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Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-167840

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

Offer to Exchange
10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017
($225,000,000 in principal amount outstanding)

        We are offering to exchange, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal, our new registered 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (the "exchange notes") for all of our outstanding unregistered 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (the "original notes"). We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

Material Terms of the Exchange Offer

        Terms of Exchange Notes.    The terms of the exchange notes will be substantially identical to the original notes, except that the exchange notes will not be subject to transfer restrictions or registration rights relating to the original notes. See the section entitled "Description of the Exchange Notes" that begins on page 46 for more information about the exchange notes and related exchange guarantees to be issued in this exchange offer.

        Expiration Date.    The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 11, 2010, unless extended.

        Notes Exchanged.    All original notes tendered in accordance with the procedures in this prospectus and not withdrawn will be exchanged for an equal amount of exchange notes.

        Conditions.    The exchange offer is not conditioned upon a minimum aggregate principal amount of original notes being tendered. The exchange offer is subject only to the conditions that it not violate applicable laws or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

        Guarantees.    We are also offering to exchange the notes guarantees associated with the original notes, which we refer to as the original guarantees, for the notes guarantees associated with the exchange notes, which we refer to as the exchange guarantees. The terms of the exchange guarantees will be substantially identical to the original guarantees, except that the exchange guarantees will not be subject to the transfer restrictions or registration rights relating to the original guarantees.

        Market for Exchange Notes.    There is no existing market for the exchange notes, and we do not intend to apply for their listing on any securities exchange or arrange for them to be quoted on any quotation system.

        If you do not exchange your original notes and related original guarantees for exchange notes and related exchange guarantees in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided in the original notes and related original guarantees and the indenture governing those notes. In general, you may not offer or sell your original notes and related original guarantees unless such offer or sale is registered under the federal securities laws or are sold in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the federal securities laws and applicable state securities laws.

        See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 13 for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider before participating in the exchange offer.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is July 12, 2010


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    ii  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

   
1
 

RISK FACTORS

   
13
 

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

   
35
 

USE OF PROCEEDS

   
36
 

THE EXCHANGE OFFER

   
36
 

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

   
46
 

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

   
102
 

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

   
103
 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   
104
 

LEGAL MATTERS

   
104
 

EXPERTS

   
104
 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATON BY REFERENCE

   
105
 

        Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. The letter of transmittal accompanying this prospectus states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer during the 180 day period following the closing of the exchange offer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes where such original notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities. We have agreed that during the 180 day period following the closing of the exchange offer we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        In making your decision regarding participation in the exchange offer, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. We are not making an offer of these securities in places where offers and sales are not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only on the date such information is presented. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospectus may have changed since that date. You should read this prospectus together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference."

        This prospectus may be supplemented from time to time to add, update or change information in this prospectus. Any statement contained in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in such prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified will be deemed to constitute a part of this prospectus only as so modified, and any statement so superseded will be deemed not to constitute a part of this prospectus.

        The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus.

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The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read on the website of the SEC or at the offices of the SEC as further described in "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference." You may obtain a copy of the registration statement and its exhibits, free of charge, by oral or written request directed to: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., 4820 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121, Attention: Corporate Secretary, phone number (858) 812-7300. The exchange offer is expected to expire on August 11, 2010 and you must make your exchange decision by this expiration date. To obtain timely delivery of the requested information, you must request this information by August 4, 2010, which is five business days before the expiration date of the exchange offer.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This prospectus contains "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts or that necessarily depend upon future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "predict," "potential" and similar forms of these words and expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include statements regarding our plans, strategies and objectives for our future operations; statements regarding future economic conditions; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

        The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus reflect our current views about future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many important factors could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from any future results or achievements expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, including the factors listed below. Many of the factors that will determine future events or achievements are beyond our ability to control or predict. Certain of these are important factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from the results or achievements reflected in our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

        The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this prospectus. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements nor do we intend to do so. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Refer to "Risk Factors" for further discussion regarding our exposure to risks.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

        This summary highlights information from this prospectus, but does not contain all material features of the exchange offer. To understand all of the terms of the exchange offer and for a more complete understanding of our business, you should carefully read the entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

        In this prospectus, references to "we," "our," "us," "the Company" or "Kratos"' mean Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. In this prospectus, we use the term "original notes" to refer to the 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 that were issued on May 19, 2010, and the term "exchange notes" to refer to the 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017, that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are being offered in exchange for the original notes as described in this prospectus.

