such Indebtedness is extinguished within 30 days of its
incurrence;
(k) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of
business from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by any Loan Party to
current or former officers, directors and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former
spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of equity interests of the Borrower permitted by
Section 7.6;
(m) Indebtedness in respect of hedging obligations (to the extent constituting
Indebtedness) incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(n) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries
under earnout obligations, purchase price adjustments, deferred consideration or other similar
arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with Permitted Acquisitions and any other
Investments permitted hereunder;
(o) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Subordinated Debt and Permitted Senior
Unsecured Debt; provided that, subject to Section 1.2(e), the Borrower shall be in compliance on a
Pro Forma Basis with the covenants set forth in Section 7.1 after giving effect to the incurrence of any
such Permitted Subordinated Debt or such Permitted Senior Unsecured Debt, and any refinancing,
replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension of such
Indebtedness (including any associated costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid
interest);
(p) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries, and any refinancing, replacement,
modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof (including any
associated costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid interest), in an aggregate amount
at any time outstanding not to exceed $20,000,000;
(q) Indebtedness in respect of the Permitted Senior Unsecured Notes, and any
refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension
thereof (including any associated costs, fees, expenses, premiums and accrued but unpaid interest);
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(r) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the
ordinary course of business; and
(t) For the purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding
principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 7.2, in the
event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in
this Section 7.2, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and may from time to time
reclassify, such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount and type of such
Indebtedness in one of the clauses of this Section 7.2.
7.3 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its
property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:
(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges not yet due or the
nonpayment of which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that adequate
reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) with respect thereto are
maintained on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with
GAAP;
(b) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers’, warehousemen’s,
mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
that are not overdue for a period of more than 90 days or that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings;
(c) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with
workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii)
securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in
respect of bank guarantees) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental
contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety, customs and appeal
bonds, performance bonds and guarantees and other obligations of a like nature (including those
required or requested by any Governmental Authority) incurred in the ordinary course of business,
and earnest money deposits to secure obligations under purchase agreements;
(e) leases, subleases, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning
restrictions) and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects incurred in the ordinary course of
business that do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(f) Liens securing Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2(c), other than
in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money;
(g) Liens in favor of the Borrower or a Loan Party securing Indebtedness
permitted by Section 7.2(b);
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(h) Liens in existence on the date hereof listed on Schedule 7.3(h), securing
Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(d), or any refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment,
redemption, refunding, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness, provided that (i) no such Lien is
spread to cover any additional property after the Closing Date other than (A) after-acquired property
that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness
permitted under Section 7.2(d), and (B) proceeds and products thereof and (ii) the refinancing,
replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension of the obligations
secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section
7.2(d);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary
incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(e) to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets or real or
personal property, provided that (i) such Liens shall be created within 270 days after the acquisition,
repair, replacement or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or real or personal property, (ii)
such Liens (other than in the case of Liens securing industrial development or similar bonds, or tax-
advantaged governmental or quasi-governmental financings, in which case Liens may encumber such
property as may be permitted under the terms of such financings) do not at any time encumber any
property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, replacements, additions and
accessions thereto and the proceeds thereof and (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is
not increased;
(j) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a
Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or to secure
Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.2(g); provided that (i) such Lien is not created in
contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the
case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such
acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and any refinancing,
replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof not to
exceed the outstanding principal amount thereof together with associated costs, fees, expenses,
premiums and accrued but unpaid interest;
(k) any judgment Lien not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.1(h);
(l) any interest or title of a licensor or sublicensor of Intellectual Property or any
lessor or sublessor under any license or sublicense agreement (including software and other
technology licenses) or lease or sublease entered into by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of its business;
(m) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed $100,000,000 at any
one time;
(n) Liens granted by a Foreign Subsidiary (i) to the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness owed by such Foreign Subsidiary to the Borrower or such other
Subsidiary and (ii) in respect of Indebtedness that was incurred in connection with the acquisition of
such Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate principal amount not to
exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, and any refinancing, replacement, modification,
repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof;
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(o) Liens arising from precautionary UCC (or other similar recording or notice
statutes) financing statement filings;
(p) Liens in favor of (i) a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter
of law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of
set-off) incurred in the ordinary course of business or arising pursuant to such banking institutions’
general terms and conditions or (ii) a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on the
items in the course of collection;
(q) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be
acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.8, or (ii) consisting of an agreement to
Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5, in each case, solely to the extent
such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the
creation of such Lien;
(r) Liens on property of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of such
Foreign Subsidiary to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted hereunder;
(s) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents securing reimbursement obligations of the
Borrower under letters of credit in an aggregate amount of all such cash and Cash Equivalents not to
exceed $75,000,000;
(t) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to a
transaction permitted under this Agreement and Liens in connection with escrow arrangements for the
proceeds of Indebtedness intended to finance a Permitted Acquisition (or refinance, replace, modify,
repay, redeem, refund, renew or extend Indebtedness in connection therewith) and related costs and
expenses (including any refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding,
renewal or extension thereof);
(u) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;
(v) Liens securing hedging obligations permitted by Section 7.2(m);
(w) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased
by the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries are located;
(x) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under leases or subleases entered into
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(y) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge or otherwise
attaching to the applicable deposit or pooled accounts (i) relating to the establishment of depository
relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled
deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of
overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(z) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing
of the premiums with respect thereto; and
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(aa) for the purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.3, in the
event that any Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Liens described in this Section
7.3, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and may from time to time reclassify, such
Lien and only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien in one of the clauses of this
Section 7.3.
7.4 Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger, consolidation or
amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose
of all or substantially all of its property or business, except that the following are permitted:
(a) any Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the
Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or the
surviving Person shall expressly assume the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to documents
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided further that such surviving Person shall
be incorporated in the United States) or with or into any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor
(provided that the Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation or the surviving Person shall expressly assume the obligations of the Wholly Owned
Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent);
provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a Subsidiary immediately prior to such
merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 7.8(i); provided further, that prior to
consummating any merger, amalgamation or consolidation pursuant to this clause (a) involving a
Person that is not a Subsidiary, the Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of
a Responsible Officer demonstrating compliance immediately following such merger, amalgamation
or consolidation, on a pro forma basis giving effect to such merger, with Section 7.1; provided that,
for purposes of determining compliance with Section 7.1, at the election of the Borrower, the
financial covenants in Section 7.1 may be tested in accordance with Section 1.2(e);
(b) subject to Section 7.4(a) hereof, any Subsidiary may be merged or
consolidated with or into any other Subsidiary;
(c) (i) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or any Subsidiary may change its
legal form if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the
Borrower, and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if all or substantially all of its assets are
transferred to the Borrower or a Subsidiary, it being understood that in the case of any dissolution of a
Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Subsidiary shall at or before the time of such
dissolution transfer its assets to another Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor unless such
Disposition of assets is permitted hereunder; and in the case of any change in legal form, a Subsidiary
that is a Subsidiary Guarantor will remain a Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Subsidiary Guarantor is
otherwise permitted to cease being a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder;
(d) (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets to
the Borrower or another Subsidiary (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), provided that if the
transferor in such a transaction is a Subsidiary Guarantor, then (A) the transferee must either be the
Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (B) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment
must be a permitted Investment in accordance with Section 7.8, and (ii) the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets pursuant to a Disposition permitted
by Section 7.5; and
(e) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make any Investment expressly
permitted by Section 7.8 structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation.
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7.5 Disposition of Property. Dispose of any of its property, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such
Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete, surplus or worn out property, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used
or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including the
abandonment or other Disposition of Intellectual Property that is, in the reasonable business judgment
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, no longer material to the conduct of the business of the Loan
Parties taken as a whole);
(b) the sale, transfer or lease of any assets in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.3 and Section 7.4;
(d) the sale, contribution or issuance of any Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the
Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(e) Dispositions by the Borrower to any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary to the
Borrower or any other Subsidiary on reasonable terms;
(f) Dispositions constituting the making or liquidating of Investments permitted
by Section 7.8;
(g) Dispositions constituting the making of a Restricted Payment permitted by
Section 7.6;
(h) Dispositions in connection with Permitted Sale Leasebacks permitted by
Section 7.10;
(i) Dispositions of assets to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for
credit against the purchase price of similar replacement assets or (ii) the proceeds of such
Dispositions are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement assets;
(j) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or
compromise thereof;
(k) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of property (including Intellectual
Property) on customary terms in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere
with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(l) Dispositions of cash and Cash Equivalents;
(m) Dispositions of assets subject to any casualty or condemnation proceeding
(including in lieu thereof);
(n) the lapse or abandonment of any Intellectual Property in the ordinary course
of business which in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Borrower is no longer used or useful
in its business;
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(o) Dispositions of leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses for the use of
property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case in the ordinary course of business and that
do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(p) the unwinding of hedging obligations pursuant to their terms;
(q) the Disposition of other property having a fair market value not to exceed
7.5% of the total assets in the aggregate for any fiscal year of the Borrower, calculated on a Pro
Forma Basis (prior to giving effect to such Disposition);
(r) any swap of assets in exchange for other assets or services in the ordinary
course of business that are of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Borrower;
(s) Dispositions or leases of equipment related to information technology
infrastructure located within the Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s shared service centers or office
locations, including assets related to electrical, fire protection, security, communications, servers,
storage, backup and recovery functions, software applications and software licenses owned by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary; and
(t) Dispositions of property; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition
(other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a binding commitment entered into at a time when
no Default exists), no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition and (ii) with
respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (t) for a purchase price in excess of $25,000,000,
(A) the total consideration paid in connection with any such Disposition shall be in an amount not
less than the fair market value of the property disposed of, and (B) any Loan Party shall receive not
less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (free and clear of all
Liens at the time received (after giving effect to any repayment of Indebtedness when received) other
than Liens permitted by Section 7.3); provided, however that for the purposes of this clause (B), (1)
any liabilities (as reflected in the most recent balance sheet of the Borrower provided hereunder or in
the footnote thereto of the Borrower or such other Loan Party), that are assumed by the transferee
with respect to the applicable Disposition (without further recourse to the Borrower or such other
Loan Party), (2) any securities received by such Loan Party from a transferee in respect of such
Disposition that are converted by such Loan Party into cash within 180 days following closing of the
applicable Disposition, and (3) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or
other Loan Party in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together
with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (3) that is at that
time outstanding, not in excess of 2.50% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration (with the fair market
value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and
without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) shall be deemed to be cash.
7.6 Restricted Payments. (a)(x) Declare or pay any dividend (other than
dividends payable solely in common stock or similar equity interests or options or other rights to acquire
such equity interests of the Person making such dividend) on, or (y) make any payment on account of, or
set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement
or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock of any Group Member, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or
make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or
in obligations of any Group Member (collectively, “Restricted Equity Payments”), except:
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(i) the payment of dividends and distributions within sixty days after the
date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration of such payment, such payment would
have complied with the other provisions of this Section 7.6;
(ii) the Borrower may make Restricted Equity Payments constituting an
Investment permitted under Section 7.8 to any Subsidiary and any Subsidiary may make
Restricted Equity Payments to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (and, in the case of a
Restricted Payment by a non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to the Borrower and any Subsidiary and
to each other owner of equity interests of such Subsidiary based on their relative ownership
interests);
(iii) the Borrower may make Restricted Equity Payments pursuant to and in
accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management, employees consultants
or directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and stock purchase plans with employees,
officers, consultants or directors;
(iv) the Borrower may pay cash dividends to holders of Permitted Preferred
Stock; provided that, in the case of any Restricted Equity Payment made pursuant to this clause
(d), (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing after giving effect to
any such Restricted Equity Payment and (y) the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with
the covenants set forth in Section 7.1 after giving effect to any such Restricted Equity Payment
and the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection therewith;
(v) repurchases of equity interests of the Borrower deemed to occur upon the
non-cash exercise of stock options, warrants, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units;
(vi) the Borrower may make Restricted Equity Payments with any cash
proceeds contributed to its common equity and from the Net Cash Proceeds of any permitted
equity issuance, so long as, with respect to any such Restricted Payments, no Event of Default
shall have occurred or be continuing after giving effect to any such Restricted Equity Payment;
(vii) the Borrower may repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock units or other equity securities of the Borrower from directors,
officers or employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or their estate, family
members, spouse and/or former spouse);
(viii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor may 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;
(ix) purchases of fractional shares of equity interests of the Borrower arising
out of stock dividends, splits or combinations or business combinations;
(x) the Borrower and any Subsidiary may declare and make dividend
payments or other Restricted Equity Payments payable solely in the equity interests of such
Person; and
(xi) the Borrower may make other Restricted Equity Payments not otherwise
permitted by this Section 7.6 in an amount not exceeding (A) $25,000,000, when aggregated with
any Restricted Debt Payments made pursuant to Section 7.6(b)(iii)(A) below, plus (ii) any
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additional amount of Restricted Payments so long as (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred or be continuing after giving effect to any Restricted Equity Payment or any Restricted
Debt Payment, and (y) the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with the covenants set
forth in Section 7.1 (provided that the Borrower’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be at least
0.25 less than the applicable level set forth in Section 7.1(a)) after giving effect to any such
Restricted Payment and the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection therewith.
