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RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT

Agreement and Plan of Merger

RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA | RDA Holding Co | Reader's Digest Association, Inc You are currently viewing:
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JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA | RDA Holding Co | Reader's Digest Association, Inc

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Title: RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT
Date: 8/18/2009
Industry: Printing and Publishing     Sector: Services

RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT, Parties: jp morgan chase bank  na , rda holding co , reader's digest association  inc
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EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

 

This RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of August 17, 2009 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof, this “ Support Agreement ”, which term shall include Exhibits A, B and C and Schedule 1, each annexed hereto) by and among (i) RDA Holding Co. (“ Holding ”), The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. (the “ Company ”), and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 1 annexed hereto (together with Holding and the Company, the “ Debtors ”), (ii)  the undersigned lenders under the Credit Agreement (as defined herein, and together with their permitted successors and assigns, each a “ Consenting Lender ”), and (iii) the undersigned shareholders of Holding (each, a  “ Consenting Shareholder ,” together with the Consenting Lenders and the Debtors the “ Parties ”):

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Consenting Lenders have negotiated a restructuring and recapitalization transaction that will effectuate a financial restructuring of the Company’s capital structure, including the Debtors’ obligations under that certain Credit Agreement, 1 dated as of March 2, 2007 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Debtors, certain financial institutions party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Restructuring Term Sheet attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Term Sheet ”) and incorporated into this Support Agreement (the “ Restructuring Transactions ”);

 

            WHEREAS , the Debtors have requested, and certain Consenting Lenders have agreed, to provide a debtor-in-possession financing facility under that certain credit agreement (the “ DIP Credit Agreement ”) referred to in the Commitment Letter dated as of August 14, 2009 (the “ DIP Commitment Letter ”, which term shall include the Term Sheet attached thereto) subject to the terms and conditions thereof; and

 

WHEREAS , the Debtors contemplate filing voluntary petitions (the “ Petitions ”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “ Bankruptcy Court ”) (the date of filing of such voluntary petitions, the “ Petition Date ”, and such cases being the “ Chapter 11 Cases ”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution hereof, the Debtors have received duly executed letters of resignation from those members of the current board of directors of the Debtors and their subsidiaries who are affiliated with, or employed by, any of the Consenting Shareholders or Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C.;

 

 


 

1

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

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NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the promises, mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Party, intending to be legally bound, agrees as follows:

 

Section 1.   Conditions to Effectiveness of Support Agreement.

 

This Support Agreement shall become effective and binding upon each of the Parties at 12:01 a.m. prevailing Eastern Time on the date on which all of the following conditions are satisfied (the “ Effective Date ”):

 

(a)  

The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP shall have received duly executed signature pages for this Support Agreement signed by the Debtors;

 

(b)  

The Debtors shall have received duly executed signature pages for this Support Agreement from (i) Consenting Lenders holding at least 51% in principal amount of the prepetition Total Outstandings under the Credit Agreement and (ii) each of the Consenting Shareholders; provided , however, that the condition set forth in clause (b)(i) hereof may be waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Debtors.

 

(c)  

The Administrative Agent shall have received resolutions from each Debtor evidencing the corporate or similar authority of such Debtor to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Support Agreement; and

 

(d)  

The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed signature pages for the DIP Commitment Letter and the related fee letters, signed by the Debtors and the Consenting Lenders party thereto.

 

 

Section 2.   Plan of Reorganization.

 

2.1   Support of Acceptable Plan.

 

(a)  

Subject to Sections 1125 and 1126 of the Bankruptcy Code (if and to the extent applicable), and so long as a Termination Event (as defined below) has not occurred, or has occurred but has been duly waived or cured in accordance with the terms hereof:

 

(1)   each Debtor severally (and not jointly) agrees to:

 

 

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(i)  

use its reasonable best efforts to (A) support and consummate all of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by the Term Sheet, this Support Agreement and the Acceptable Plan (as defined in Section 2.1(a)(1)(ii)), (B) take any and all necessary and appropriate actions in furtherance of all of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated under this Support Agreement, the Acceptable Plan and the Term Sheet, (C) complete all of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated under this Support Agreement, the Term Sheet and the Acceptable Plan in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof and take all steps necessary and desirable to obtain the Confirmation Order (as defined in Section 2.1.(b)), and (D) obtain any and all required regulatory and/or third-party approvals for such Restructuring Transactions; and

 

(ii)  

not (a) propose or support any plan of reorganization or liquidation in the Chapter 11 Cases other than a chapter 11 plan of reorganization incorporating the terms of the Term Sheet and which chapter 11 plan of reorganization is otherwise in all material respects, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Consenting Lenders (as defined in Section 9.14) (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified subject to the terms hereof, the “ Acceptable Plan ”) (b) take any action which is inconsistent with, or that would unreasonably delay or impede approval or confirmation of the Acceptable Plan or that is otherwise inconsistent with the express terms of this Support Agreement or (c) directly or indirectly seek, solicit, support or encourage any other plan, sale, proposal or offer of dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation or restructuring of any of the Debtors that could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impede the confirmation of the Acceptable Plan; and

 

(iii)  

provide written notice to the Administrative Agent, within one (1) Business Day of making such determination, if any Debtor determines that its fiduciary duties require it to consider any plan other than the Acceptable Plan;

 

provided , however , that nothing contained in this Support Agreement shall be deemed to prevent any of the Debtors from taking or failing to take any action that it is obligated to take (or fail to take) in the performance of any fiduciary or similar duty which such Debtor owes to any other person.