        We are one of the leading providers of mission-critical engineering, information technology services, strategic communications and warfighter solutions for customers primarily within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. intelligence agencies and other U.S. federal agencies. We believe we have particular expertise in providing services related to Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR); weapons systems sustainment; military weapon range operations; network engineering services; information assurance and cyber security solutions and security and surveillance systems. Our employees are strategically located at key military installations throughout the United States and a majority of our over 2,600 employees have national security clearances. These security clearances, along with our past performance qualifications, are a requirement for the majority of our contract vehicles and customer engagements.

        We offer our customers solutions and expertise to support their mission-critical needs by leveraging our skills across our core service areas. Our primary customers include the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and other agencies under the DoD. In addition, we provide services to various U.S. federal, state and local governments as well as commercial customers. We believe our strong customer relationships provide for a diversified and stable contract base. We also provide solutions and services for a wide range of well-established military programs and platforms, including DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class Aegis, Chaparral, Oriole Rocket Target System, Predator, Reaper, Fire Scout and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Surface-Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and Virginia Class Submarines.

        On May 19, 2010, we acquired Gichner Holdings, Inc. (Gichner), a privately held leading manufacturer, designer and integrator of customized tactical military products and facilities, subsystems and modular systems for the U.S. military and its allies, for a total purchase price of approximately $133 million in cash.

        On a pro forma basis which includes the recently completed Gichner acquisition, as of March 28, 2010, total backlog, which represents the estimated revenue we expect to realize over the remaining life of awarded contracts and task orders that we have in hand (funded and unfunded), was approximately $745 million, of which approximately $285 million was funded backlog.

        We provide a comprehensive suite of mission-critical engineering, information technology services, strategic communications and warfighter solutions, in support of key programs for military, government and civil applications. We operate two principal segments, based on the nature of our solutions offered: Kratos Government Solutions, or our KGS segment, and Public Safety and Security, or our PSS segment.

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        Under our KGS segment we offer three basic categories of solutions: Weapons Systems Solutions, Defense Engineering Solutions and Information Technology Solutions.

        Weapons Systems Solutions includes logistics, engineering technical support, target operations support, international programs, rocket program services, technology initiatives and advanced weapon system research and engineering. We have experience with sophisticated weapons systems including Reaper and Fire Scout UAVs, Avenger, Fire Support Team Vehicles, anti-tank guided missiles, Lasers, M3P machine guns, Terminal High Altitude Aerial Defense missiles, night vision systems, Multiple Launch Rocket System, OH-58(D) Kiowa Warrior helicopters, electronic repair shelters, CH-47 Chinook helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, AH-64 Apache helicopters, Aviation Ground Support Equipment and Air Traffic Control. We primarily focus on proven programs and platforms that have a large installed base for which we can provide ongoing weapon system sustainment and life cycle support and assessment. For example, on the Kiowa OH-58 Helicopter, we designed, integrated, installed, tested and deployed a new main weapon system which delivers a higher rate of fire, greater killing power and accuracy. We believe we have expertise in designing, testing and integrating weapons onto existing UAVs, by proving concepts prior to full development.

        We provide tactical combat vehicle shelters for C5ISR systems, weapon systems and warfighters. Our tactical military facilities and products include lightweight, high-strength enclosures for widely recognized military programs and platforms, as well as ruggedized and readily transported enclosures. Our product design approach focuses on highly engineered enclosures and facilities that have the flexibility to be modified to customer specifications. We routinely design, integrate and install components into our standard products, such as communication systems infrastructure, racks and cabinets and power distribution and lighting, among others.

        Our customized products and solutions are currently deployed on a wide range of well-funded and proven military programs, including High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Command Post Platform, the MQ-1C Sky Warrior and RQ-7 Shadow UAVs, Patriot Surface to Air Missile System, the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class, Expeditionary TriCon Sheler, NAVAIR Mobile Facility, Multi-Temperature Refrigerated Container System, Persistent Threat Detection System, Transportable Blackhawk Operations Simulator and Warfighter Information Network-Tactical. For example, we provide tactical enclosures for the MQ-1C Sky Warrior under the Universal Ground Control Station program, which provides ground control for the operation of this UAV. We also design and build the Air Vehicle Transporter that attaches to the HMMWV to transport the RQ-7 Shadow UAV and its equipment.