(b) Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to scheduled
maturity in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest and mandatory
prepayments shall be permitted) any Junior Debt (collectively, “Restricted Debt Payments” and together
with the Restricted Equity Payments, “Restricted Payments”), except:
(i) the refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment, redemption,
refunding, renewal or extension of any Junior Debt;
(ii) the conversion of any Junior Debt to common Capital Stock or Permitted
Preferred Stock of the Borrower; and
(iii) the Borrower may make other Restricted Debt Payments not otherwise
permitted by this Section 7.6 in an amount not exceeding (A) $25,000,000, when aggregated with
any Restricted Equity Payments made pursuant to Section 7.6(a)(x)(A) below, plus (ii) any
additional amount of Restricted Debt Payments or Restricted Equity Payments so long as (x) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing after giving effect to any
Restricted Equity Payment or any Restricted Debt Payment, and (y) the Borrower shall be in pro
forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.1 (provided that the Borrower’s
Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be at least 0.25 less than the applicable level set forth in
Section 7.1(a)) after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment and the incurrence of any
Indebtedness in connection therewith.
7.7 Lines of Business. Enter into any material line of business, either
directly or through any Subsidiary, substantially different from those lines of businesses in which the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Agreement or that are not reasonably
related, complementary, synergistic, ancillary or incidental thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.
7.8 Investments. Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of
guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures
or other debt securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in,
any Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:
(a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business (including
advances made to distributors consistent with past practice), Investments received in satisfaction or
partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors, and Investments consisting of
prepayments to suppliers in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(b) investments in cash and Cash Equivalents or that were Cash Equivalents
when made;
(c) Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2;
(d) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of any Group
Member (i) in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation
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expenses), (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of equity interests of the Borrower, in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any one time outstanding and (iii) relating to
indemnification of any officers, directors or employees in respect of liabilities relating to their serving
in any such capacity, and any reimbursement of any such officer, director or employee of expenses
relating to the claims giving rise to such indemnification;
(e) Investments in existence on the date hereof listed on Schedule 7.8(e) and any
modification, replacement, renewal or extension thereof;
(f) intercompany Investments by any Group Member in the Borrower or any
Person that, prior to, or after giving effect to, such investment, is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
Guarantor;
(g) intercompany Investments by any Group Member in a Subsidiary that is not
a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments
(excluding all such Investments otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.8), less any cash return
on Investments received after the date hereof, shall not at the time of the making of any such
Investment exceed the greater of (i) $200,000,000 and (ii) 45.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the
period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such time for which
financial statements are available, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(h) Investments consisting of deposit or securities accounts maintained in the
ordinary course of business;
(i) any acquisition of any assets or capital stock of another Person (including as
a result of merger or otherwise); provided that (i) subject to Section 1.2(e), the Borrower shall be in
pro forma compliance with the covenants in Section 7.1 after giving effect to such acquisition for
which financial statements are available as if such acquisition occurred immediately prior to the first
day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to such acquisition; and
(ii) if such acquisition would require the Borrower to provide pro forma financial information
regarding such acquisition in a current report on Form 8-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or annual
report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, the Borrower shall have delivered a certificate of a
Responsible Officer certifying the Borrower’s pro forma compliance described in clause (i) above and
containing all information and calculations necessary for determining such compliance;
(j) Investments (including debt obligations and equity interests) received in
connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and
disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(k) Investments in exchange for, or made with the proceeds (within 180 days of
receipt) of, existing Investments which are of at least equivalent market value (as reasonably
determined by the Borrower’s chief financial officer, chief executive officer, corporate controller or
president as at the time of exchange or disposition) as such existing Investments and are of the same
type and nature as such existing Investment;
(l) Investments by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary in any Foreign
Subsidiary in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted by this Section 7.8;
provided that the proceeds of such Investments shall be used directly or indirectly through one or
more Subsidiaries solely for the purpose of paying the consideration and transaction costs related to
such Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted by this Section 7.8;
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(m) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of (i) endorsements
for collection or deposit, (ii) customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past
practices, (iii) extensions of credit in the nature of the performance of bids and (iv) Investments
received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of amounts owing from financially troubled account
debtors or received in respect of delinquent accounts or in connection with the bankruptcy or
reorganization of account debtors or other obligors or in settlements of disputes with obligors;
(n) the licensing, sublicensing or contribution of Intellectual Property rights with
Persons other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business on customary
terms;
(o) Investments of (i) a Subsidiary that is acquired after the Closing Date or (ii) a
company merged or amalgamated or consolidated into the Borrower or merged, amalgamated or
consolidated with a Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.4, in each case, after the Closing Date to
the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such
acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, and that do not constitute a material portion of
the assets acquired by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in such transaction and were in existence or
committed to be made on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;
(p) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of
business and Investments made pursuant to employment and severance arrangements of officers and
employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and
employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business;
(q) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of supplies, materials
and equipment;
(r) Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary in any other Foreign Subsidiary;
(s) in addition to Investments otherwise expressly permitted by this Section,
Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (valued at cost) not to
exceed $125,000,000 in any fiscal year;
(t) Investments acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with a
Disposition permitted under Section 7.5;
(u) Investments consisting of Swap Agreements permitted hereunder;
(v) Investments held by any Person as of the date such Person is acquired in
connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided that (i) such Investments were not made, in any
case, by such Person in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition, and (ii)
with respect to any such Person which becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such Permitted
Acquisition, such Subsidiary remains the only holder of such Investment; and
(w) for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.8, in the event
that any Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Investments described in this
Section 7.8, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and may from time to time reclassify,
such Investment and only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one of the
clauses of this Section 7.8.
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7.9 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction, including any
purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any
management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary)
unless such transaction is (a) otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (b) upon fair and reasonable
terms and conditions substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as it would obtain in a
comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, and (c) in the ordinary course
of business of the relevant subsidiary, except any Restricted Payment otherwise permitted hereunder.
7.10 Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement with any Person
providing for the leasing by any Group Member of real or personal property that has been or is to be sold
or transferred by such Group Member to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or
are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of such Group
Member unless such arrangement is permitted under Section 7.2(e) and is a Permitted Sale Leaseback.
7.11 Swap Agreements. Enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap
Agreements entered into, or guaranteed, to hedge or mitigate risks, including currency risks, or potential
Capital Stock dilution to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure and (b) Swap
Agreements entered into, or guaranteed, in order to effectively fix, cap, collar or exchange interest rates
(from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to
any interest-bearing liability, currency liability, Capital Stock values or investment of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary.
7.12 Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to end
on a day other than December 31 or change the Borrower’s method of determining fiscal quarters,
provided, however, that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its
fiscal year to any other fiscal year 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 to reflect such change in fiscal year.
7.13 Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or suffer to exist or become
effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of any Group Member to create, incur, assume
or suffer to exist any Lien securing the Obligations upon any of its property or revenues, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, other than:
(a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) any restrictions imposed by any agreements governing any secured Indebtedness
(including any purchase money Liens or Capital Lease Obligations) otherwise permitted hereby;
(c) customary restrictions and conditions imposed by any Swap Agreements;
(d) customary restrictions on transfers of property subject to a Lien permitted under
Section 7.3;
(e) restrictions and conditions imposed on any Foreign Subsidiary by the terms of
any Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under Section 7.2;
(f) customary restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreements governing any
Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.2, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are not materially
more restrictive than the restrictions and conditions in the Loan Documents;
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(g) any restrictions imposed by agreements governing a Disposition permitted under
Section 7.5, provided that such prohibition or limitation relates solely to property to be disposed of;
(h) customary restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements
otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions may relate to the assets subject thereto;
(i) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing
a leasehold interest;
(j) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the
ordinary course of business;
(k) any restrictions imposed by Requirement of Law;
(l) customary provisions in joint venture agreements or similar agreements or the
organizational documents of Subsidiaries that are not Wholly Owned Subsidiaries;
(m) any agreement in effect at the time a Person becomes a Subsidiary of the
Borrower or is merged or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the assets governed by
such agreement are acquired, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such
Person becoming a Subsidiary or such assets being acquired;
(n) encumbrances, restrictions and conditions under the Permitted Senior Unsecured
Notes, the indenture governing such Permitted Senior Unsecured Notes and the related guarantee
obligations thereof by the Subsidiary Guarantors;
(o) encumbrances, restrictions and conditions under Permitted Subordinated Debt
and Permitted Senior Unsecured Debt; and
(p) restrictions and conditions in any agreement that refinances, replaces, modifies,
repays, redeems, refunds, renews or extends any agreement described in the foregoing clauses.
7.14 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into or suffer to exist
or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the
Borrower to (a) make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in respect of any Capital
Stock of such Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary
of the Borrower, (b) make loans or advances to, or other Investments in, the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary of the Borrower or (c) transfer any of its assets to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the
Borrower, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) applicable law,
(ii) any restrictions existing under the Loan Documents, (iii) any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary
imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or
substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary, (iv) any restrictions governing a
Disposition permitted under Section 7.5, provided that such restriction relates solely to property to be
disposed of, (v) any restrictions in existence at the time of any acquisition consummated in accordance
with Section 7.8(i) (and any renewal, modification or amendment thereof), (vi) customary provisions
restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vii) customary
provisions in joint venture agreements or similar agreements or the organizational documents of
Subsidiaries that are not Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, (viii) any agreements governing purchase money
Indebtedness or Capital Lease Obligations permitted hereby and (ix) any restrictions under Indebtedness
permitted to be incurred hereunder (or any permitted refinancing, replacement, modification, repayment,
redemption, refunding, renewal or extension thereof), to the extent such restrictions either are not
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materially adverse to the Lenders or are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the
restrictions contained in the Loan Documents, in each case as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
7.15 Use of Proceeds. Request any Loan or Letter of Credit, and the
Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers,
employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit (a) in furtherance of an
offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of
value, to any Person in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, (b) for the purpose of funding,
financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any
Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, businesses or transactions would be prohibited by
Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member
state or (c) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party
hereto.
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
8.1 Events of Default. If any of the following events shall occur and be
continuing:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement
Obligation when due in accordance with the terms hereof; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any
interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or any other amount payable hereunder or under
any other Loan Document, within five days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in
accordance with the terms hereof; or
(b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan Party
herein or in any other Loan Document or that is contained in any certificate, document or financial or
other written statement furnished by it at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any
such other Loan Document shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on or as of the
date made or deemed made; or
(c) any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any
agreement contained in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6.4(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section
6.7(a) or Section 7 of this Agreement or Section 5.3 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; or
(d) any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any other
agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
30 days after notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or
(e) (i) any Group Member shall (A) default in making any payment of any
principal of any Indebtedness (including any Guarantee Obligation, but excluding the Loans) on the
scheduled or original due date with respect thereto; or (B) default in making any payment of any
interest on any such Indebtedness beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or
agreement under which such Indebtedness was created; or (ii) any party other than the Borrower to
any Indebtedness accelerates the maturity of any amount owing in respect thereof as a result of a
default with respect to such Indebtedness, other than secured Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2
that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such
Indebtedness; provided, that a default, event or condition described in clause (i) or (ii) of this
paragraph (e) shall not at any time constitute an Event of Default unless, at such time, one or more
defaults, events or conditions of the type described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (e) shall have
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occurred and be continuing with respect to Indebtedness the outstanding principal amount of which
exceeds in the aggregate $50,000,000; or
(f) (i) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall commence any case,
proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or
foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an
order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or
other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the
Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary any case,
proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above that (A) results in the entry of an
order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or
unbonded for a period of 60 days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any
Material Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment,
execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets that results in the
entry of an order for any such relief that shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded
pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary
shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in,
any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) any the Borrower or any Material
Subsidiary shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its
debts as they become due; or
(g) (i) any Person shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, and not exempt under Section 408 of ERISA and
the regulations thereunder) involving any Plan, (ii) any failure to meet the minimum funding
standards (as defined in Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived,
shall exist with respect to any Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the
assets of any Group Member or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur
with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be
appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or
commencement of proceedings or appointment of a trustee is likely to result in the termination of
such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for
purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall be determined to be in “at risk”
status (with the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA), or (v) any Group
Member or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal
from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or determination that such
Multiemployer Plan is in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the
Code or Section 305 of ERISA); and in each case in clauses (i) through (v) above, such event or
condition could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(h) one or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against any Group
Member involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance as to which the
relevant insurance company has acknowledged coverage) of $50,000,000 or more, and all such
judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal
within 60 days from the entry thereof; or
(i) any of the Security Documents shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force
and effect in all material respects (other than in accordance with its terms or the terms hereof), or any
Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the
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Security Documents shall cease to be enforceable in accordance with its terms and of the same effect
and priority purported to be created thereby with respect to any significant portion of the Collateral
(other than in connection with any termination of such Lien in respect of any Collateral as permitted
hereby or by any Security Document);
(j) the guarantee contained in Section 2 of the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement shall cease, for any reason (other than in accordance with Section 10.14 hereof), to be in
full force and effect or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert; or
(k) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) shall become, or obtain
rights (whether by means or warrants, options or otherwise) to become, the “beneficial owner” (as
defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than
40% of the outstanding common stock of the Borrower;
then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of
paragraph (f) above with respect to the Borrower, automatically the Commitments shall immediately
terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the
beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required
thereunder) shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other Event of
Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) with the consent of the Required
Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative
Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the Revolving Commitments to be terminated forthwith,
whereupon the Revolving Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent of the
Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the
Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon)
and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all amounts
of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have
presented the documents required thereunder) to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall
immediately become due and payable. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which
presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to this paragraph,
the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent
an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit and all
such amounts deposited shall be applied to reduce the outstanding L/C Obligations. Amounts held in
such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn
under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have
expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other obligations of the Borrower
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or
been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other obligations
of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full (other than
pursuant to any Specified Cash Management Agreement), the balance, if any, in such cash collateral
account shall be returned to the Borrower (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto).