 

 

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(2)   each Consenting Lender, severally (and not jointly) agrees to:

 

(i)  

use its reasonable best efforts to (A) support and consummate all of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by the Term Sheet and this Support Agreement and the Acceptable Plan, (B) take any and all necessary and appropriate actions in furtherance of all of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated under this Support Agreement and the Term Sheet and the Acceptable Plan, (C) complete all of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated under this Support Agreement and the Term Sheet and the Acceptable Plan in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

(ii)  

subject to the receipt by such Consenting Lender of a disclosure statement and other solicitation materials in respect of the Acceptable Plan, which disclosure statement and solicitation materials reflect the agreement set forth in this Support Agreement and the Term Sheet and have been approved by the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code and are in all material respects reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Consenting Lenders (collectively, the “ Solicitation Materials ”): (a) vote, to the extent such Consenting Lender is entitled to vote under the terms of the Acceptable Plan and the Bankruptcy Code, its claims against the Debtors to accept the Acceptable Plan by delivering its duly executed and completed ballot accepting such Acceptable Plan on a timely basis following the commencement of the solicitation and its actual receipt of the Solicitation Materials and ballot and (b) not change or withdraw (or cause to be changed or withdrawn) such vote.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Parties also agrees, severally and not jointly, that, unless this Support Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, it will not take any action that would in any material respect interfere with, delay, or postpone the confirmation or consummation of the Acceptable Plan and implementation of the Restructuring Transactions, including, without limitation, objecting to the debtor-in-possession financing set forth in the DIP Commitment Letter or propose any alternative financing; provided , that nothing herein shall preclude any Consenting Shareholder from taking action that would interfere with the confirmation or consummation of any chapter 11 plan of reorganization or the Restructuring Transactions to the extent such chapter 11 plan does not contain all of the terms set forth in Section 2.2(b) hereof.

 

 

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Nothing contained in this Support Agreement shall be deemed to (1) prevent any Party from taking, or failing to take, any action that it is obligated to take (or fail to take) in the performance of any fiduciary or similar duty which such Party owes to any other person.

 

(b)  

Upon confirmation of the Acceptable Plan pursuant to an order in all material respects in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Consenting Lenders (the “ Confirmation Order ”), and so long as it is not subject to a stay and the conditions to effectiveness thereof have been satisfied or waived, the Consenting Lenders and the Debtors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Acceptable Plan.

 

 

2.2   Confirmation of Acceptable Plan.

 

(a)           Without limiting any other provision hereof, the Debtors shall each use their reasonable best efforts to have the Acceptable Plan confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court as expeditiously as possible under the Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and the Local Rules of the Bankruptcy Court (the federal and local rules being, the “ Bankruptcy Rules ”) and within the timeframes contemplated by this Support Agreement.

 

(b)           Further, each of the Parties hereto agrees severally (and not jointly) that, in the event the Acceptable Plan is not confirmed for any reason, and regardless of whether this Support Agreement remains in effect or has terminated (in whole or in part with respect to any individual Consenting Lender), it will support (provided, however, that the Consenting Shareholders shall not be required to take any affirmative action to provide support in any Chapter 11 Cases), and not oppose or take any action that is inconsistent with, the inclusion in any alternative plan proposed to be confirmed in the Chapter 11 Cases of: (i) the releases set forth in Section 3 hereof and (ii) each of the terms set forth under the Term Sheet headings “Releases,” “Indemnification,” “Exculpation,” “Claims of Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes” and “Avoidance Actions and Other Litigation;” provided , however , that the releases set forth in Section 3 herein shall be null and void and of no further force and effect as if the release was never granted with respect to any Party that has breached the terms of the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.1(a) hereof or any other terms herein in any material respect and there shall be no obligation to support the inclusion in any alternative plan of such release or of any of the terms identified in clause (ii) above with respect to such breaching Party; provided further , that if the Bankruptcy Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction deems any of the foregoing Term Sheet provisions illegal, invalid or unenforceable, then the obligation of the Parties to support any such provision shall no longer be enforceable, but shall not otherwise affect the obligations of the Parties with respect to the other provisions set forth herein.  This Section 2.2(b) shall survive termination of this Support Agreement for any reason or with respect to any Party.

 

 

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Section 3.   Releases.