        Our customers include the Aviation and Missile Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Defense Logistics Agency and industry partners. In addition, we provide services and products internationally through Foreign Military Sales and other U.S. government contracts.

        Defense Engineering Solutions provides a full spectrum of C5ISR, engineering and operational solutions in support of weapons range operations, rocket support services, ballistic missile defense, technical services and engineering and analysis. We also develop program requirements, support implementation of acquisition programs, and develop and test new systems. Key programs and platforms include DDG-51 Aegis Readiness, Oriole Rocket Target, Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, Electromagnetic Railgun and next generation ammunition. For example, we design, manufacture, deliver and launch Aegis Readiness Assessment Vehicles at the Pacific Missile Range Facility to

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maintain and continually test the operational readiness of the fleet for U.S. ballistic missile defense. We also test and assess various Navy weapon systems on the weapons range at Dahlgren for the U.S. Navy.

        Our customers include the Joint Inter Agency Task Force-South, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center and Naval Sea Systems Command.

        Information Technology Solutions provides solutions to government agencies for network design and architecture, engineering and operations, information assurance and cyber security and systems management. Other services include enterprise architecture, business analysis and intelligence, program management, data warehousing, database design and development, application integration and legacy system transformation and sustainment. Our programs and products include NeuralStar, our proprietary product for providing enterprise visibility and centralized monitoring, dopplerVUE, an integrated fault and performance monitoring system, the Ballistic Missile Defense System Control Battle Management and the Defense Information Systems Agency Network.

        Our customers include the Ballistic Missile Defense Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Air Force Materiel Systems Group, Naval Warfare Systems Center, Defense Information System Agency and other agencies.

        Our PSS segment provides independent integrated solutions for advanced public safety, security and surveillance systems for government and commercial applications. Our solutions include designing, installing and servicing building technologies that protect people and property and make facilities more secure and efficient. We also provide solutions in such areas as access control, building automation and control, communications, digital and closed circuit television security and surveillance, fire and life safety, maintenance and services and product support services.

        We provide solutions for customers in the healthcare, education, transportation and petro-chemical industries, as well as certain government and military customers. For example, we provide biometrics and other access control technologies to customers such as large data centers, government installations and other commercial enterprises.

        The U.S. federal government and the DoD in particular, are in the midst of a significant transformation that is driven by the U.S. federal government's need to address the changing nature of global threats, along with certain budgetary and procurement considerations. A significant aspect of this transformation is the use of C5ISR and information technology to increase the U.S. federal government's effectiveness and efficiency.

        The result is increased defense spending aimed at significantly enhancing military readiness in areas such as missile defense, weapons system sustainment and extension and the overall strengthening of intelligence and security. For example, the objective of the DoD, as it relates to missile defense, is to continue to develop, test and field missile defense systems to protect the United States, its allies and deployed forces. Additionally the U.S. federal government is expected to increase spending on information technology to upgrade networks and transform the U.S. federal government from separate, isolated organizations into larger, enterprise level, network-centric organizations capable of sharing information broadly and quickly.

        The delivery and execution of our mission-critical engineering and support services are driven by the priorities of the U.S. federal government, in particular the DoD. The key strategic priorities of the DoD are derived from the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), most recently released in February

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2010. These priorities are focused on mission-critical capabilities of the U.S. armed forces and providing the support infrastructure necessary to sustain these forces in a time of heightened warfare readiness and deployment. Additionally, a fundamental priority outlined in the QDR is rebalancing the force, which includes the expansion of unmanned aircraft systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); exploiting subsurface operations; enhancing the robustness of ISR capabilities and developing cyberspace operations.

        The Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 DoD budget is $708.2 billion, an increase of $18.0 billion over FY 2010. The total budgetary increase of 3% represents a significant opportunity for U.S. federal government contractors supporting the DoD's warfighter, information technology and other operational priorities. The FY 2011 DoD budget includes supplemental funding of $159 billion to support overseas contingency operations, primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan. We participate in several of the largest procurement defense programs as measured by cumulative FY 2009—2013 DoD Budget Authority, including Missile Defense, UAV programs, Future Combat Systems, DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class Aegis Destroyers, and the Littoral Combat Ship.