Except as expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of
any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
SECTION 9. THE AGENTS
9.1 Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to
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take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan 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 Loan 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 Loan
Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.
9.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Agreement and the other Loan 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.
9.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither any Agent nor any of their respective
officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) 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 Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a
final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its or such
Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the
Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer
thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or
other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agents under or in connection with, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness,
enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any
Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agents 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 Loan Document, or to
inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.
9.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice,
consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, email 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 payee of any Note 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 Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the
Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all 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
Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this
Agreement, all 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.
9.5 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 unless the Administrative
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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. 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 (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all
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.
9.6 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly
acknowledges that neither the Agents nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
advisors, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by
any Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan
Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent to any Lender. Each
Lender represents to the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any 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 Loan Parties and their affiliates 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 any 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 Loan 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 Loan Parties and their affiliates. 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, operations, property, condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that may
come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents,
advisors, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.
9.7 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent in its
capacity as such and its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, advisors, and controlling persons
(each an “Agent Indemnitee”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the
obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Aggregate Exposure
Percentages in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (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 such Aggregate Exposure Percentages
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 (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement,
any of the other Loan 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 such Agent Indemnitee
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 that are found by final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Agreement and payment of the Loans and
all other amounts payable hereunder.
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9.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Each Agent and its affiliates may make
loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party as
though such Agent were not an Agent. With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and with respect
to any Letter of Credit issued or participated in by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though
it were not an Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include each Agent in its individual
capacity.
9.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign
as Administrative Agent upon 10 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative
Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the
Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which
successor agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a) or Section 8.1(f) with respect to the
Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing) be subject to approval by the Borrower (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the
rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent, and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean
such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative
Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or
further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this
Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as
Administrative Agent by the date that is 10 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of
resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become
effective, and the Lenders shall assume and perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent
hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for
above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent, the provisions of
this Section 9 and Section 10.5 shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to
be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
9.10 Co-Syndication Agents and Co-Documentation Agents. The Co-
Syndication Agents and Co-Documentation Agents shall have no duties or responsibilities hereunder in
their capacity as such.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.1. The Required Lenders and each Loan Party party to
the relevant Loan Document may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the
Administrative Agent and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, from time to time,
(a) enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents
for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in
any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such
terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may
specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or
any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no
such amendment, supplement or modification shall (i) forgive the principal amount or extend the final
scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, extend the scheduled date of any amortization payment in respect
of any Term Loan, reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder (except (x) in
connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates (which waiver
shall be effective with the consent of the Majority Facility Lenders of each adversely affected Facility)
and (y) that any amendment or modification of defined terms used in the financial covenants in this
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Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (i)) or
extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of
any Lender’s Revolving Commitment, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly
affected thereby; (ii) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 10.1 without
the written consent of such Lender; (iii) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of “Required
Lenders,” consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or release or limit the Borrower or any Subsidiary
Guarantor that is a Material Subsidiary from its obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.14 hereof), in each case without the written consent of all
Lenders; (iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.15 without the written consent of all
Lenders under each Facility adversely affected thereby; (v) reduce the amount of Net Cash Proceeds
required to be applied to prepay Loans under this Agreement without the written consent of the Majority
Facility Lenders with respect to each Facility; (vi) reduce the percentage specified in the definition of
“Majority Facility Lenders” with respect to any Facility without the written consent of all Lenders under
such Facility; (vii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 or any other provision of any Loan
Document that affects the Administrative Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent;
(viii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 without the written consent of the Issuing
Lender or (ix) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.21 without the written consent of the
Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or
modification shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan Parties, the
Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Loans. In the case of any waiver, the
Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former position and
rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall
be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.
Notwithstanding this Section 10.1, the Commitments of any Defaulting Lender shall be
disregarded for all purposes of any determination of whether the Required Lenders have taken or may
take any action hereunder (including any consent to any waiver, amendment, supplement or modification
pursuant to this Section 10.1); provided that any waiver, amendment, supplement or modification of the
type described in clause (i) of this Section 10.1 shall require the consent of any Defaulting Lender.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and
restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent 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 Loan Documents with the Term Loans and
Revolving Extensions of Credit 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
Majority Facility Lenders.
In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the
written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant
Replacement Term Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing, replacement, modification,
repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension of all or a portion of the outstanding Term Loans
having the same terms (“Replaced Term Loans”) with a replacement term loan tranche hereunder
(“Replacement Term Loans”), provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement
Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Replaced Term Loans and (b) the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Replacement Term Loans shall not be shorter than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Replaced Term Loans at the time of such refinancing,
replacement, modification, repayment, redemption, refunding, renewal or extension.
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Further, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.1, this
Agreement may be amended to extend the maturity date of outstanding Term Loans and/or Revolving
Commitments pursuant to one or more offers made from time to time by the Borrower to all the Lenders
on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the respective Term Loans or
Revolving Commitments) and on the same terms to each such Lender, with the written consent of the
Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and each of the Lenders holding Loans having an extended maturity
date. Each group of Term Loans or Revolving Commitments so extended shall constitute a separate
tranche with the same terms as the original Term Loans or Revolving Commitments.
Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, with the consent
of the Borrower, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any
Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any inconsistency or defect or correct
any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document.
10.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective
parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly
provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or three Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy notice, when received,
addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and as set forth in an
administrative questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent in the case of the Lenders, or to such
other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:
Borrower: Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 316-6245
Telephone: (203) 316-6311
with a copy to: Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (203) 547-6031
Telephone: (203) 316-6543
Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
JPMorgan Loan Services
10 South Dearborn,
Chicago, IL 60603
Attention: Leonida Mischke
Facsimile: 888-292-9533
Telephone: 312-385-7055
Email: [email protected]
with a copy to: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Two Corporate Drive, Suite 730
Shelton, CT 06484
Attention: Scott Farquhar
Telephone: 203-944-8424
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Email: [email protected]
provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall not
be effective until received.
Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or
furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent;
provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Section 2 unless otherwise agreed by the
Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be
limited to particular notices or communications.
10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay
in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder or under the other Loan 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.
10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties made hereunder, in the other Loan 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 and other extensions of credit hereunder.
10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or
reimburse the Administrative Agent for all its 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 Loan 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 and documented fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and filing and recording fees and expenses, with
statements with respect to the foregoing to be submitted to the Borrower prior to the Closing Date (in the
case of amounts to be paid on the Closing Date) and from time to time thereafter on a quarterly basis or
such other periodic basis as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate, (b) to pay or reimburse
each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its 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 Loan Documents and any such other documents, including the reasonable and documented fees
and disbursements of counsel to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (c) to pay,
indemnify, and hold each Lender and the Administrative Agent harmless 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
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 Loan Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and
hold each Lender, Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent and their respective officers, directors,
employees, affiliates, agents and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnitee”) harmless 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 with respect to the execution, delivery,
enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such
other documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the Loans or Letter of
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Credit (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of
Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms
of such Letter of Credit) or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental
Law applicable to any Group Member including with respect to any property at any time owned, leased,
or used by any Group Member, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities
related thereto or any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of
the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding is brought by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third
Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee
is a party thereto, and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel (limited to one
counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all
Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction and, solely in the case of a conflict of interest,
one additional counsel (and, if reasonably necessary, one firm of local counsel in each relevant
jurisdiction) to each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole) and other
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any of the foregoing in connection with claims, actions or proceedings by any Indemnitee
against any Loan Party under any Loan Document (all the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively, the
“Indemnified Liabilities”), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any
Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities (i) to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are found
by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (ii) to the extent they are found by a final and
nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from a material breach of the
obligations of such Indemnitee under any Loan Document and (iii) to the extent arising from any dispute
solely among Indemnitees other than against any Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as
Administrative Agent or arranger or any similar role under this Agreement and other than any claims
arising out of any act or omission on the part of the Borrower or its Affiliates (as determined by a final
and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction). Without limiting the foregoing, and to
the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries not
to assert, and hereby waives and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries to waive, all rights for contribution or
any other rights of recovery with respect to all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements,
damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, under or related to Environmental Laws, that
any of them might have by statute or otherwise against any Indemnitee. The Borrower shall not be liable
for any settlement of any action effected without the Borrower’s consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), but if settled with the Borrower’s written consent or if
there is a final judgment in any such actions, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses by reason of
such settlement or judgment in accordance with this Section. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, if at any time an Indemnitee shall have requested confirmation of the Borrower’s obligation to
indemnify such indemnified person in accordance with this Agreement, the Borrower shall be liable for
any settlement or other action referred to in the immediately preceding sentence effected without the
Borrower’s consent if (a) such settlement or other action is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by
the Borrower of such request for confirmation and (b) the Borrower shall not have provided such
confirmation in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement or other action. The
Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of an Indemnitee (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
actions in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless such
settlement (a) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed) from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such actions and (b) does not include
any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such
Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return
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promptly any and all amounts paid by the Borrower or on the Borrower’s behalf under this Section to
such Indemnitee for any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to the extent such
Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof. All amounts
due under this Section 10.5 shall be payable not later than 10 days after written demand therefor.
Statements payable by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall be submitted to the Borrower at
the address set forth in Section 10.2, or to such other Person or address as may be hereafter designated by
the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.5 shall
survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
10.6 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 Issuing Lender that
issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) 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.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender
may assign to one or more assignees (other than a natural person or any Disqualified Institutions
(except to the extent the Borrower has consented to such assignment to a Disqualified Institution, it
being understood that the list of Disqualified Institutions shall be available to all Lenders and may be
provided to Lenders through electronic communication); provided that, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not have any obligation to determine whether any
potential assignee is a Disqualified Institution or any liability with respect to any assignment made to
a Disqualified Institution) (each, an “Assignee”) 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 of:
(A) the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an
Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if an Event of Default under
Section 8.1(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; and provided, further, that
the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless the Borrower
shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten days after having
received notice thereof;
(B) the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an
assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an
Approved Fund; and
(C) the Issuing Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), provided that
no consent of the Issuing Lender shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a
Term Loan.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an
Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s
Commitments or Loans under any Facility, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the
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assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and
Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not
be less than $5,000,000 (or, in the case of the Term Facility, $1,000,000) unless each of the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that (1) no such consent of
the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a) or (f) has occurred and
is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates
or Approved Funds, if any;
(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500;
and
(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
an administrative questionnaire.
For the purposes of this Section 10.6, “Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a
natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a
Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages
a Lender.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv)
below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the
Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
Assignment and Assumption, 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 Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the
case of an Assignment and Assumption 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 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 and 10.5). Any assignment or transfer by
a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section
10.6 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 paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption
delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and
the Commitments of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations
owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders shall 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 shall be available for
inspection by the Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption
executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed administrative
questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and
recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such
assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such
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Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No
assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the
Register as provided in this paragraph.
(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than any natural
person or Disqualified Institutions (except to the extent the Borrower has consented to such
participation to a Disqualified Institution, it being understood that the list of Disqualified Institutions
shall be available to all Lenders and may be provided to Lenders through electronic communication));
provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not have any
obligation to determine whether any potential participant is a Disqualified Institution or any liability
with respect to any participation sold to a Disqualified Institution) (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 Issuing 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 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; provided that such agreement may provide that such Lender will
not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1)
requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to the proviso to the second
sentence of Section 10.1 and (2) directly affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this
Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of, and subject to
the limitations of, Sections 2.16, 2.17 and 2.18 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had
acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section (subject to the
requirements under Section 2.17(d), (e) and (f)). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also
shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7(b) as though it were a Lender, provided such
Participant shall be subject to Section 10.7(a) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a
participation, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain a
register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and
stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement
(the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any
portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any
information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its
other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to
establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under
Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register
shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender, each Loan Party and the Administrative
Agent shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register pursuant to the terms
hereof as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice
to the contrary.
(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under
Section 2.16 or 2.17 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. No Participant shall be entitled to the benefits
of Section 2.17 unless such Participant complies with Section 2.17(d), (e) and (f) as if it were a
Lender.
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(d) Any Lender may 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.
(e) The Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender,
agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in
paragraph (d) above.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Conduit Lender may assign any or all of
the Loans it may have funded hereunder to its designating Lender without the consent of the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without regard to the limitations set forth in Section
10.6(b). Each of the Borrower, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby confirms that it
will not institute against a Conduit Lender or join any other Person in instituting against a Conduit
Lender any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any
state bankruptcy or similar law, for one year and one day after the payment in full of the latest
maturing commercial paper note issued by such Conduit Lender; provided, however, that each Lender
designating any Conduit Lender hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party
hereto for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising out of its inability to institute such a proceeding
against such Conduit Lender during such period of forbearance.