 

3.1   Immediately upon the Effective Date of this Support Agreement, except with respect to obligations expressly contained in this Support Agreement, (i) each of the Consenting Shareholders agrees, on behalf of itself (each, a “ Shareholder Releasing Party ,” and collectively, the “ Shareholder Releasing Parties ”), to unconditionally and forever release and discharge each Consenting Lender and its directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, heirs, executors and assigns, together with their respective past and present directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, heirs, executors and assigns (collectively, the “ Released Lender Parties ”) from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, suits, losses, obligations, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of every kind, type, and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, absolute or contingent, asserted, threatened, or alleged, that such Shareholder Releasing Party (1) has, may have, or may claim to have, (2) heretofore had, may have had, or may claim to have had, or (3) hereafter may have, or may claim to have, against any of the Released Lender Parties, from the beginning of time up to and through the Effective Date of this Support Agreement, based on, arising out of, under or in connection with (A) the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as defined therein, (B) the Obligations and (C) the Transactions, except for gross negligence, willful misconduct, criminal misconduct or actual fraud as determined by a final order entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) each of the Shareholder Releasing Parties agrees, neither individually nor collectively with any other person or entity, to bring any claim, action, cause of action, or suit that is based on, arising out of or under, or in connection with, any matters released by the Shareholder Releasing Parties under clause (i) above, and (iii) each of the Shareholder Releasing Parties severally (and not jointly) warrants and represents that it has not transferred or assigned to any person or entity any right based on, arising out of or under, or in connection with, any matters released by the Shareholder Releasing Parties under clause (i) above.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Shareholder Releasing Parties shall not be deemed to have released the Debtors or any of their subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 3.1.

 

3.2   Immediately upon the Effective Date of this Support Agreement, except with respect to obligations expressly contained in this Support Agreement, (i) each of the Consenting Lenders agrees, on behalf of itself (each, a “ Lender Releasing Party ,” and collectively, the “ Lender Releasing Parties ”), to unconditionally and forever release and discharge each Consenting Shareholder and its directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, heirs, executors and assigns, together with their respective past and present directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, heirs, executors and assigns and each current or former officer or director of any of the Debtors or any of their subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Released Shareholder Parties ”) from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, suits, losses, obligations, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of every kind, type, and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, absolute or contingent, asserted, threatened, or alleged, that such Lender Releasing Party (1) has, may have, or may claim to have, (2) heretofore had, may have had, or may claim to have had, or (3) hereafter may have, or may claim to have, against any of the Released Shareholder Parties, from the beginning of time up to and through the

 

 

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Effective Date of this Support Agreement, based on, arising out of, under or in connection with (A) the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as defined therein, (B) the Obligations (C) the Transactions, (D) their services as directors or officers of the Debtors or any action, decision, or failure to act in their capacity as such with respect to the Debtors and (E) the Management Services Agreement dated as of January 23, 2007 by and among Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C., Holding, the Company and the other parties thereto, except for gross negligence, willful misconduct, criminal misconduct or actual fraud as determined by a final order entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) each of the Lender Releasing Parties agrees, neither individually nor collectively with any other person or entity, to bring any claim, action, cause of action, or suit that is based on, arising out of or under, or in connection with, any matters released by the Lender Releasing Parties under clause (i) above, and (iii) each of the Lender Releasing Parties severally (and not jointly) warrants and represents that it has not transferred or assigned to any person or entity any right based on, arising out of or under, or in connection with, any matters released by the Lender Releasing Parties under clause (i) above.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Lender Releasing Parties shall not be deemed to have released the Debtors or any of their subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 3.2.

 

 

Section 4.   Termination Events.

 

4.1   Termination Events.                                                      

 

The occurrence of any of the following shall be a “ Termination Event ”:

 

(a)  

the consummation of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by this Support Agreement and the effective date of the Acceptable Plan or a written agreement among the Debtors and the Required Consenting Lenders terminating this Support Agreement;

 

(b)  

any court of competent jurisdiction or other competent governmental or regulatory authority issues an order making illegal or otherwise restricting, preventing or prohibiting the consummation of the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by the Acceptable Plan or this Support Agreement;

 

(c)  

the occurrence of any breach of this Support Agreement by any of the Parties (to the extent not otherwise cured or waived in accordance with the terms hereof); provided, that if any Party shall breach its obligations pursuant to this Support Agreement, the Termination Date arising as a result of such act or omission shall apply only to such Party and this Support Agreement shall otherwise remain in full force and effect with respect to the Debtors and all such remaining Parties; it being understood that if such breaches result in fewer than 51% of the Consenting Lenders remaining Parties to this Agreement, the Debtors shall have the right to terminate.