        Based on the most recent QDR and the FY 2011 DoD budget, we believe there will be significant market opportunities for providers of system sustainment, information technology and engineering services and solutions to U.S. federal government agencies over the next several years, particularly those in the defense and homeland security communities.

        We believe we have robust past performance qualifications in our respective business areas, including a work force that is experienced with the various systems we service and the customers we serve. We believe the following key strengths distinguish us competitively:

        Through existing customer engagements and the government-focused acquisitions we have completed over the past several years, we believe we have amassed significant and specialized experience in areas directly related to weapon system life-cycle extension and sustainment; missile, rocket and weapons system test and evaluation; C5ISR; military range operations and technical services and other highly differentiated services and solutions. This collective experience, or past performance qualifications, is a requirement for the majority of our contract vehicles and customer engagements. Further enhancing our specialized expertise, a majority of our over 2,600 employees have secret, top secret or higher security clearances. We believe these characteristics represent a significant competitive strength and position us to win renewal or follow-on business.

        As a result of our business development focus on securing key contracts, we are a preferred contractor on numerous multi-year government-wide acquisition contracts and multiple award contracts. Our preferred contractor status provides us with the opportunity to bid on hundreds of millions of dollars of business each year against a discrete number of other pre-qualified companies. We have a highly diverse base of contracts with no contract representing more than 5% of pro forma 2009 revenue. Our fixed price contracts, which are nearly all production contracts, represent approximately 54% of our pro forma 2009 revenue. Our cost plus and time and materials contracts each represent approximately 24% and 22% of our pro forma 2009 revenue, respectively. Our diverse base of customers includes the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and other government customers, representing 38%, 32%, 8% and 13% of pro forma 2009 revenue, respectively. We believe our diverse base of customers and low reliance on any one contract provides us with a stable, balanced revenue stream.

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        We believe we have a reputation for providing mission-critical services and solutions to our clients. Our relationships with our U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force customers generally exceed 10 years, enabling us to develop an in-depth understanding of their missions and technical needs. In addition, we have employees located at customer sites, providing us valuable strategic insights into our clients' ongoing and future program requirements. Our in-depth understanding of our client missions, in conjunction with the strategic location of our employees, enables us to offer technical solutions tailored to our clients' specific requirements and evolving mission objectives. In addition, once we are on-site with a customer, our contract re-compete win rate has historically been in excess of 85%.

        The U.S. Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Act of 2005 is the congressionally authorized process the DoD has implemented to reorganize its base structure to fewer, larger bases in order to more efficiently and effectively support U.S. armed forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business. As a result of the DoD's BRAC transformation, we have concentrated part of our business strategy on building a significant presence in key BRAC receiving locations where the U.S. federal government is relocating its personnel and related technical and professional services. We believe our focus on increasing our strategic presence in key BRAC receiving locations will provide a significant competitive advantage.

        As of March 28, 2010, our pro forma total backlog was approximately $745 million, of which approximately $285 million was funded backlog. The majority of our sales are from orders issued under long-term contracts, typically three to five years in duration. Our contract backlog provides visibility into stable future revenue and cash flow over a diverse set of customers and contracts.

        We deliver our services through a skilled workforce of over 1,800 employees. Our senior managers have significant experience with U.S. federal government agencies, the U.S. military and federal government contractors. Members of our management team have experience growing businesses both organically and through acquisitions. We believe that the cumulative experience and differentiated expertise of our personnel in our core focus areas, coupled with our sizable employee base, the majority of which hold national security clearances, allow us to qualify for and bid on larger projects in a prime contracting role.

        Our strategy is to grow our business as a leading provider of highly differentiated services in our core areas of focus by delivering comprehensive, high-end engineering services, technical solutions and information technology solutions to U.S. federal government agencies while improving our profitability. To achieve our objective, we intend to:

        We are focused on expanding the services we provide to our current clients by leveraging our strong relationships, technical capabilities and past performance qualifications and by offering a wider range of solutions. We are also focused on expanding our client base into areas with significant growth opportunities by leveraging our capabilities, industry reputation, long-term client relationships and diverse contract base. We believe our understanding of client missions, processes and needs, in conjunction with our full lifecycle information technology offerings, positions us to capture new

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business from existing clients as the U.S. federal government continues to increase the volume of information services contracted to professional services providers.