10.7 Adjustments; Set-off. (a) Except to the extent that this Agreement
expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a particular Lender or to the Lenders under a particular
Facility, if any Lender (a “Benefitted Lender”) shall, at any time after the Loans and other amounts
payable hereunder shall immediately become due and payable pursuant to Section 8, receive any payment
of all or part of the Obligations owing to it, 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 8.1(f), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by
any other Lender, if any, in respect of the Obligations owing to such other Lender, such Benefitted Lender
shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of the Obligations
owing to each such other Lender, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such
collateral, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefitted Lender to share the excess payment or benefits
of such collateral 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 Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be
rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without
interest.
(b) 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 the occurrence and during the
Continuance of an Event of Default, 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, provided that to the
extent prohibited by applicable law as described in the definition of “Excluded Swap Obligation,” no
amount received from, or set-off with respect to, any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be applied to any
Excluded Swap Obligation of such Subsidiary Guarantor. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the
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Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender,
provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature
page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or via email attachment shall be effective as delivery of
a manually executed counterpart hereof. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties
shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
10.9 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.
10.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent
the entire agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.
10.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and
enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of
the State of New York, the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York in the
Borough of Manhattan, and appellate courts from any thereof; provided, that nothing contained herein
or in any other Loan Document will prevent any Lender or the Administrative Agent from bringing
any action to enforce any award or judgment or exercise any right under the Security Documents or
against any Collateral or any other property of any Loan Party in any other forum in which
jurisdiction can be established;
(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 Borrower, as the case may be at its address set forth in Section 10.2 or
at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;
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(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 any special,
exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.
10.13 Acknowledgements. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:
(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Credit Party has any fiduciary
relationship with or duty to the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between Administrative Agent and the other Credit
Parties, on one hand, and the Borrower, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is
solely that of debtor and creditor;
(c) the Loan Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding, and the Loan
Parties understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(d) the Loan Parties have been advised that the Credit Parties are engaged in a
broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from the Loan Parties’ interests and
that the Credit Parties have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Loan
Parties;
(e) the Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and
tax advisors to the extent the Loan Parties have deemed appropriate in the negotiation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(f) each Credit Party has been, is, and will be acting solely as a principal and,
except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing by it and the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and
will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties, any of their affiliates or any
other Person;
(g) none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to the Loan Parties or their
affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents except those obligations expressly set forth herein or therein or in any other express
writing executed and delivered by such Credit Party and the Loan Parties or any such affiliate; and
no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by
virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Credit Parties or between the Borrower and the
Credit Parties.
10.14 Releases of Guarantees and Liens. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably
authorized by each Lender (without requirement of notice to or consent of any Lender except as expressly
required by Section 10.1) to take any action requested by the Borrower having the effect of releasing any
Collateral or guarantee obligations (i) to the extent necessary to permit consummation of any transaction
not prohibited by any Loan Document or that has been consented to in accordance with Section 10.1, (ii)
89
to the extent constituting property being sold, transferred or Disposed of (to any Person that is not a Loan
Party), if the sale, transfer or Disposition is made in compliance with Section 7.5 or (iii) under the
circumstances described in paragraph (b) below.
(b) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other
obligations under the Loan Documents (including obligations under or in respect of Specified Swap
Agreements, but not including contingent obligations for which no claim has been made or pursuant
to Specified Cash Management Agreements) shall have been paid in full, the Commitments have been
terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding (or any Letters of Credit that are outstanding
shall have been cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing
Lender thereof), (i) the Collateral shall be released from all Liens created under the Security
Documents and (ii) the Guarantees, the Security Documents and all obligations (other than those
expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party under
the Security Documents shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any
act by any Person.
10.15 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender
and each Lender agrees to keep confidential all Information (as defined below); provided that nothing
herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender from disclosing any
such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, any other Issuing Lender or any other Lender or any
affiliate thereof, (b) subject to an agreement to comply with the provisions of this Section or provisions
no less restrictive than those in this Section, to any actual or prospective Transferee or any direct or
indirect counterparty to any Swap Agreement (or any professional advisor to such counterparty), (c) to its
employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors or those of any of its
affiliates, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority, (e) in response to any order of
any court or other Governmental Authority or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement
of Law, (f) if requested or required to do so in connection with any litigation or similar proceeding, (g)
that has been publicly disclosed, (h) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any
similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a
Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, or (i) in
connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document. “Information”
means all information received from any Loan Parties or its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, officers,
employees, trustees or agents, relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their business, other
than any such information that is publicly available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or
any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.15
and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service
providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that in the case of
information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the
time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as
provided in this Section 10.15 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such
Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such
Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each Lender acknowledges that information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower and its
Affiliates and their related parties or their respective securities, and confirms that it has developed
compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and that it will handle such
material non-public information in accordance with those procedures and applicable law, including
Federal and state securities laws.
90
All information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents will be syndicate-level information, which may contain material non-public
information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their related parties or their respective securities.
Accordingly, each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it has identified
in its administrative questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain material
non-public information in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including
Federal and state securities laws.
10.16 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE
ADMINISTRATIVE 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 LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY
COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
10.17 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 “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 Act.
10.18 Keepwell. The Borrower absolutely, unconditionally, and irrevocably
undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan
Party to honor all of its obligations under the guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of any
Swap Obligation under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. The obligations of the Borrower under
this Section 10.18 shall remain in full force and effect until all the Borrower Obligations (as defined in the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) and the obligations of each Guarantor under Section 2 of the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall have been satisfied by payment in full, no Letter of Credit shall
be outstanding and the Commitments shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during
the term of the Credit Agreement the Borrower may be free from any Borrower Obligations (as defined in
the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement). The Borrower intends that this Section 10.18 constitute, and
this Section 10.18 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit
of each other Loan Party for all purposes of section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
10.19 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement
or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA
Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and
Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and
agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA
Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party
hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other
instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge
91
institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or
other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to
any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise
of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above
written.
GARTNER, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative
Agent and as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agent and as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agent and
as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
TD BANK, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agent and as a
Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-
Syndication Agent and as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
[Name of Co-Documentation Agent], as Co-
Documentation Agent and as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
Signature page to the Gartner, Inc. Credit Agreement
[Name of Lender], as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
EXECUTION VERSION
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
made by
GARTNER, INC.
and certain of its Subsidiaries
in favor of
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
Dated as of June 17, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS ....................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions ................................................................................................... 8
SECTION 2. GUARANTEE ............................................................................................................. 8
2.1 Guarantee ................................................................................................................................. 8
2.2 Right of Contribution ............................................................................................................... 9
2.3 No Subrogation ........................................................................................................................ 9
2.4 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations ..................................................... 9
2.5 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional ................................................................................... 10
2.6 Reinstatement ........................................................................................................................ 10
2.7 Payments ............................................................................................................................... 11
SECTION 3. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST ......................................................................... 11
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ............................................................ 12
4.1 Title; No Other Liens ............................................................................................................. 12
4.2 Perfected First Priority Liens .................................................................................................. 12
4.3 Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office .............................................................. 12
4.4 Equipment.............................................................................................................................. 12
4.5 Investment Property ............................................................................................................... 12
4.6 Intellectual Property ............................................................................................................... 13
4.7 Commercial Tort Claims ........................................................................................................ 13
SECTION 5. COVENANTS ............................................................................................................ 13
5.1 Delivery of Instruments, Certificated Securities and Chattel Paper .......................................... 13
5.2 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation ....................................... 14
5.3 Changes in Name, etc ............................................................................................................. 14
5.4 Notices ................................................................................................................................... 14
5.5 Investment Property ............................................................................................................... 14
5.6 Receivables ............................................................................................................................ 15
5.7 Intellectual Property ............................................................................................................... 15
5.8 Commercial Tort Claims ........................................................................................................ 16
SECTION 6. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS ........................................................................................ 16
6.1 Receivables ............................................................................................................................ 16
6.2 Investment Property ............................................................................................................... 17
6.3 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent ............................................................ 18
6.4 Application of Proceeds ......................................................................................................... 18
6.5 Code and Other Remedies ...................................................................................................... 19
6.6 Subordination ......................................................................................................................... 19
6.7 Deficiency.............................................................................................................................. 19
SECTION 7. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT ............................................................................ 19
7.1 Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc ................................................ 19
7.2 Duty of Administrative Agent ................................................................................................ 21
7.3 Execution of Financing Statements ......................................................................................... 21
7.4 Authority of Administrative Agent ......................................................................................... 22
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS ................................................................................................... 22
8.1 Amendments in Writing ......................................................................................................... 22
8.2 Notices ................................................................................................................................... 22
8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies ....................................................... 22
8.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification ................................................................................. 22
8.5 Successors and Assigns .......................................................................................................... 23
8.6 Set-Off ................................................................................................................................... 23
8.7 Counterparts........................................................................................................................... 23
8.8 Severability ............................................................................................................................ 23
8.9 Section Headings ................................................................................................................... 24
8.10 Integration.............................................................................................................................. 24
8.11 GOVERNING LAW .............................................................................................................. 24
8.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers ...................................................................................... 24
8.13 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 24
8.14 Additional Grantor ................................................................................................................. 25
8.15 Releases ................................................................................................................................. 25
8.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL ................................................................................................ 25
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 Notice Addresses
Schedule 2 Investment Property
Schedule 3 Perfection Matters
Schedule 4 Jurisdictions of Organization and Chief Executive Offices
Schedule 5 Equipment Locations
Schedule 6 Intellectual Property
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of June 17, 2016, made
by each of the signatories hereto (together with any other entity that may become a party hereto as
provided herein, the “Grantors”), in favor of JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative
Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the banks and other financial institutions or
entities (the “Lenders”) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2016 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among
GARTNER, INC. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders have
severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth therein;
WHEREAS, the Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes
each other Grantor;
WHEREAS, the proceeds of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement will be
used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to one or more of the other Grantors in
connection with the operation of their respective businesses;
WHEREAS, the Borrower and the other Grantors are engaged in related businesses, and
each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the extensions of credit
under the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their
respective extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement that the Grantors shall have
executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured
Parties;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their
respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS
1.1 Definitions. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement
and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement, and the following terms
are used herein as defined in the New York UCC: Accounts, Certificated Security, Chattel Paper,
Commercial Tort Claims, Documents, Equipment, Fixtures, General Intangibles, Instruments, Inventory,
Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations.
(b) The following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Agreement”: this Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Borrower Obligations”: the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest
on (including interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the
maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing at the then applicable rate
provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of
any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for
post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and
liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender (or, in the case of Specified Swap
Agreements or any Specified Cash Management Agreement, any Affiliate of any Lender), whether direct
or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which
may arise under, out of, or in connection with, the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, the
Letters of Credit, any Specified Swap Agreement, any Specified Cash Management Agreement or any
other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of
principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees,
charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be
paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto) or otherwise; provided, however, that for the purposes of
determining any Guarantor Obligations of any Guarantor, the definition of “Borrower Obligations” shall
no create any guarantee by such Guarantor of any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.
“Collateral”: as defined in Section 3.
“Collateral Account”: any collateral account established by the Administrative Agent as
provided in Section 6.1 or 6.4.
“Copyrights”: (i) all copyrights arising under the laws of the United States, any other
country or any political subdivision thereof, whether registered or unregistered and whether published or
unpublished, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith,
including, without limitation, all registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright
Office (including, without limitation, those United States copyright registrations and applications for
registration listed in Schedule 6), and (ii) the right to obtain all renewals thereof.
“Copyright Licenses”: any written agreement naming any Grantor as licensor or
licensee, granting any right under any Copyright, including, without limitation, the grant of rights to
distribute, exploit and sell materials derived from any Copyright (including, without limitation, those
listed in Schedule 6).
“Deposit Account”: as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable
jurisdiction and, in any event, including, without limitation, any demand, time, savings, passbook or like
account maintained with a depositary institution.
“Excluded Collateral”: unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, (a) any owned or leased real property or any other interest in real property, (b) motor vehicles and
other assets subject to certificates of title, (c) any Letter-of-Credit Rights (except to the extent perfection
can be obtained by filing financing statements under the UCC) and Commercial Tort Claims with a
potential value below $10,000,000, (d) any property to the extent that the grant of a security interest in
which is prohibited by applicable law, requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority
pursuant to such applicable law or 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, agreement,
instrument or other document evidencing or giving rise to such property or, in the case of any Investment
Property, Pledged Stock or Pledged Note (other than any of the foregoing issued by a Grantor), any
applicable shareholder or similar agreement, (e) margin stock and Capital Stock in any Person (other than
any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower) to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s
organizational or joint venture documents in each case, after giving effect to the applicable anti-
assignment provisions of the UCC, (f) any property to the extent a security interest in such assets would
result in material adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower, (g) any newly
acquired asset or Subsidiary or any asset of such newly acquired Subsidiary to the extent that the
collateral assignment thereof or the creation of a security interest therein would constitute a breach of the
terms of any permit, license, contract, authorization, lease or agreement or would permit the relevant
counterparty to terminate such permit, license, contract, authorization, lease or agreement, (h) (i) any
governmental permit, license, contract, franchise or authorization or (ii) any lease, license, contract or
agreement to which any of the Borrower or the Guarantors is a party or any of its rights or interests
thereunder, in each case, to the extent that the collateral assignment thereof or the creation of a security
interest therein would constitute a breach of the terms of such permit, license, contract, franchise,
authorization, lease or agreement, or would permit the relevant Governmental Authority or counterparty
to terminate such permit, license, contract, franchise, authorization, lease or agreement after giving effect
to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, and only so long as the applicable provision
giving rise to such violation or invalidity or such right of termination was not incurred in anticipation of
the Loans and (i) any property to the extent actions would be required in any non-U.S. jurisdiction in
order to create any security interests in such property located or titled outside of the U.S. or to perfect any
such security interests and (j) any property in circumstances where the costs of obtaining a security
interest in such property exceed the benefit to the Secured Parties afforded thereby (as reasonably
determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).
“Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock”: the voting Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary
or Foreign Subsidiary Holdco.
“Grantor Registered Intellectual Property”: all (i) Copyrights registered with and
applications for copyright registrations pending before the United States Copyright Office, (ii) Patents
issued by and patent applications pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and (iii)
Trademarks registered with and applications for trademark registrations pending before the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, in each case, owned by any Grantor.
“Guarantor Obligations”: with respect to any Guarantor, all obligations and liabilities of
such Guarantor (other than, with respect to any Guarantor, any Excluded Swap Obligations of such
Guarantor) which may arise under or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation,
Section 2), whether on account of guarantee obligations, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities,
costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement).
“Guarantors”: the collective reference to each Grantor; provided that each Grantor shall
be considered a Guarantor only with respect to the Borrower Obligations of any other Loan Party.
“Intellectual Property”: the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges
relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or
otherwise, including, without limitation, the Copyrights, the Patents, the Trademarks, all Copyright
Licenses, Trademark Licenses and Patent Licenses under which any Grantor is the exclusive licensee of a
U.S. registered Copyright, Trademark and/or Patent or an application therefor, Internet domain names,
intellectual property rights in technology, know-how, trade secrets, software and processes, and all rights
to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive
all proceeds and damages therefrom.
“Intercompany Note”: any promissory note evidencing loans made by any Grantor to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Investment Property”: the collective reference to (i) all “investment property” as such
term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(49) of the New York UCC (other than any Foreign Subsidiary Voting
Stock excluded from the definition of “Pledged Stock”) and (ii) whether or not constituting “investment
property” as so defined, all Pledged Notes and all Pledged Stock.
“Issuers”: the collective reference to each issuer of any Investment Property.
“New York UCC”: the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the
State of New York.
“Obligations”: (i) in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower Obligations and (ii) in the
case of each Guarantor, the Guarantor Obligations.
“Patents”: (i) all letters patent of the United States, any other country or any political
subdivision thereof, all reissues and extensions thereof and all goodwill associated therewith, (ii) all
applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and all divisions, continuations
and continuations-in-part thereof, including, without limitation, with respect to (i) and (ii) those United
States patents and patent applications listed in Schedule 6, and (iii) all rights to obtain any reissues or
extensions of the foregoing.
“Patent License”: all agreements, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to
any Grantor of any right to practice any invention covered in whole or in part by a Patent, including,
without limitation, those listed in Schedule 6.
“Pledged Notes”: all promissory notes listed on Schedule 2, all Intercompany Notes at
any time issued to any Grantor and all other promissory notes issued to or held by any Grantor (other than
promissory notes issued in connection with extensions of trade credit by any Grantor in the ordinary
course of business).
“Pledged Stock”: the shares of Capital Stock listed on Schedule 2, together with any
other shares, stock certificates, options, interests or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the
Capital Stock of any Person that may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this
Agreement is in effect; provided that in no event shall more than 66% of the total outstanding Foreign
Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holdco be required to be
pledged hereunder.
“Proceeds”: all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(64) of the New
York UCC and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, all dividends or other income from the
Investment Property, collections thereon or distributions or payments with respect thereto.
“Receivable”: any right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered,
whether or not such right is evidenced by an Instrument or Chattel Paper and whether or not it has been
earned by performance (including, without limitation, any Account).
“Secured Parties”: the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the
Issuing Lenders and any affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Lender to which Borrower Obligations or
Guarantor Obligations, as applicable, are owed.
“Trademarks”: (i) all trademarks, trade names, trade dress, service marks and other
source identifiers, and all goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, whether in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State
thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, or otherwise, and all common-law rights
related thereto (including, without limitation, those United States trademark registrations and applications
for registration listed in Schedule 6), and (ii) the right to obtain all renewals thereof.
“Trademark License”: any agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by
or to any Grantor of any right to use any Trademark (including, without limitation, those listed in
Schedule 6).
“UCC”: the New York UCC or Uniform Commercial Code under any other state the laws
of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) The words “hereof,” “herein”, “hereto” and
“hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section and Schedule references are to
this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(b) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of such terms.
(c) 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.
SECTION 2. GUARANTEE
2.1 Guarantee. (a) Each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and
irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and
their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and
performance by the Loan Parties when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise)
of the Borrower Obligations (other than, with respect to any Guarantor, any Excluded Swap Obligations
of such Guarantor).
(b) Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the
maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event
exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws
relating to the insolvency of debtors (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section
2.2).
(c) Each Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations may at any time and from time to
time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor hereunder without impairing the guarantee
contained in this Section 2 or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender
hereunder.
(d) The guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall remain in full force and effect until all the
Borrower Obligations and the obligations of each Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Section
2 shall have been satisfied by payment in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding (other than Letters
of Credit which have been cash collateralized in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender)
and the Commitments shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the
Credit Agreement the Loan Parties may be free from any Borrower Obligations.
(e) No payment made by the Borrower, any of the Guarantors, any other guarantor or any
other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, any
of the 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 Borrower Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of
any Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made
by such Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from such
Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations up to the
maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Borrower Obligations are paid in full, no Letter
of Credit shall be outstanding (other then Letters of Credit which have been cash collateralized in a
manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender) and the Commitments are terminated.
2.2 Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that 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 which 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 2.3. The provisions of this Section 2.2 shall in no respect limit the
obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and each
Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed
by such Guarantor hereunder.
2.3 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by any Guarantor hereunder or any
set-off or application of funds of any Guarantor by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, no Guarantor
shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against
the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Borrower 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 all amounts owing to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower on account of the Borrower Obligations are paid
in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding (other then Letters of Credit which have been cash
collateralized in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender) and the Commitments are
terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any
time when all of the Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by
such Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and shall, promptly upon receipt by
such Guarantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor
(duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the
Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in the order set forth in Section 6.4.
2.4 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations. 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, any demand for payment of any of the Borrower
Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative
Agent or such Lender and any of the Borrower Obligations continued, and the Borrower Obligations, or
the liability of any other Person 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
Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any
other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified,
supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders or
all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security,
guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment
of the Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any
Lien at any time held by it as security for the Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this
Section 2 or any property subject thereto.
2.5 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the
creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of
reliance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or
acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Borrower Obligations, and any of them, shall
conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or
waived, in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2; and all dealings between the Loan
Parties, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall
be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in
this Section 2. Each Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of
default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or any of the Guarantors with respect to the Borrower
Obligations. Each Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall
be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the
validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, any of the Borrower
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 Administrative Agent or any Lender, (b) any defense, set-off or
counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or
be asserted by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person against the Administrative Agent
or any Lender, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the
Borrower or such Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal
discharge of the Borrower for the Borrower Obligations, or of such Guarantor under the guarantee
contained in this Section 2, in bankruptcy or in any other instance, other than payment in full of the
Borrower Obligations. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and
remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be
under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue such rights and remedies as it may
have against the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or
guarantee for the Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or
to collect any payments from the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any 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, any other Guarantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of
offset, shall not relieve any Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not impair or
affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall
include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.
2.6 Reinstatement. The guarantee contained in this Section 2 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 Borrower
Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower 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 Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise,
all as though such payments had not been made.
2.7 Payments. Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the
Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars at the Funding Office.
SECTION 3. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
Each Grantor hereby assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and hereby grants
to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of the
following property now owned or at any time 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 such Grantor’s Obligations:
(a) all Accounts;
(b) all Chattel Paper;
(c) all Commercial Tort Claims;
(d) all Deposit Accounts;
(e) all Documents;
(f) all Equipment;
(g) all Fixtures;
(h) all General Intangibles;
(i) all Instruments;
(j) all Intellectual Property;
(k) all Inventory;
(l) all Investment Property;
(m) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;
(n) all other property not otherwise described above (except for any property specifically
excluded from any clause in this section above, and any property specifically excluded from any defined
term used in any clause of this section above);
(o) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and
(p) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds, Supporting Obligations and products of
any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to
any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that notwithstanding any of the other provisions set forth in this
Section 3, the term “Collateral” shall not include (i) any United States “intent to use” trademark
application or intent-to-use service mark application filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act to
the extent that the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of, or
render void or voidable or result in the cancellation of any Grantor’s right, title or interest therein or any
trademark or service mark issued as a result of such application under applicable federal law, or any
intellectual property or rights therein or thereto if the grant of a Lien on or security interest in such
intellectual property would result in the cancellation or voiding of such intellectual property or such rights
and (ii) any Excluded Collateral.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders to enter into the
Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders and Issuing Lenders to make their respective extensions of
credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative
Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Lender that:
4.1 Title; No Other Liens. Except for the security interest granted to the Administrative
Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement and the other Liens
permitted to exist on the Collateral by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the
Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. None of the Grantors have filed or
consented to the filing of any financing statement or other public notice with respect to all or any part of
the Collateral in any public office, except such as have been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement or as are permitted by the Credit
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that
any Grantor may, as part of its business, grant licenses to third parties to practice or use Intellectual
Property owned or developed by a Grantor. For purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, such licensing activity shall not constitute a “Lien” on such Intellectual Property. Each of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender understand that any such licenses may be exclusive to the
applicable licensees, and such exclusivity provisions may limit the ability of the Administrative Agent to
utilize, sell, lease or transfer the related Intellectual Property or otherwise realize value from such
Intellectual Property pursuant hereto.
4.2 Perfected First Priority Liens. The security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement
(a) upon completion of the filings and other actions specified on Schedule 3 (which, in the case of all
filings and other documents referred to on said Schedule, have been delivered to the Administrative Agent
in completed and duly executed form) will constitute valid perfected security interests in all of the
Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral
security for such Grantor’s Obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof against all
creditors of such Grantor and any Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Grantor, in
each case, to the extent such security interests may be perfected by such filings and other actions and (b)
are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the date hereof except Liens permitted by the
Credit Agreement.
4.3 Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office. On the date hereof, such Grantor’s
jurisdiction of organization, identification number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any), and the
location of such Grantor’s chief executive office or sole place of business or principal residence, as the
case may be, are specified on Schedule 4.
4.4 Equipment. On the date hereof, the Equipment in excess of $10,000,000 (other than
mobile goods) are kept at the locations listed on Schedule 5.
4.5 Investment Property. (a) The shares of Pledged Stock pledged by such Grantor
hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares of all classes of the Capital Stock of each Issuer
owned by such Grantor except that, in the case of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of Issuers that are
Foreign Subsidiaries or Foreign Subsidiary Holdcos, the shares of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of
such Issuers pledged by such Grantor hereunder constitute 66% of all the issued and outstanding Foreign
Subsidiary Voting Stock of such Issuers (or, if such Grantor owns less than 66% of the issued and
outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Issuer that is a Foreign Subsidiary, the shares of
Foreign Subsidiaries Voting Stock of such Issuer pledged by such Grantor hereunder constitute all the
issued and outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of such Issuer that is owned by such Grantor).
(b) All the shares of the Pledged Stock have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable.
(c) Each of the Pledged Notes constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
obligor with respect thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(d) Such Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title to,
the Investment Property pledged by it hereunder, free of any and all Liens or options in favor of, or claims
of, any other Person, except the security interest created by this Agreement.
4.6 Intellectual Property. (a) Schedule 6 lists all Grantor Registered Intellectual Property
and all Copyright Licenses, Trademark Licenses and Patent Licenses under which any Grantor is the
exclusive licensee of a U.S. registered Copyright, Trademark and/or Patent or applications therefor.
(b) All Grantor Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting and unexpired and, to the
knowledge of the owning Grantor, valid and enforceable.
(c) No holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority
which would limit or cancel the validity of, or such Grantor’s rights in, any Grantor Registered
Intellectual Property in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No action or proceeding is pending, or, to the knowledge of such Grantor, threatened, (i)
seeking to limit or cancel the validity of any Grantor Registered Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s
ownership interest therein, or (ii) which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5. COVENANTS
Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that,
from and after the date of this Agreement until the Obligations shall have been paid in full, no Letter of
Credit shall be outstanding (other then Letters of Credit which have been cash collateralized in a manner
reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender) and the Commitments shall have terminated:
5.1 Delivery of Instruments, Certificated Securities and Chattel Paper. If any Grantor shall at
any time hold or acquire any Instrument, Certificated Security or Chattel Paper constituting Collateral and
evidencing an amount in excess of $10,000,000 payable, such Grantor shall promptly arrange for
Instrument, Certificated Security or Chattel Paper to be immediately delivered to the Administrative
Agent, duly indorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be held as Collateral
pursuant to this Agreement.