 

 

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(d)  

any Debtor withdraws the Acceptable Plan, publicly announces its intention not to support the Acceptable Plan or files any plan of reorganization or liquidation and/or disclosure statement that is not consistent with the Acceptable Plan, or publicly announces its support for any such inconsistent plan and/or disclosure statement, gives the notice described in Section 2.1(a)(1)(iii) hereof, or otherwise evinces an intention not to proceed with the Acceptable Plan or to proceed with any alternative plan or form of transaction;

 

(e)  

the entry of any order in the Chapter 11 Cases terminating the Debtors’ exclusive right to file a plan or plans of reorganization pursuant to Section 1121 of the Bankruptcy Code; provided that such order is not the result of a motion filed by any Consenting Lender;

 

(f)  

any of the Chapter 11 Cases shall be dismissed or converted to a chapter 7 case, or a chapter 11 trustee with plenary powers, a responsible officer, or an examiner with enlarged powers relating to the operation of the businesses of the Debtors (powers beyond those set forth in Section 1106(a)(3) and (4) of the Bankruptcy Code) shall be appointed in any of the Chapter 11 Cases or the Debtors shall file a motion or other request for such relief;

 

(g)  

either (1) a filing by any Debtor of any motion, application or adversary proceeding challenging the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of or seeking avoidance of the liens securing the obligations referred to in the Collateral Documents (collectively, the “ Secured Obligations ”) or any other cause of action against and/or with respect to the Secured Obligations, the prepetition liens securing such Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent or any of the Secured Parties (or if the Debtors support any such motion, application or adversary proceeding commenced by any third party or consent to the standing of any such third party) or (2) the entry of an order of the Bankruptcy Court providing relief against the interests of any Consenting Lender with respect to any of the foregoing causes of action or proceedings;

 

 

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(h)  

any material adverse change regarding the feasibility of the Acceptable Plan arising on or after the Effective Date of this Support Agreement, as determined by the Required Consenting Lenders (as defined in Section 9.14) in their reasonable discretion;

 

(i)  

the amendment, modification of, or the filing of a pleading by any of the Debtors that seeks to amend or modify the Acceptable Plan, the Disclosure Statement or any documents related to the Acceptable Plan, notices, exhibits or appendices, which amendment, modification or filing is inconsistent with this Support Agreement and not otherwise consented to by the Required Consenting Lenders;

 

(j)  

failure of the Debtors to commence the Chapter 11 Cases on or before 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on September 10, 2009;

 

(k)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the fourth (4 th ) Business Day after the Petition Date, unless prior thereto the Bankruptcy Court enters an interim order in the Chapter 11 Cases of the Debtors under, inter alia Sections 105, 361, 362, 363 and 364 of the Bankruptcy Code in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Consenting Lenders, authorizing the Debtors to incur postpetition financing and use cash collateral, granting adequate protection to the prepetition Secured Parties, and scheduling a final hearing pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 4001(B) (the “ Interim DIP Order ”);

 

(l)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the forty-fifth (45 th ) day after the date of entry of the Interim DIP Order, unless prior thereto the Bankruptcy Court enters a final order in the Chapter 11 Cases of the Debtors under, inter alia Sections 105, 361, 362, 363 and 364 of the Bankruptcy Code in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Consenting Lenders, authorizing the Debtors to incur postpetition financing and use cash collateral and granting adequate protection to the prepetition Secured Parties (the “ Final DIP Order ” and together with the Interim DIP Order, the “ DIP Orders ”);

 

(m)  

the occurrence of an “Event of Default” under, and as such term is defined in, the DIP Credit Agreement and the acceleration of the obligations thereunder;

 

(n)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is 75 days after the Petition Date, if the Debtors shall not have filed the Acceptable Plan and the Disclosure Statement with the Bankruptcy Court on or before such time;

 

(o)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time), on the date that is 115 days after the Petition Date, unless the Bankruptcy Court has entered an order, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Consenting Lenders, approving the Disclosure Statement pursuant to Section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code on or before such time;

 

 

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(p)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time), on the date that is 20 days following entry of the order approving the Disclosure Statement pursuant to Section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless prior thereto the Company commences the solicitation of acceptances of the Acceptable Plan;

 

(q)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time), on the date that is 80 days following entry of an order approving the Disclosure Statement pursuant to Section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code unless the Bankruptcy Court has entered the Confirmation Order on or before such time; provided that, if the Debtors have satisfied the conditions required for the Twelve Month Facility Extension Option (as defined in the DIP Commitment Letter), this deadline shall be extended to 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is 120 days following entry of an order approving the Disclosure Statement pursuant to Section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code unless the Bankruptcy Court has entered the Confirmation Order on or before such time; or

 

(r)  

11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the thirtieth (30 th ) day after the date of entry of the Confirmation Order, unless the “effective date” of the Acceptable Plan has occurred prior thereto.

 

 

4.2   Additional Debtor Termination Events.

 

The Debtors may terminate this Support Agreement upon five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent upon the occurrence of either of the following events:  (i) the breach by any Consenting Lender of the representations, warranties, or covenants of such Consenting Lender set forth in this Support Agreement that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on the Debtors, or the consummation of the Restructuring Transactions, that remains uncured for a period of five (5) Business Days after receipt by such Consenting Lender of notice of such breach; or (ii) the board of directors of the Company reasonably determines based upon the advice of counsel that proceeding with the Restructuring Transactions would be inconsistent with the exercise of its fiduciary duties.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the releases provided for in Section 3 hereof shall survive the termination of this Support Agreement under either Section 4.1 or 4.2 hereof; provided , that the releases set forth in Section 3 herein shall automatically be null and void and of no further force and effect as if the release had never been granted with respect to any Party that has breached the terms of the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.1(a) hereof or any other terms herein in any material respect.