        We are aggressively pursuing task orders under our existing contract vehicles to maximize our revenue and strengthen our client relationships. We have developed several internal tools that facilitate our ability to track, prioritize and win task orders under these contract vehicles. We believe the combination of these tools, our technical expertise, past performance qualifications and knowledge of our clients' needs, will position us to win additional task orders.

        We believe we have significant opportunities to increase our operating margins and improve profitability by capitalizing on our corporate infrastructure investments and internally developed tools, improving efficiencies and reducing costs and concentrating on high value-added prime contracts. On a pro forma basis, our contract mix will include additional higher margin, fixed price contracts.

        We expect to further improve our operating margins as we strive to increase the percentage of revenue we derive from our work as a prime contractor and from engagements where contracts are awarded on a best value, rather than on a low cost, basis. The U.S. federal government's move toward performance-based contract awards to realize greater returns on its investments has resulted in a shift to greater utilization of best value awards. We believe this shift will enable us to expand our operating margins as we are awarded more contracts of this nature.

        We intend to supplement our organic growth by selectively identifying, acquiring and integrating businesses that meet our primary objective of providing us with enhanced capabilities to pursue a broader cross section of the DoD, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other U.S. government markets, complement and broaden our existing client base and relationships, expand our primary service offerings and enhance past performance qualifications to win new business. Our senior management team has significant experience identifying, integrating and operating acquired companies.

        Investment in our notes involves substantial risks. See "Risk Factors" starting on page 11, the risks under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2009 and any subsequent period reports, as well as other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of certain risks relating to an investment in our notes.

        The following summary is qualified by the more detailed information appearing in the computation table found in Exhibit 12.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the historical financial statements, including the notes to those financial statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

        Our earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges. The following table sets forth the dollar amount of the coverage deficiency for all periods. We have not included a ratio of earnings to

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combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends because no preferred dividends are accrued, accruing or payable on our outstanding preference shares.

 
  Fiscal Year Ended   Three
Months Ended
 
 
  December 31,
2005
  December 31,
2006
  December 31,
2007
  December 28,
2008
  December 27,
2009
  March 28,
2010
 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

                         

Deficiency of Earnings Available to Cover Fixed Charges

  $ (0.6 ) $ (26.7 ) $ (25.9 ) $ (104.7 ) $ (37.3 ) $ (0.1 )

        We were incorporated in the State of New York on December 19, 1994 and began operations in March 1995. We reincorporated in the State of Delaware in 1997. On September 12, 2007, we changed our name from Wireless Facilities, Inc. to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 4820 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, California 92121, phone number 858-812-7300. Our common stock has been publicly traded since 1999 and is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "KTOS."

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Summary of the Terms of the Exchange Offer

        On May 19, 2010 we completed a private offering of $225 million of 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017. In connection with the issuance of the original notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement in which we agreed that you, as a holder of unregistered notes, which we refer to as the original notes, would be entitled to exchange your unregistered notes for exchange notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act). The exchange offer is intended to satisfy these rights. After the exchange offer is completed, you will no longer be entitled to any registration rights with respect to your original notes. The exchange notes will be our obligations and will be entitled to the benefits of the indenture relating to the exchange notes. The form and terms of the exchange notes are identical in all material respects to the form and terms of the original notes, except that:

You should read the discussion under the heading "The Exchange Offer" beginning on page 36 and "Description of the Exchange Notes" beginning on page 46 for further information about the exchange offer and the exchange notes.

The Exchange Offer

  We are offering to exchange up to $225,000,000 principal amount of exchange notes for an identical principal amount of original notes.

Expiration of the Exchange Offer

 

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 11, 2010, unless we extend the exchange offer, in which case the expiration date will mean the latest date and time to which we extend the exchange offer. See "The Exchange Offer—Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments."