5.2 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation. (a) Such Grantor
shall (i) maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest having at
least the priority described in Section 4.2 and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts necessary to defend
such security interest against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever, subject to the rights of
such Grantor under the Loan Documents to dispose of the Collateral.
(b) Annually, at the time of the delivery of the Borrower’s annual financial statements with
respect to the preceding fiscal year pursuant to Section 6.1(a) of the Credit Agreement, such Grantor will
furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders statements and schedules which provide the
information on the assets and property of such Grantor in reasonable detail consistent with that provided
in the Schedules hereto or confirm that there has been no change in such information since the date on
which the Grantor provided information to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to this
Section 5.2(b).
(c) At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent,
and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor will promptly and duly execute and deliver, and
cause to be filed or recorded, such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining the security
interest created by this Agreement over the Collateral as a perfected security having at least the priority
described in Section 4.2 and preserving the rights and powers herein granted, including, without
limitation, (i) filing any financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (or
other similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby and (ii)
in the case of Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Rights and any other relevant Collateral (other than
any Excluded Collateral) for which “control” (within the meaning of the applicable UCC) is required for
perfection under the applicable UCC, taking any actions necessary to enable the Administrative Agent to
obtain “control” with respect thereto.
5.3 Changes in Name, etc. Within 30 days of changing (i) its jurisdiction of organization or
the location of its chief executive office or sole place of business or principal residence from that referred
to in Section 4.3 or (ii) its name, such Grantor will provide written notice the Administrative Agent of
such change and deliver to the Administrative Agent all additional executed financing statements and
other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the validity, perfection
and priority of the security interests provided for herein.
5.4 Notices. Such Grantor will advise the Administrative Agent and the Lenders promptly,
upon becoming aware, in reasonable detail, of:
(a) any Lien (other than security interests created hereby or Liens permitted under the Credit
Agreement) on any of the Collateral which would adversely affect the ability of the Administrative Agent
to exercise any of its remedies hereunder; and
(b) the occurrence of any other event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the aggregate value of the Collateral or on the security interests created hereby.
5.5 Investment Property. (a) If such Grantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive
any certificate (including, without limitation, any certificate representing a dividend or a distribution in
connection with any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital or any certificate issued in
connection with any reorganization), option or rights in respect of the Capital Stock of any Issuer,
whether in addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or in exchange for, any shares of the Pledged
Stock, or otherwise in respect thereof, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders and promptly deliver the same to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received, duly
indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required, together with an undated stock power
covering such certificate duly executed in blank by such Grantor, as additional collateral security for the
Obligations; provided, however, that such Grantor shall not be required to take the foregoing actions with
respect to such certificate, option or right in respect of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of a Foreign
Subsidiary or a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco to the extent that more than 66% of the issued and outstanding
Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holdco is pledged in
favor of the Administrative Agent as collateral security for the Obligations. Any sums paid upon or in
respect of the Investment Property upon the liquidation or dissolution of any Issuer shall be paid over to
the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral security for the Obligations,
and in case any distribution of capital shall be made on or in respect of the Investment Property or any
property shall be distributed upon or with respect to the Investment Property pursuant to the
recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of any Issuer or pursuant to the reorganization thereof, the
property so distributed shall, unless otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the
Administrative Agent, be delivered to the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional
collateral security for the Obligations. If any sums of money or property so paid or distributed in respect
of the Investment Property shall be received by such Grantor, such Grantor shall, until such money or
property is paid or delivered to the Administrative Agent, hold such money or property in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as additional collateral security for the Obligations.
5.6 Intellectual Property. (a) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will (i)
continue to use each of its material Trademarks (whether included in the Grantor Registered Intellectual
Property or unregistered) on each and every trademark class of goods applicable to its current line as
reflected in its current catalogs, brochures and price lists to the extent necessary to maintain such
Trademark in full force free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (ii) maintain as in the past the
quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) use such Trademark with the
appropriate notice of registration and all other notices and legends required by applicable Requirements of
Law, (iv) not adopt or use any mark which is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such
Trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, shall obtain a
security interest in such mark pursuant to this Agreement, and (v) not (and not permit any licensee or
sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby such Trademark may become
invalidated or impaired in any way.
(b) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any act, or omit to do any act,
whereby any material Patent included in the Grantor Registered Intellectual Property may become
forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit such
Grantor’s right to enforce and defend its rights in and to any such Patent.
(c) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not (and will not permit any licensee
or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any material portion of its
Copyrights (whether included in the Grantor Registered Intellectual Property or unregistered) may
become invalidated or otherwise impaired. Such Grantor will not (either itself or through licensees) do
any act whereby any material portion of such Copyrights may fall into the public domain.
(d) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any act that knowingly uses
any of its material Intellectual Property to infringe the intellectual property rights of any other Person.
(e) Such Grantor will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders immediately if it
knows, or has reason to know, that any application or registration relating to any material Grantor
Registered Intellectual Property may become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any
adverse determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of, or any such
determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the
United States Copyright Office or any court or tribunal in any country) regarding such Grantor’s
ownership of, or the validity of, any material Grantor Registered Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s
right to register the same or to own and maintain the same.
(f) Whenever such Grantor, either by itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or
designee, shall file an application for the registration of any Intellectual Property with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or acquire a registration of or
application for any such Intellectual Property, such Grantor shall report such filing to the Administrative
Agent within five Business Days after the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such filing or acquisition
occurs for Patents and Trademarks. Upon request of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall
execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as
the Administrative Agent may request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ security
interest in such Copyright, Patent or Trademark, as applicable.
(g) Such Grantor will take all commercially reasonable steps, including, without limitation,
in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright
Office, to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain
each registration of the material Grantor Registered Intellectual Property, including, without limitation,
filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use and affidavits of incontestability, other than
abandonment of any Grantor Registered Intellectual Property at the end of the applicable statutory term or
upon any final rejection during prosecution, and, with respect to any pending application included in the
Grantor Registered Intellectual Property that is not material to the owning Grantor, any abandonment in
the ordinary course of business.
(h) In the event that any of its material Intellectual Property is infringed, misappropriated or
diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall (i) take such actions as such Grantor shall reasonably deem
appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property and (ii) if such Intellectual
Property is of material economic value, promptly notify the Administrative Agent after it learns thereof
and, if consistent with reasonable business judgment under the circumstances, sue for infringement,
misappropriation or dilution or seek injunctive relief where appropriate and attempt to recover any and all
damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution.
5.7 Commercial Tort Claims. If such Grantor shall obtain an interest in any Commercial
Tort Claim with a potential value in excess of $10,000,000, such Grantor shall within 30 days of
obtaining such interest sign and deliver documentation acceptable to the Administrative Agent granting a
security interest under the terms and provisions of this Agreement in and to such Commercial Tort Claim.
SECTION 6. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS
6.1 Receivables. (a) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, if requested by the Administrative Agent, a Grantor shall (i) promptly (and, in any event,
within two Business Days) deposit the Proceeds of any payment of Receivables collected by such Grantor
in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent if required, in a
Collateral Account maintained under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, subject
to withdrawal by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders only as provided in Section 6.5,
and (ii) hold such Proceeds in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Each such deposit of
Proceeds of Receivables shall be accompanied by a report identifying in reasonable detail the nature and
source of the payments included in the deposit.
(b) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the
Administrative Agent’s request, each Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the
Administrative Agent all documents evidencing, and relating to, the agreements and transactions which
gave rise to the Receivables, including, without limitation, all orders, invoices and shipping receipts.
(c) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the
Administrative Agent in its own name or in the name of others may communicate with obligors under the
Receivables to verify with them to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction the existence, amount and
terms of any Receivables.
(d) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon
the request of the Administrative Agent, each Grantor shall notify obligors on the Receivables that the
Receivables have been assigned to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties
and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under
each of the Receivables 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 Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation or liability under any Receivable (or
any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender of any payment relating thereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent
or any Lender be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or
pursuant to any Receivable (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.
6.2 Investment Property. (a) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Grantor of the
Administrative Agent’s intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to Section 6.2(b), each Grantor
shall be permitted to receive all cash dividends paid in respect of the Pledged Stock and all payments
made in respect of the Pledged Notes, in each case paid in the normal course of business of the relevant
Issuer and consistent with past practice, to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise
all voting and corporate or other organizational rights with respect to the Investment Property; provided,
however, that no vote shall be cast or corporate or other organizational right exercised or other action
taken which, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, would impair the Collateral or which
would be inconsistent with or result in any violation of any provision of the Credit Agreement, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(b) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Administrative Agent has
given written notice of its intent to exercise such rights to the relevant Grantor or Grantors, (i) the
Administrative Agent shall have the right to receive any and all cash dividends, payments or other
Proceeds paid in respect of the Investment Property and make application thereof to the Obligations in the
order set forth in Section 6.4, and (ii) any or all of the Investment Property shall be registered in the name
of the Administrative Agent or its nominee, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter
exercise (x) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Investment Property at any meeting
of shareholders of the relevant Issuer or Issuers or otherwise and (y) any and all rights of conversion,
exchange and subscription and any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to such Investment
Property as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its
discretion any and all of the Investment Property upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization or other fundamental change in the corporate or other organizational structure of any
Issuer, or upon the exercise by any Grantor or the Administrative Agent of any right, privilege or option
pertaining to such Investment Property, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any
and all of the Investment Property with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other
designated agency upon such terms and conditions as the Administrative Agent may determine), but the
Administrative Agent shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and
shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.
(c) Each Grantor hereby authorizes and instructs each Issuer of any Investment Property
pledged by such Grantor hereunder to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the
Administrative Agent in writing that (x) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and
(y) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other or further instructions
from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying, and
(ii) unless otherwise expressly permitted hereby, pay any dividends or other payments with respect to the
Investment Property directly to the Administrative Agent.
6.3 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent. In addition to the rights of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders specified in Section 6.1 with respect to payments of Receivables, if
an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of
cash, checks and other Cash Equivalents items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and shall, promptly upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over
to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly indorsed by such Grantor to
the Administrative Agent, if required). All Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent hereunder
shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and
control. All Proceeds while held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account (or by such Grantor
in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) shall continue to be held as collateral security for
all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 6.5.
6.4 Application of Proceeds. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at
any time at the Administrative Agent’s election, the Administrative Agent shall apply all or any part of
Proceeds constituting Collateral, whether or not held in any Collateral Account, and any proceeds of the
guarantee set forth in Section 2, in payment of the Obligations in the following order:
First, to pay incurred and unpaid fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent under the
Loan Documents;
Second, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards payment of amounts then
due and owing and remaining unpaid in respect of the Obligations, pro rata among the Secured
Parties according to the amounts of the Obligations then due and owing and remaining unpaid to
the Secured Parties;
Third, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards prepayment of the
Obligations, pro rata among the Secured Parties according to the amounts of the Obligations then
held by the Secured Parties; and
Fourth, any balance remaining after the Obligations shall have been paid in full, no Letters of
Credit shall be outstanding (other then Letters of Credit which have been cash collateralized in a
manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lender) and the Commitments shall have terminated
shall be paid over to the Borrower or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the
same.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Guarantor shall be applied to
any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.
6.5 Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may exercise, in addition to all other rights and remedies
granted to them in this Agreement and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or
relating to the Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York UCC or any
other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may,
without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any
kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Grantor or any other Person (all
and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such
circumstances, promptly collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof,
and/or may promptly sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or
contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any
exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere upon such
terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on
credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, provided that the Administrative Agent
shall provide notice thereof prior to or promptly after such exercise. Each purchaser, upon such public
sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, shall hold the
property so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Grantor, which right or equity is hereby
waived and released. Each Grantor further agrees, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble the
Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at a place and time which the Administrative
Agent shall reasonably select that is reasonably convenient to both parties, whether at such Grantor’s
premises or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it
pursuant to this Section 6.6, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection
therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or the rights of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees
and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the Obligations, in the order set forth in Section
6.4, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other
amount required by any provision of law, including, without limitation, Section 9-615(a)(3) of the New
York UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against
the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any
notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be
deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.
6.6 Subordination. Each Grantor hereby agrees that, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, all
Indebtedness owing by it to any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible
payment in full in cash of such Grantor’s Obligations.
6.7 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 its Obligations and the fees and
disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such
deficiency.