 

 

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4.3   Termination Event Procedures.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event under (i) Section 4.1 (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (g), (i) or (m) of this Support Agreement, this Support Agreement shall automatically terminate without further action, and (ii) Section 4.1 (c), (h), (j), (k), (l), (n), (o), (p), (q) or (r) of this Support Agreement, five (5) Business Days after the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Consenting Lenders) or, with respect to a Termination Event under Section 4.1(c) which has occurred as a result of a breach of this Support Agreement by any Party, the other non-breaching Parties, shall have given written notice of the occurrence of such Termination Event to the other parties hereto and such Termination Event shall not have been cured during such five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice (or otherwise waived in writing by the requisite Parties in accordance with the terms hereof), this Support Agreement shall terminate (the date of termination under clause (i) or (ii) hereof being the “ Termination Date ”).  For the avoidance of doubt, the automatic stay arising pursuant to Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Chapter 11 Cases shall be deemed waived or modified for purposes of providing notice hereunder or terminating this Support Agreement.

 

Section 5.   Remedies.

 

It is understood and agreed by each of the Parties that any breach of this Support Agreement would give rise to irreparable harm for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy and, accordingly, the Parties agree that, in addition to any other remedies, each Party shall be entitled, without the requirement of posting a bond or other security, to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief.  The Debtors each agree that for so long as any Party has not taken any action to prejudice the enforceability of this Support Agreement (including, without limitation, alleging in any pleading that this Support Agreement is unenforceable), and has taken such actions as are reasonably required or desirable for the enforcement hereof, then such Party shall have no liability for damages hereunder in the event a court determines that this Support Agreement is not enforceable.  Without limiting the provisions hereof, the Parties hereby agree that if any Party breaches the terms of the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.1(a) hereof or any other terms herein in any material respect (to the extent not otherwise cured or waived in accordance with the terms hereof), the release granted to such Party in Section 3 hereof shall be automatically null and void and of no further force and effect as if the release had never been granted to such breaching Party.

 

 

Section 6.   Mutual Representations, Warranties and Covenants.

 

6.1   Power and Authority.

 

Each Party severally, and not jointly, represents to each other Party that, as of the date of this Support Agreement, (i) such Party has all requisite corporate, partnership, or limited liability company power and authority to enter into this Support Agreement and to carry out the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by, and perform its respective obligations under, this Support Agreement, and (ii) the execution and delivery of this Support Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on its part.

 

 

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6.2   Enforceability.

 

Each Party severally, and not jointly, represents to each other Party that this Support Agreement is the legally valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability or ruling of the Bankruptcy Court.

 

6.3   Representation.

 

Each of the Parties to this Support Agreement acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel (or had the opportunity to and waived its right to do so) in connection with this Support Agreement and the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by this Support Agreement.  Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would provide any Party hereto with a defense to the enforcement of the terms of this Support Agreement against such Party based upon lack of legal counsel shall have no application and is expressly waived.  The provisions of this Support Agreement shall be interpreted in a reasonable manner to effect the intent of the Parties hereto.  None of the Parties hereto shall have any term or provision construed against such Party solely by reason of such Party having drafted the same.

 

6.4   Governmental Consents.

 

Each Party severally, and not jointly, represents to each other Party that, as of the date of this Support Agreement, the execution, delivery, and performance by it of this Support Agreement do not and shall not require any registration or filing with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with, or by, any Federal, state, or other governmental authority or regulatory body, except (i) such filings as may be necessary and/or required for disclosure by the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws, (ii) any filings in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, including the approval of the Disclosure Statement and confirmation of the Acceptable Plan, and (iii) in the case of the Debtors, (A) filings of amended articles of incorporation or formation or other organizational documents with applicable state authorities, and (B) other registrations, filings, consents, approvals, notices, or other actions that are reasonably necessary to maintain permits, licenses, qualifications, and governmental approvals to carry on the business of the Debtors.

 

 

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6.5   Ownership.

 

(a)           Each Consenting Lender severally, and not jointly, represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof, (i) such Consenting Lender either (A) is the sole legal and beneficial owner of its share of the prepetition Total Outstandings and loans (if any) under the DIP Credit Agreement referred to in the DIP Commitment Letter (the “ DIP Loans ”) or (B) is the legal owner of its share of the prepetition Total Outstandings and DIP Loans (if any), and has the power and authority to bind the legal and beneficial owner(s) of such prepetition Total Outstandings and DIP Loans (if any) to the terms of this Support Agreement,  (ii) such Consenting Lender (a) has full power and authority to vote on and consent to or (b) has received direction from the party having full power and authority to vote on and consent to such matters concerning its share of the prepetition Total Outstandings and DIP Loans (if any) and to exchange, convert, assign and transfer such prepetition Total Outstandings and DIP Loans (if any), and (iii) other than pursuant to this Support Agreement, such prepetition Total Outstandings are free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim, equity, option, proxy, voting restriction, right of first refusal or other limitation on disposition, or encumbrances of any kind, that would adversely affect in any way such Consenting Lender’s performance of its obligations contained in this Support Agreement at the time such obligations are required to be performed.