Procedures for Tendering Original Notes Held in the Form of Book-Entry Interests

 

The original notes were issued as global securities and were deposited with Wilmington Trust FSB who holds the original notes as the custodian for the Depository Trust Company (DTC). Beneficial interests in the original notes are held by participants in DTC on behalf of the beneficial owners of the original notes. We refer to beneficial interests in notes held by participants in DTC as notes held in book-entry form. Beneficial interests in notes held in book-entry form are shown on, and transfers of the notes can be made only through, records maintained in book-entry form by DTC and its participants.

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If you are a holder of an original note held in the form of a book-entry interest and you wish to tender your book-entry interest for exchange in the exchange offer, you must transmit to Wilmington Trust FSB, as exchange agent, on or prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer, the following:

 

•       a computer-generated message transmitted by means of DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program (ATOP) system that, when received by the exchange agent will form a part of a confirmation of book-entry transfer in which you acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal; and

 

•       a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your original notes into the exchange agent's account at DTC, according to the procedure for book-entry transfers described in this prospectus under the heading "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering."

Procedures for Tendering Original Notes Held in Certificated Form

 

If you hold your original notes in certificated form and wish to accept the exchange offer, sign and date the letter of transmittal, and deliver the letter of transmittal, along with certificates for the original notes and any other required documentation, to the exchange agent on or before the expiration date in accordance with the instructions contained in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal.

Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners

 

If you are a beneficial owner whose original notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and wish to tender those original notes in the exchange offer, please contact the registered holder as soon as possible and instruct them to tender on your behalf and comply with the instructions in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal.

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

 

If you are unable to deliver the original notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents to the exchange agent or comply with the applicable ATOP procedures prior to the expiration date, you may tender your original notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in this prospectus under the heading "The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."

Withdrawal Rights

 

You may withdraw original notes you tendered by furnishing a notice of withdrawal to the exchange agent or by complying with applicable ATOP procedures at any time before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date. See "The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders."

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Acceptance of Original Notes and Delivery of Exchange Notes

 

If the conditions described under "The Exchange Offer—Conditions" are satisfied, we will accept for exchange any and all original notes that are properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration date. See "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering." If we close the exchange offer, the exchange notes will be delivered promptly following the expiration date. Otherwise, we will promptly return any original notes accepted.

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

 

If you do not exchange your original notes for exchange notes, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided in the original notes and in the indenture governing the original notes. In general, the original notes may not be offered or sold unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not intend to register the original notes under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights

 

You are entitled to exchange your original notes for exchange notes with substantially identical terms. This exchange offer satisfies this right. After the exchange offer is completed, you will no longer be entitled to any exchange or registration rights with respect to your original notes.

Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The exchange of original notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See "The Exchange Offer—Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations" for a discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations you should consider before tendering original notes in the exchange offer.

Exchange Agent

 

Wilmington Trust FSB is serving as exchange agent for the exchange offer. The address for the exchange agent is listed under "The Exchange Offer—Exchange Agent." If you would like more information about the exchange offer, you should call the exchange agent at (302) 636-6181. The facsimile number for the exchange agent is (302) 636-4139, Attention: Sam Hamed.

        See "The Exchange Offer" for more detailed information concerning the terms of the exchange offer.

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The Exchange Notes

        The form and terms of the exchange notes to be issued in the exchange offer are the same as the form and terms of the original notes, except that the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act and, accordingly, will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not be entitled to any rights under the registration rights agreement. The exchange notes issued in the exchange offer will evidence the same debt as the original notes, and both the original notes and the exchange notes are governed by the same indenture.

Issuer

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

Title

 

$225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017.

Maturity Date

 

June 1, 2017.

Interest Rate

 

We will pay interest on the exchange notes at an annual interest rate of 10%.

Interest Payment Dates

 

We will make interest payments on the exchange notes semi-annually in arrears on each December 1 and June 1, beginning December 1, 2010. Interest will accrue from the issue date of the original notes.

Guarantees

 

The exchange notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior secured basis by our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than discontinued subsidiaries).

Ranking

 

The exchange notes and the guarantees will rank senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors' existing and future subordinated indebtedness and equal in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors' existing and future senior indebtedness, including indebtedness under our revolving credit facility.