SECTION 7. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
7.1 Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc. (a) At any time after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor hereby (i) irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Administrative 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 in its own name, 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, and (ii) gives the Administrative Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor,
without notice to or assent by such Grantor, to do any or all of the following:
(i) in the name of such Grantor or its own name, or otherwise, take possession of
and indorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the
payment of moneys due under any Receivable or Contract 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 Administrative Agent for the purpose of collecting any and
all such moneys due under any Receivable or Contract 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 Administrative Agent may
request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ 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 the
Collateral, effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and pay
all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;
(iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 6.6 or 6.7, any
indorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the
Collateral;
(v) 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 Administrative
Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall direct;
(vi) 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;
(vii) sign and indorse 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;
(viii) 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;
(ix) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect
to any Collateral;
(x) settle, compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in
connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Administrative Agent may deem
appropriate;
(xi) assign any Copyright, Patent or Trademark (along with the goodwill of the
business to which any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark pertains), throughout the world for
such term or terms, on such conditions, and in such manner, as the Administrative Agent shall in
its sole discretion determine; and
(xii) 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 Administrative
Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and
(xiii) do, at the Administrative Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time,
or from time to time, all acts and things which the Administrative Agent deems necessary to
protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’
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 7.1(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees
that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section 7.1(a) (other
than pursuant to clause (ii) thereof) 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
Administrative 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 Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken
as provided in this Section 7.1, 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
Credit Agreement, from the date of payment by the Administrative Agent to the date reimbursed by the
relevant Grantor, shall be payable by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent on demand.
(d) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys 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.
7.2 Duty of Administrative Agent. The Administrative 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 New York UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Administrative Agent
deals with similar property for its own account. Neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender 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
Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the
Lenders’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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.
7.3 Execution of Financing Statements. Pursuant to any applicable law, each Grantor
authorizes the Administrative Agent to file or record financing statements and other filing or recording
documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the signature of such Grantor in such
form and in such offices as the Administrative Agent determines appropriate to perfect the security
interests of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Each Grantor authorizes the Administrative
Agent to use the collateral description “all personal property” in any such financing statements. Each
Grantor hereby ratifies and authorizes the filing by the Administrative Agent of any financing statement
with respect to the Collateral made prior to the date hereof.
7.4 Authority of Administrative Agent. Each Grantor acknowledges that the rights and
responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the
Administrative Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent and the Lenders, be governed by the Credit
Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among
them, but, as between the Administrative Agent and the Grantors, the Administrative Agent shall be
conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Lenders 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.
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be
waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section 10.1 of the
Credit Agreement.
8.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the Administrative Agent or any
Grantor hereunder shall be effected in the manner provided for in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement;
provided that any such notice, request or demand to or upon any Guarantor shall be addressed to such
Guarantor at its notice address set forth on Schedule 1.
8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Administrative
Agent nor any Lender shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 8.1), 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. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, 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
Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be
construed as a bar to any right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Lender would
otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be
exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.
8.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Guarantor agrees to pay or reimburse
each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in collecting against
such Guarantor under the guarantee contained in Section 2 or otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party, including,
without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel to each Lender and
of counsel to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to hold the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
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) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to hold the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
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 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.
(d) The agreements in this Section 8.4 shall survive repayment of the Obligations and all
other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
8.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and
assigns of each Grantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and
their successors and assigns; provided that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.
8.6 Set-Off. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and each
Lender at any time and from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, without notice to such Grantor or any other Grantor, any such notice being expressly waived
by each Grantor, to set-off as appropriate and apply 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 the Administrative Agent or such Lender to or for the credit or account of such
Grantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect,
against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of such Grantor to the Administrative Agent or
such Lender (or any branch or agency thereof) against such Grantor, in any currency, whether arising
hereunder, under the Credit Agreement or any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or such
Lender may elect, whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender has made any demand for
payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured, provided
that to the extent prohibited by applicable law as described in the definition of “Excluded Swap
Obligation,” no amount received from or set-off with respect to, any Grantor shall be applied to any
Excluded Swap Obligation of such Grantor. The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall notify such
Grantor promptly of any such set-off and the application made by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender of the proceeds thereof, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of
such set-off and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each Lender under this Section
8.6 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off)
which the Administrative Agent or such Lender may have.
8.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this
Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by email or telecopy), and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
8.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which 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.
8.9 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.
8.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the agreement of
the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly set forth or referred to
herein or in the other Loan Documents.
8.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
8.12 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, 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 in the Borough of Manhattan, 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 8.2 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 any special, exemplary, punitive or
consequential damages.
8.13 Acknowledgements. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:
(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;
(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or
duty to any Grantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent
and Lenders, 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 Loan Documents or otherwise exists by
virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Grantors and the
Lenders.
8.14 Additional Grantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party
to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Grantor for all
purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of an Assumption
Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.
8.15 Releases. (a) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other
Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of Specified Swap Agreements) shall have been paid in
full, the Commitments have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Collateral
shall be released from the Liens created hereby, and this Agreement and all obligations (other than those
expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Grantor hereunder
shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all
rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Grantors. At the request and sole expense of any Grantor
following any such termination, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such Grantor any Collateral
held by the Administrative Agent hereunder, and execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as
such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.
(b) If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Grantor
in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, then the Administrative Agent, at the request and sole
expense of such Grantor, shall execute and deliver to such Grantor all releases or other documents
reasonably necessary or desirable for the release of the Liens created hereby on such Collateral. At the
request and sole expense of the Borrower, a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations
hereunder in the event that all the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement; provided that the Borrower
shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least ten Business Days prior to the date of the
proposed release, a written request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor and the terms
of the sale or other disposition in reasonable detail, including the price thereof and any expenses in
connection therewith, together with a certification by the Borrower stating that such transaction is in
compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
8.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR
PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
Schedule 1
NOTICE ADDRESSES OF GUARANTORS
Capterra, Inc.
c/o Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 724-0995
Telephone: (203) 316-6003
Computer Financial Consultants, Inc.
c/o Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 724-0995
Telephone: (203) 316-6003
Dataquest, Inc.
c/o Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 724-0995
Telephone: (203) 316-6003
Software Advice, Inc.
c/o Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 724-0995
Telephone: (203) 316-6003
The Research Board, Inc.
c/o Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, CT 06904
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 724-0995
Telephone: (203) 316-6003
Schedule 2
DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT PROPERTY
Part I: Pledged Stock:
Issuer Class of Stock Stock Certificate No. No. of Shares
Part I.A
Capterra, Inc. Ordinary shares C-02 1,000
Computer Financial
Consultants, Inc.
Ordinary shares R-1 1,000
Dataquest, Inc. Ordinary shares R-1 1,000
Software Advice, Inc. Ordinary shares 12 1,176
The Research Board,
Inc.
Ordinary shares 2 3,000
Part I.B
Burton Group, Inc. Ordinary shares C-002 1,000
G.G. Properties, Ltd. Ordinary shares 1 7,920
SircleIT, Inc. Ordinary shares 2 666
Gartner Japan Limited Ordinary shares 264
Part I.C
Gartner do Brasil
Servicos de Pesquisas
Ltda.
Ordinary shares Uncertificated N/A
Gartner Holdings, LLC Membership interests Uncertificated N/A
Gartner Investments I,
LLC
Membership interests Uncertificated N/A
Gartner Investments II,
LLC
Membership interests Uncertificated N/A
Part II: Pledged Notes:
Intercompany Note, dated June 17, 2016, by and among the Grantors and each other Subsidiary of the
Borrower
Schedule 3
FILINGS AND OTHER ACTIONS
REQUIRED TO PERFECT SECURITY INTERESTS
Uniform Commercial Code Filings
Grantor Location
Gartner, Inc. Delaware
Capterra, Inc. Delaware
Computer Financial Consultants, Inc. Delaware
Dataquest, Inc. California
Software Advice, Inc. California
The Research Board, Inc. Delaware
Patent, Trademark and Copyright Filings
Patent Security Agreement
Trademark Security Agreement
Copyright Security Agreement
Actions with respect to Pledged Stock
Delivery of physical stock certificates representing Pledged Stock to Administrative Agent
Schedule 4
LOCATION OF JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION
AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Grantor
Jurisdiction
of Organization
Location of Chief
Executive Office
Capterra, Inc. Delaware Arlington, Virginia
Computer Financial Consultants, Inc. Delaware Stamford, Connecticut
Dataquest, Inc. California Stamford, Connecticut
Software Advice, Inc. California Austin, Texas
The Research Board, Inc. Delaware New York, New York
Schedule 5
LOCATIONS OF EQUIPMENT
None.
Schedule 6
GRANTOR REGISTERED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Copyrights
Registered Copyrights
Claimant Title Registration No.
Gartner, Inc. Gartner research topic index Apr05 TX0006188846
Gartner, Inc. Gartner research topic index TX0005821266
Gartner, Inc. KMap taxonomy TX0005762195
Gartner, Inc. The Social Organization: How to Use Social
Media to Tap the Collective Genius of Your
Customers and Employees
TX0007516367
Gartner, Inc. and Korn Ferry The CIO Edge: Seven Leadership Skills You
Need to Drive Results
TX0007728904
Gartner, Inc. and Charles
Grantham
Consumer evolution : nine effective
strategies for driving business growth
TX0005634443
Gartner, Inc. and Association for
Information and Image
Management International
(AIIM)
Enterprise applications : adoption of E-
business and document technologies 2000-
2001 : Pacific rim industry study
TX0005533682
Gartner, Inc. and Association for
Information and Image
Management International
(AIIM)
Enterprise applications--adoption of E-
business and document technologies : 2000-
2001 worldwide
TX0005533683
Gartner, Inc. and K. Mani
Chandy
Event processing: designing it systems for
agile companies
TX0007041686
Gartner, Inc. and George
Westerman
The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create
and Communicate Value
TX0007113561
Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
Gartner Group (employer for
hire)
Achieving business value from technology :
a practical guide for today's executive
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Gartner Group technology. Research notes.
1Mar85. Issue title: Market action
TX0001775504
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Gartner Group technology. Strategic analysis
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engineering
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Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
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Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
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Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
Gartner Group, Inc.
Industry service. Strategic analysis report.
12Jul84. Issue title: The Artificial-
intelligence business
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Gartner Group, Inc. scenario
Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
Gartner Group, Inc.
Personal computing. Strategic analysis
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Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
Gartner Group, Inc.
[transfer of copyright from
Interprose, Inc.]
Interpose TCO survey
TX0004627188
Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
Gartner Group (employer for
hire)
World without secrets : business, crime and
privacy in the age of ubiquitous computing
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Dataquest, Inc. 10 Forecast TX0001012898
Dataquest, Inc. 16 competition TX0000488918
Dataquest, Inc. 17.2 electronic counters : T I I S, v. 1. TX0000472171
Dataquest, Inc. 2.4 Discrete devices TX0001047461
Dataquest, Inc. A.1.US United States P P C’s TX0000773140
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Dataquest, Inc. Appendix B--preliminary market share
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Dataquest, Inc. Appendix B : preliminary market share
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Dataquest, Inc. Appendix C, market estimate worksheets TX0000520850
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Dataquest, Inc. ATEIS/TIIS:v.I. TX0000514157
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Dataquest, Inc. CAD/CAM industry service : v. I, marketing
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Dataquest, Inc. Caterpillar Tractor Company : [section] 1.12
; International Harvester Company : [section]
1.27 ; Massey-Ferguson, Ltd. : [section]
1.36.
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Dataquest, Inc. Circuit board testing TX0000665572
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Dataquest, Inc. Consolidated data base : U. S. markets,
1981-1990
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Dataquest, Inc. [Consumption estimate worksheets :
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Dataquest, Inc. [Contents.] TX0000049762
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 29Feb80.
Issue title: M O S microprocessor shipments
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 11Apr80.
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter
15May80. Issue title: Manufacturing model
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter
30May80. Issue title: Dynascan Corporation
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter
30May80. Issue title: Computer Automation,
Inc.
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 6Jun80.
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and E P R O M shipments
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 8Jul80.
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TX0000520851
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 22Aug80.
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TX0000543183
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 29Aug80.
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one of the fastest-growing segments in the
test instrument market
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 19Jun79.
Issue title: U. S. independent test labortory
market
TX0000287231
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 25Jun79.
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consumption
TX0000287228
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 16Nov79.
Issue title: Dynamic and static M O S-R A M
and E P R O M shipments
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Inc. research newsletter 26Dec79. TX0000428737
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Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Incorporated, research newsletter
4Apr79. Issue title: Update on bipolar
memories
TX0000273039
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Incorporated, research newsletter
4May79
TX0000273040
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Incorporated, research newsletter
11May79
TX0000273041
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Incorporated, research newsletter
11May79
TX0000273042
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest, Incorporated, research newsletter
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TX0000273043
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest instrument seminar, October 1980 TX0000665569
Dataquest, Inc. Dataquest SpecCheck competitive copier
guide v. 1, no. 1, Aug85
TX0001662124
Dataquest, Inc. Digital image printer study : v. I. TX0001093086
Dataquest, Inc. Digital voltmeters/digital multimeters : the
most basic type of test equipment
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Dataquest, Inc. Display terminal industry service v. 1.
Created 1982
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Dataquest, Inc. Dynamic and static M O S R A M and E P R
O M shipments
TX0000346950
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Dataquest, Inc. European semiconductor industry service : v.
I[-II]
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Dataquest, Inc. Financial analysis : [section] 6.0.9. TX0000049759
Dataquest, Inc. General Computer Systems, Inc. : [section]
6.27 ; Data 100 Corporation ; Sycor, Inc. ...
[et al.].
TX0000177733
Dataquest, Inc. General industry update TX0000346951
Dataquest, Inc. General purpose minicomputer review and
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Dataquest, Inc. Geographic market analysis : [section] 2.3 ;
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TX0000049752
Dataquest, Inc. Harnischfeger Corporation : [section] 1.23 ;
Regional markets : [section] 2.5 ; Allis-
Chalmers Corporation : [section] 1.03 ... [et
al.].