 

(b)           Each of the Consenting Shareholders severally, and not jointly, represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof (i) it is the beneficial owner of equity interests, or is the nominee, investment manager, or advisor for beneficial holders of the equity interests in Holding, and (ii) other than pursuant to this Support Agreement, such equity interests are free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim, equity, option, proxy, voting restriction, right of first refusal or other limitation on disposition, or encumbrances of any kind, that would adversely affect in any way such Consenting Shareholder’s performance of its obligations contained in this Support Agreement at the time such obligations are required to be performed.

 

6.6   Board Appointments.

 

The Parties acknowledge and do not object that immediately prior to execution of this Support Agreement and his resignation, the sole director of Holding caused the appointment to the board of directors of Holding all of the then remaining directors of the Company’s board of directors.  The Consenting Shareholders hereby agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any shareholders agreement, from and after the Effective Date of this Support Agreement, they shall not appoint or elect, or cause the appointment or election of, any members to the board of directors (or any committees thereof) of the Debtors or their subsidiaries.

 

Section 7.   No Material Misstatement or Omission.

 

The Debtors represent that none of the material and information provided by or on behalf of the Debtors to the Administrative Agent, the Consenting Lenders and the Consenting Shareholders in connection with the Restructuring Transactions contemplated in this Support Agreement, when read or considered together, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to prevent the statements made therein from being materially misleading.

 

 

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Section 8.   Acknowledgement.

 

This Support Agreement and the Restructuring Transactions contemplated herein are the product of negotiations among the Debtors and the Consenting Lenders, together with their respective representatives.  This Support Agreement is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a solicitation of votes for the acceptance of the Acceptable Plan or any plan of reorganization for the purposes of Sections 1125 and 1126 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise.  The Debtors will not solicit acceptances of the Acceptable Plan from any Consenting Lender until such Consenting Lender has been provided with copies of a Disclosure Statement approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

 

Section 9.   Miscellaneous Terms.

 

9.1   Assignment; Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a)  

Each Consenting Lender hereby agrees, for so long as this Support Agreement shall remain in effect as to it, not to sell, assign, transfer, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any of its pro rata share of the prepetition Total Outstandings or DIP Loans (if any) unless prior thereto the transferee thereof executes and delivers a Lender Joinder (as defined in section 9.3(a)) to the Administrative Agent at least two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant transfer.  Thereafter, such transferee shall be deemed to be a Consenting Lender for purposes of this Support Agreement.

 

(b)  

Any sale, transfer, assignment, hypothecation or other disposition by any Consenting Lender of any or all of its pro rata share of the prepetition Total Outstandings or DIP Loans (if any) that does not comply with the procedures set forth in Section 9.1(a) shall be deemed void ab initio .

 

(c)  

Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict any Consenting Lender’s right to acquire additional prepetition Loans, participation interests in prepetition Letters of Credit or DIP Loans.  To the extent any Consenting Lender acquires as legal owner additional prepetition Loans, participation interests in prepetition Letters of Credit or DIP Loans, the Parties agree that such prepetition Loans, participation interests in prepetition Letters of Credit and DIP Loans shall be deemed to be subject to the terms of this Support Agreement upon the Consenting Lender’s acquisition of such additional prepetition Loans, participation interests in prepetition Letters of Credit or DIP Loans.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.1, any Consenting Lender may, at any time and without notice to or consent from any other party, pledge or grant a security interest in all or any portion of its rights (including, without limitation, rights to payment of interest and repayment of principal) under the prepetition Credit Agreement or the DIP Credit Agreement in order to secure obligations of such Consenting Lender to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or grant of a security interest shall release such Consenting Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or grantee for such Consenting Lender as a party hereto.

 

 

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(d)  

Each Consenting Shareholder hereby agrees, for so long as this Support Agreement shall remain in effect as to it, not to sell, assign, transfer, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any of its equity interests in Holding unless prior thereto the transferee thereof executes and delivers a Shareholder Joinder (as defined in Section 9.3(c)) to the Administrative Agent at least two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant transfer.  Thereafter, such transferee shall be deemed to be a Consenting Shareholder for purposes of this Support Agreement.

 

(e)  

Any sale, transfer, assignment, hypothecation or other disposition by any Consenting Shareholder of any or all of its equity interests that does not comply with the procedures set forth in Section 9.1(d) shall be deemed  void ab initio .