Security Interest

 

The exchange notes and the related guarantees will be secured by a lien on substantially all of our and the guarantors' assets, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens. However, the security interest in such assets (other than real property, plant, equipment, certain intellectual property and the capital stock of our subsidiaries (collectively, the Notes Priority Collateral)) that secure the exchange notes and the exchange guarantees will be contractually subordinated to liens thereon that secure our revolving credit facility. The security interest in assets securing the revolving credit facility that consist of Notes Priority Collateral will be contractually subordinated to liens thereon that secure the exchange notes.

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Optional Redemption

 

On or after June 1, 2014, we may redeem some or all of the notes at the redemption prices set forth under "Description of the Exchange Notes—Redemption—Optional Redemption on or after June 1, 2014," plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Prior to June 1, 2013, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at the premium set forth under "Description of the Exchange Notes—Redemption—Optional Redemption Upon Equity Offerings," plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. In addition, we may, at our option, redeem some or all of the notes at any time prior to June 1, 2014, by paying a "make whole" premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

Change of Control Offer

 

If we experience certain change-of-control events, the holders of the notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of their notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

Asset Sale Offer

 

Upon certain asset sales, we may be required to offer to use the net proceeds thereof to purchase some of the notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

Use of Proceeds

 

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes. See "Use of Proceeds."

        See "Description of the Exchange Notes" for more detailed information about the terms of exchange notes.

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RISK FACTORS

        An investment in the exchange notes involves significant risks. You should consider carefully the following risk factors and all of the information contained in this prospectus before deciding whether to purchase the exchange notes. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of those risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations would suffer. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements. See "Forward-Looking Statements" in this prospectus.

If you do not exchange your notes pursuant to this exchange offer, you may never be able to sell your notes.

        It may be difficult for you to sell original notes that are not exchanged in the exchange offer. Those notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or there are exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. If you do not tender your original notes or if we do not accept some of your original notes, those notes will continue to be subject to the transfer and exchange restrictions in:

        The restrictions on transfer of your original notes arise because we issued the original notes pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. In general, you may only offer or sell the original notes if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from such requirements. Holders who do not tender their original notes will not have any further registration rights under the registration rights agreement or otherwise, and we do not intend to register the original notes under the Securities Act. To the extent original notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market, if any, for the original notes would be adversely affected.

         There is no active market for the exchange notes and if an active trading market does not develop for these notes you may not be able to resell them.

        There is currently no trading market for the exchange notes. We do not intend to list the exchange notes on any national securities exchange. The initial purchasers of the original notes have advised us that they intend to make a market in the exchange notes; however, the initial purchasers of the original notes are not obligated to make a market in the exchange notes, and they may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. In addition, market-making activity will be subject to the limits imposed by law. Further, even if a market were to exist, the exchange notes could trade at prices that may be lower than the initial offering price depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the markets for similar securities, general economic conditions and our financial condition, current stock price, performance and prospects.

        The liquidity of, and the trading market for, the exchange notes may be adversely affected by general declines or disruptions in the market for non-investment grade debt. Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the exchange notes. Any such disruptions could adversely affect the prices at which the exchange notes may be sold.

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         Your original notes will not be accepted for exchange if you fail to follow the applicable exchange offer procedures and, as a result, your original notes will continue to be subject to existing transfer restrictions and you may not be able to sell them.

        We will not accept your original notes for exchange if you do not follow the applicable exchange offer procedures. We will issue exchange notes as part of the applicable exchange offer only after timely receipt of your original notes, a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents. Therefore, if you want to tender your original notes, please allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. If we do not receive your original notes, letter of transmittal and other required documents by the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, we will not accept your original notes for exchange. We are under no duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of original notes for exchange. If there are defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of original notes, we will not accept your original notes for exchange.

         We have substantial indebtedness, which may limit our financial flexibility.

        In connection with the sale of the original notes, we incurred $225.0 million of indebtedness. In addition, we have $25.0 million of availability under our revolving credit facility. As a result of this indebtedness, our interest payment obligations will increase. The degree to which we will be leveraged could have adverse effects on our business, including the following:

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

        We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. Although the indenture governing the notes and our revolving credit facility will limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and, under certain circumstances, debt incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. For example, indebtedness in excess of $25.0 million may be incurred under our revolving credit facility in reliance on the $15.0 million general debt basket as well as the fixed charge debt incurrence test, which additional indebtedness may be secured subject to certain conditions. See clause (22) of the definition of the term "Permitted Liens" under "Description of the Exchange

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Notes—Certain Definitions." In addition, the indenture governing the notes and our revolving credit facility will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness. See the sections entitled "Description of the Exchange Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" and "Description of Certain Indebtedness—revolving credit facility." To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risks associated with our substantial leverage described above, including our possible inability to service our debt, would increase.