TX0000177732
Dataquest, Inc. Hewlett-Packard TX0000177735
Dataquest, Inc. ILM--the divine knowledge TXu001240859
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tractors : [section] 3.1 ; Crawler loaders :
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TX0000177731
Dataquest, Inc. Industry structure : v. I, 3.1. TXu000141247
Dataquest, Inc. Instrumentation Industry Services November
14-16, 1979 Conference : Orlando Hyatt
Hotel, Orlando, Florida
TX0000415035
Dataquest, Inc. Intel : [section] 8.04 ; Texas Instruments :
[section] 8.12 ; Electronic Arrays : [section]
8.26 ; Intersil : [section] 8.34.
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Dataquest, Inc. Interconnect verification analysis TX0000665571
Dataquest, Inc. Introduction to the service ; Economic data
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TX0000049751
Dataquest, Inc. Japanese semiconductor industry service :
electronics industry environment in Japan
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Dataquest, Inc. Konishiroku Photo Industry Company, Ltd. :
[section] 8.50.
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Dataquest, Inc. Lanier Business Products, Inc. : [section]
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Dataquest, Inc. Litton Industries, Inc. : [section] 6.37. TX0000049750
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Dataquest, Inc. Motorola : [section] 8.06 ; Mostek : [section]
8.40.
TX0000177738
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
5Jan83. Issue title: Preliminary 1982
worldwide semiconductor market share
estimates
TX0001058152
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
8Feb83. Issue title: 64K dynamic R A M
update
TX0001068753
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
9Mar82. Issue title: G P M C market in
1981--pretty good, ultrahigh-performance
segment--wow!
TX0000962349
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
12Mar82. Issue title: Summary of 1982
Dataquest Small Computer Industry
Conference. Dataquest’s Small Computer
Industry Service’s annual conference, held
Feb. 23-26, 1982 in the Napa Valley, Calif.
TX0000962350
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter TX0000959195
17Mar82. Issue title: Dataquest explores the
trends in the 1/2-inch magnetic tape reel
media market
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
17Mar82. Issue title: Masstor Systems
Corporation model M860 cartridge storage
system
TX0000959197
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
12Apr82. Issue title: The Xebec/MSC
S1410, first in the trend toward small-size,
low-cost control units
TX0000959192
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
13Apr82. Issue title: "Computer solutions"
by Macy’s of California
TX0000962353
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
30Apr82. Issue title: The Shugart SA200, a
low-cost, reduced-height, flexible disk drive
TX0000959196
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
14May82. Issue title: GRiD Systems’
"Navigator" : a manager/executive computer
system
TX0000962352
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
3Jun82. Issue title: Digital Equipment
Corporation announces a personal computer
family for the eighties
TX0000962351
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
2Jul82. Issue title: General industry update
TX0000959193
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
2Jul82. Issue title: M O S
microcomputer/microprocessor shipments
increase slightly in first quarter 1982
TX0000959194
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
13Aug82. Issue title: M O S memory
shipments first and second quarters 1982
TX0000977113
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
24Aug82. Issue title: M O S
microcomputer/microprocessor shipments
prove healthier in second quarter 1982
TX0000977114
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
24Nov82. Issue title: M O S
microcomputer/microprocessor shipments
increase slightly in the third quarter 1982
TX0001036481
Dataquest, Inc. Nielsen Dataquest research newsletter
10Dec82. Issue title: M O S memory
shipments third quarter 1982
TX0001036480
Dataquest, Inc. Oscilloscopes TX0000665570
Dataquest, Inc. Perkin-Elmer Corporation TX0000049749
Dataquest, Inc. Pitney Bowes : [section] 6.50. TX0000177739
Dataquest, Inc. Propelling the semiconductor market to new
heights
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Dataquest, Inc. Protocol testers TX0000665579
Dataquest, Inc. [Ricoh Corporation, Ltd. : section 8.70.] TX0000049761
Dataquest, Inc. Savin’s manufacturing facilities and new
Landa process : Savin update / [Monica
Camahort]
TX0000780197
Dataquest, Inc. Scope and defintions [sic] : [section] 1.1 ;
Industry structure : [section] 1.3 ; Economic
data and outlook : [section] 2.1 ... [et al.]
TX0000049753
Dataquest, Inc. Semiconductor industry service : v. I[-III] TX0000977614
Dataquest, Inc. Semiconductor testing TX0000665573
Dataquest, Inc. Semiconductor user information service : v.
I[-II]
TX0000977613
Dataquest, Inc. Serial number guide : used construction
equipment : year of manufacture
identification information ed. 22, 1990
TX0002737756
Dataquest, Inc. Serial number guide : used construction
equipment : year of manufacture
identification information ed. 21, 1989
TX0002737757
Dataquest, Inc. Serial number guide : used construction
equipment : year of manufacture
identification information ed. 20, 1988
TX0002343449
Dataquest, Inc. Serial number guide : used construction
equipment : year of manufacture
identification information ed. 19, 1987
TX0001934088
Dataquest, Inc. Serial number guide : used construction
equipment : year of manufacture
identification information 1986
TX0001696471
Dataquest, Inc. Serial number guide : used construction
equipment : year of manufacture
identification information ed. 17, 1984-85
TX0001465321
Dataquest, Inc. Service management information : overview
of service organizations
TX0000977625
Dataquest, Inc. Signal sources : the stimulus portion of test
equipment
TX0000665575
Dataquest, Inc. Small business computers and larger
business systems review and forecast
TX0000929016
Dataquest, Inc. Small business computers : [section] 4.4. TX0000049748
Dataquest, Inc. Small business computers : [section] 4.4 ;
Products--general : [section] 4.0.
TX0000177737
Dataquest, Inc. Small computer industry service : v. I [-IV],
general service minicomputers.
TX0000977616
Dataquest, Inc. SpecCheck facsimile guide, July 1987 TX0002216669
Dataquest, Inc. Stand alone units : appendix A.4. TX0000177727
Dataquest, Inc. The state of the semiconductor industry TX0005515668
Dataquest, Inc. Telecommunications industry service : v. I[-
II]
TX0000977622
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Dataquest, Inc. Test instrument market overview : [no.] 2.3. TX0000287227
Dataquest, Inc. Ubiquitous wireless electronics : a
semiconductor cornucopia
TX0005515670
Dataquest, Inc. Very small business computer and personal
computer review and forecast
TX0000929018
Dataquest, Inc. Word processing (general) : [section] 4.0. TX0000049755
Dataquest, Inc. Word processing industry service : v. I[-III] TX0000977623
Dataquest, Inc. and GIS World,
Inc.
GIS strategies : a quarterly analysis of the
worldwide GIS market v. 1, no. 2, 4th
quarter 92
TX0003635633
Dataquest, Inc. and GIS World,
Inc.
GIS strategies : a quarterly analysis of the
worldwide GIS market v. 2, no. 1, 1st quarter
93
TX0003635634
Dataquest, Inc. and GIS World,
Inc.
GIS strategies : a quarterly analysis of the
worldwide GIS market v. 2, no. 2, 2nd
quarter 93
TX0003648628
Dataquest, Inc. and GIS World,
Inc.
GIS strategies : a quarterly analysis of the
worldwide GIS market v. 2, no. 3, 3rd
quarter 93
TX0003689261
Dataquest, Inc. and GIS World,
Inc.
GIS strategies : a quarterly analysis of the
worldwide GIS market v. 1, no. 1, 3rd
quarter 92
TX0003635632
Software Advice, Inc. Market Pages VII TX0007435617
Software Advice, Inc. Software Market Overviews TX0007394494
Software Advice, Inc. Software Market Overviews II TX0007396887
Software Advice, Inc. Software Market Overviews III TX0007398994
Software Advice, Inc. Software Market Overviews IV TX0007403566
Software Advice, Inc. Software Market Overviews V TX0007406550
Software Advice, Inc. Software Market Overviews VI TX0007419030
Software Advice, Inc. Software Product Profiles TX0007389876
Software Advice, Inc. Software Advice Market Overviews VIII TXu001775923
Copyright Applications
None.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses
None.
Patents
Registered Patents
Registered Owner Title Registration No.
Gartner, Inc. Interactive peer directory 8244674
Gartner, Inc. Interactive peer directory with question
router
8918391
Gartner, Inc. Bimodal recommendation engine for
recommending items and peers
8661034
Gartner, Inc. Computer-implemented method and
system for collaborative product
evaluation
8249915
Gartner, Inc., formerly known as
Gartner Group, Inc.
System and method for assigning an
engine measure metric to a computing
system
7016810
Patent Applications
Registered Owner Title Application No.
Gartner, Inc. Implicit profile for use with
recommendation engine and/or question
router
14/533398
Gartner, Inc. Methods and systems for improving
engagement with a recommendation
engine that recommends items, peers,
and services
14/191872
Gartner, Inc. Methods and systems for modifying a
user profile for a recommendation
algorithm and making recommendations
based on user interactions with items
14/046229
Gartner, Inc. Methods and apparatus for integrating
search results of a local search engine
with search results of a global generic
engine search
14/992232
Gartner, Inc. Methods and apparatus for extraction of
content from an e-mail or e-mail threads
for use in providing implicit profile
attributes and content for
recommendation engines
14/996329
Gartner, Inc. Method and systems for finding and
ranking entities in a domain specific
system
62/291029
Exclusive Patent Licenses
None.
Trademarks
Registered Trademarks
Registered Owner Mark Registration No.
Gartner, Inc. HYPE CYCLE 4640207
Gartner, Inc. HYPE CYCLE 4640209
Gartner, Inc. SENEXX 4793310
Gartner, Inc. SOLVEPATH 4793311
Gartner, Inc. COOL VENDORS 4645283
Gartner, Inc. COOL VENDORS 4645284
Gartner, Inc. GARTNER IT MARKET CLOCK 3999791
Gartner, Inc. GARTNER IT MARKET CLOCK 3999790
Gartner, Inc. IT MARKET CLOCK 3999787
Gartner, Inc. IT MARKET CLOCK 3999786
Gartner, Inc. SOLVEPATH 4716226
Gartner, Inc. SENEXX 4716228
Gartner, Inc. MAGIC QUADRANT 4640204
Gartner, Inc. MAGIC QUADRANT 4644242
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDBENCH 4614174
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDGRADE 4601868
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDHARMONY 3973590
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDMATCH 4601869
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDADVICE 4919778
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDPROBE 4614173
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDSCORES 4601867
Gartner, Inc. CLOUDSQUARE 4601866
The Research Board, Inc. THE RESEARCH BOARD 1737310
Software Advice, Inc. SOFTWARE ADVICE 4512967
Dataquest, Inc. DATAQUEST 1002377
Dataquest, Inc. DATAQUEST 2656606
Dataquest, Inc. DATAQUEST 2656629
Dataquest, Inc. DATAQUEST 2656615
Capterra, Inc. SOFTWAREMATCH 4591378
Capterra, Inc. SOFTWAREMATCH 4486494
Capterra, Inc. CAPTERRA 2742773
Trademark Applications
None.
Exclusive Trademark Licenses
None.
Annex 1 to
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of ________________, 2016, made by
______________________________ (the “Additional Grantor”), in favor of
___________________________, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”)
for the banks and other financial institutions or entities (the “Lenders”) parties to the Credit Agreement
referred to below. All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in
such Credit Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Gartner, Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of ____________________, 2016 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, the Borrower and certain of its
Affiliates (other than the Additional Grantor) have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,
dated as of ________________________, 2016 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the
ratable benefit of the Secured Parties;
WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement requires the Additional Grantor to become a party to
the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Additional Grantor has agreed to execute and deliver this Assumption
Agreement in order to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. By executing and delivering this Assumption
Agreement, the Additional Grantor, as provided in Section 8.14 of the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as a Grantor thereunder
with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, hereby expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor
thereunder. The information set forth in Annex 1-A hereto is hereby added to the information set forth in
the Schedules to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. The Additional Grantor hereby represents and
warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Section 4 of the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement is true and correct on and as the date hereof (after giving effect to this Assumption
Agreement) as if made on and as of such date.
2. Governing Law. THIS ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE
LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Assumption Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
[ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
Annex 1-A to
Assumption Agreement
Supplement to Schedule 1
Supplement to Schedule 2
Supplement to Schedule 3
Supplement to Schedule 4
Supplement to Schedule 5
Supplement to Schedule 6
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Eugene A. Hall, certify that:
(1) | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, of Gartner, Inc.; |
(2) | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
(3) | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
(4) | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d -15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
b. | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
(5) | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors: |
a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
August 4, 2016 |
/s/ Eugene A. Hall |
Eugene A. Hall |
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Craig W. Safian, certify that:
(1) | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, of Gartner, Inc.; |
(2) | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
(3) | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
(4) | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d -15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
b. | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
(5) | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors: |
a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
August 4, 2016 |
/s/ Craig W. Safian |
Craig W. Safian |
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Gartner, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
(1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
(2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
/s/ Eugene A. Hall | |
Name: Eugene A. Hall | |
Title: Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: August 4, 2016 | |
/s/ Craig W. Safian | |
Name: Craig W. Safian | |
Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
Date: August 4, 2016 | |
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Gartner, Inc. and will be retained by Gartner, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