 

9.2   No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

Except for the Released Lender Parties and the Released Shareholder Parties, unless expressly stated herein, this Support Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Parties and no other person or entity shall be a third party beneficiary.

 

9.3   Joinder.

 

(a)  

Any person that receives or acquires a portion of the prepetition Total Outstandings or DIP Loans pursuant to a sale, assignment, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such prepetition Total Outstandings or DIP Loans by a Consenting Lender hereby agrees to be bound by all of the terms of the Term Sheet and this Support Agreement (as the same may be hereafter amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time) (a “ Joining Lender Party ”) by executing and delivering a joinder in the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “ Lender Joinder ”) to the Administrative Agent.  The Joining Lender Party shall thereafter be deemed to be a “Consenting Lender” and a Party for all purposes under this Support Agreement.

 

(b)  

With respect to the aggregate principal amount of prepetition Total Outstandings or DIP Loans held by the Joining Lender Party upon consummation of the sale, assignment, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such prepetition Total Outstandings or DIP Loans, the Joining Lender Party hereby makes the representations and warranties of the Consenting Lenders set forth in Section 6 of this Support Agreement to each of the other Parties to this Support Agreement.

 

 

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(c)  

Any person that receives or acquires any portion of the equity interests pursuant to a sale, assignment, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such equity interests by a Consenting Shareholder hereby agrees to be bound by all of the terms of the Term Sheet and this Support Agreement (as the same may be hereafter amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time) (a “ Joining Shareholder Party ”) by executing and delivering a joinder in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “ Shareholder Joinder ”) to the Administrative Agent.  The Joining Shareholder Party shall thereafter be deemed to be a “Consenting Shareholder” and a party for all purposes under this Support Agreement.

 

(d)  

With respect to the equity interests held by the Joining Shareholder Party upon consummation of the sale, assignment, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such equity interests, the Joining Shareholder Party hereby makes the representations and warranties of the Consenting Shareholders set forth in Section 6 of this Support Agreement to each of the other Parties to this Support Agreement.

 

 

9.4   Entire Agreement.

 

This Support Agreement, including Exhibit A and Schedule 1 annexed hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Support Agreement, and supersedes all other prior negotiations, agreements, and understandings, whether written or oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Support Agreement.

 

9.5   Counterparts.

 

This Support Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed signature page of this Support Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

9.6   Settlement Discussions.

 

This Support Agreement and the Term Sheet annexed hereto as Exhibit A is part of a proposed settlement of disputes among the Parties hereto.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an admission of any kind.  Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 408 and any applicable state rules of evidence, this Support Agreement and the Term Sheet annexed hereto as Exhibit A, documents and negotiations relating thereto shall not be admissible into evidence in any proceeding other than a proceeding to enforce the terms of this Support Agreement.

 

 

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9.7   Continued Banking Practices.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Consenting Lender and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, investment banking, trust or other business with, or provide debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to any Debtor or any affiliate of any Debtor or any other Person, including, but not limited to, any Person proposing or entering into a transaction related to or involving any Debtor or any affiliate thereof.

 

9.8   Reservation of Rights.

 

(a)  

Except as expressly provided in this Support Agreement, nothing herein is intended to, does or shall be deemed in any manner to waive, limit, impair or restrict the ability of each of the Consenting Lenders to protect and preserve all of its rights and remedies under the DIP Credit Agreement, the DIP Orders or any other order of the Bankruptcy Court or other court of competent jurisdiction, or its full participation in the Chapter 11 Cases.

 

(b)  

Without limiting Section 9.8(a) in any way, if the Restructuring Transactions contemplated by this Support Agreement or otherwise set forth in the Acceptable Plan are not consummated as provided herein, if a Termination Date occurs, or if this Support Agreement is otherwise terminated for any reason, the Consenting Lenders each fully reserve any and all of their respective rights, remedies and interests under the Loan Documents, the DIP Credit Agreement and related post petition loan documents, applicable law and in equity; provided, that the releases set forth in Section 3 hereof shall continue to remain in full force and effect except with respect to any breaching Party that has breached the terms of the penultimate paragraph of Section 2.1(a) hereof or any other terms herein in any material respect.

 

(c)  

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Parties acknowledge that the support of each Consenting Lender contained in this Support Agreement relates solely to such Consenting Lender’s rights and obligations as a lender under the prepetition Credit Agreement and the DIP Credit Agreement (if applicable) with respect to the principal amounts identified on such Consenting Lender’s signature page and as provided in Section 9.1 and does not bind such Consenting Lender or its affiliates with respect to any other indebtedness, obligations or liabilities owed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates to such Consenting Lender or any affiliate of such Consenting Lender (for the avoidance of doubt, if the Consenting Lender is specified on the relevant signature page as a particular group or business within an entity, “Consenting Lender” shall mean such group or business and shall not mean the entity or its affiliates, or any other desk or business thereof, or any third party funds advised thereby).  For purposes of this Support Agreement, “Consenting Lender” shall not include a holder of Loans under the prepetition Credit Agreement or DIP Loans signatory hereto in its capacity or to the extent of its holdings as a public-side broker, dealer or market maker of Loans under the prepetition Credit Agreement or DIP Loans or any other claim against or security in the Debtors.

 

 

 

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9.9   Successors.

 

This Support Agreement is intended to bind the Parties and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and representatives; provided , however , that nothing contained in this Section 9.9 shall be deemed to permit any transfer, tender, vote or consent, of any claims other than in accordance with the terms of this Support Agreement.

 

9.10   Publicity.

 

The Parties agree that all public announcements of the entry into or the terms and conditions of this Support Agreement shall be mutually, reasonably acceptable to each of the Parties.

 

9.11   Nondisparagement.

 

Each Consenting Lender and each Consenting Shareholder, respectively, agrees severally (and not jointly), that it shall not make any malicious, disparaging or defamatory statements to any third party regarding any Consenting Lender or Consenting Shareholder or any of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, shareholders, members, officers or employees or any of their businesses or products or any aspect of any ownership thereof related to the Restructuring Transactions, the Credit Agreement, the Obligations, the Transactions, or the ownership or management of the Debtors; provided , that this provision shall not be deemed to limit any rights of any Party to make statements of fact in good faith in litigation   that is not prohibited by an applicable release in Section 3 or that is related to a breach of this Support Agreement.

 

9.12   Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Indemnity.

 

(a)  

The Parties waive all rights to trial by jury in any jurisdiction in any action, suit, or proceeding brought to resolve any dispute between the Parties under this Support Agreement, whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise.

 

(b)  

This Support Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to any conflicts of law provision which would require the application of the law of any other jurisdiction.  By its execution and delivery of this Support Agreement, each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees for itself that, subject to the following sentence, any action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to any matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Support Agreement or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment rendered in any such action, suit or proceeding, may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in New York County, State of New York, and by execution and delivery of this Support Agreement, each of the Parties hereby irrevocably accepts and submits itself to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such court, generally and unconditionally, with respect to any such action, suit or proceedings.

 

 

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(c)  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Chapter 11 Cases are commenced, nothing in Section 9.12(a) or (b) shall limit the authority of the Bankruptcy Court to hear any matter related to or arising out of this Support Agreement.

 

9.13   Pending Transfers.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, if a Consenting Lender has assigned all or a portion of the Obligations under the Credit Agreement that it beneficially owns as of the date hereof but such assignment has not settled as of the date hereof (such Obligations, “ Pending Transfer Credit Agreement Obligations ”), then such Consenting Lender shall be permitted to exclude from the amount of the Obligations listed on its signature page an amount of Pending Transfer Credit Agreement Obligations equal to the Pending Transfer Credit Agreement Obligations assigned to any transferee that has instructed such Consenting Lender not to execute this Agreement (such excluded Obligations, the “ Excluded Credit Agreement Obligations ”).  Such Consenting Lender shall not be bound by the terms hereof with respect to any Excluded Credit Agreement Obligations.

 

9.14   Amendments, Modifications, Waivers.

 

This Support Agreement and the Acceptable Plan may only be modified, amended or supplemented, and any of the terms thereof may only be waived, by an agreement in writing signed by each of the Debtors  and the Consenting Lenders holding at such time at least 66 2/3% of the prepetition Total Outstandings and the DIP Loans that are subject to the terms hereof and held by all Consenting Lenders (the “ Required Consenting Lenders ”); provided that any modifications, amendments or supplements to Annex 1 to the Term Sheet shall require the consent of each Consenting Lender; provided , further that if the modification, amendment or waiver at issue adversely impacts the treatment or rights of any Consenting Lender differently than other Consenting Lenders, the agreement in writing of such Consenting Lender whose treatment or rights are directly adversely impacted in a different manner than other Consenting Lenders shall also be required for such modification, amendment or waiver to be effective; provided further , that if the modification, amendment, supplement or waiver at issue relates to Sections 2.2(b), 3, 4.2, 5, 6 (only to the extent affecting Consenting Shareholders), 9.1 (only to the extent affecting Consenting Shareholders), 9.3 (only to the extent affecting Consenting Shareholders), 9.11 and 9.12 or otherwise directly adversely impacts the treatment or rights of any Consenting Shareholder, the agreement in writing of such Consenting Shareholder whose treatment or rights are directly adversely impacted shall also be required for such modification, amendment, supplement or waiver to be effective (this proviso shall not be modified, amended or supplemented, or any of its terms waived, without the prior written consent of each Consenting Shareholder).

 

 

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9.15   Consideration.

 

It is hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties that no consideration shall be due or paid to the Parties for their agreement to support or not interfere with the Acceptable Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Support Agreement, other than the obligations of the other Parties under this Support Agreement.  The Company represents that, as of the Effective Date, no payments have been made to any of the Parties hereto that were not permitted to be made under the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

9.16   Severability of Provisions.

 

If any provision of this Support Agreement for any reason is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, that provision shall not affect the v


 
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