         The value of the collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy all the obligations secured by such collateral. As a result, holders of the notes may not receive full payment on their notes following an event of default.

        The liens on our assets (other than Notes Priority Collateral, defined under "Description of the Exchange Notes—Collateral") securing the exchange notes and the guarantees will be contractually subordinated to the liens thereon that secure our revolving credit facility. The holders of obligations under our revolving credit facility will be entitled to receive proceeds from any realization of such collateral to repay their obligations in full before the holders of the exchange notes and other obligations secured by liens subordinated to our revolving credit facility will be entitled to any recovery from such collateral. In the event of a foreclosure, the proceeds from the sale of all of such collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy the amounts outstanding under the notes (and other obligations similarly secured, if any) after payment in full of all obligations secured by our revolving credit facility.

        No appraisal has been made of the collateral. The value of the collateral in the event of liquidation will depend upon market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and similar factors. The collateral does not include contracts, agreements, licenses and other rights that by their express terms prohibit the assignment thereof or the grant of a security interest therein. Some of these may be material to us and such exclusion could have a material adverse effect on the value of the collateral. By its nature, some or all of the collateral may not have a readily ascertainable market value or may not be saleable or, if saleable, there may be substantial delays in its liquidation. To the extent that liens, security interests and other rights granted to other parties (including the lenders under our revolving credit facility) encumber assets owned by us, those parties have or may exercise rights and remedies with respect to the property subject to their liens that could adversely affect the value of that collateral and the ability of the trustee under the indenture governing the exchange notes or the holders thereof to realize or foreclose on that collateral. Consequently, we cannot assure investors in the exchange notes that liquidating the collateral securing the exchange notes would produce proceeds in an amount sufficient to pay any amounts due under the notes after also satisfying the obligations to pay any creditors with prior claims on the collateral, including the lenders under our revolving credit facility. If the proceeds of any sale of collateral are not sufficient to repay all amounts due on the exchange notes, the holders of the exchange notes (to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral securing the exchange notes) would have only an unsecured, unsubordinated claim against our and the guarantors' remaining assets. In addition, under the intercreditor agreement between the collateral agent for the exchange notes and the agent under our revolving credit facility, the right of the lenders to exercise certain remedies with respect to the collateral could delay liquidation of the collateral. Bankruptcy laws and other laws relating to foreclosure and sale also could substantially delay or prevent the ability of the collateral agent or any holder of the exchange notes to obtain the benefit of any collateral securing the notes. Such delays could have a material adverse effect on the value of the collateral.

         Our debt service obligations may adversely affect our cash flow.

        A higher level of indebtedness increases the risk that we may default on our debt obligations. We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to pay the interest on our debt, and future working capital, borrowings or equity financing may not be available to pay or refinance such debt. If we are

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unable to generate sufficient cash flow to pay the interest on our debt, we may have to delay or curtail our operations.

        Our ability to generate cash flows from operations and to make scheduled payments on our indebtedness will depend on our future financial performance. Our future financial performance will be affected by a range of economic, competitive and business factors that we cannot control, such as those described under "Risks Related to our Business." A significant reduction in operating cash flows resulting from changes in economic conditions, increased competition or other events beyond our control could increase the need for additional or alternative sources of liquidity and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and our ability to service our debt and other obligations. If we are unable to service our indebtedness, we will be forced to adopt an alternative strategy that may include actions such as reducing capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness or seeking additional equity capital. These alternative strategies may not be effected on satisfactory terms, if at all, and they may not yield sufficient funds to make required payments on the notes and our other indebtedness.

        If for any reason we are unable to meet our debt service and repayment obligations, we would be in default under the terms of the agreements governing our debt, which would allow our creditors at that time to declare certain outstanding indebtedness to be due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default rights between the relevant agreements. In addition, our lenders could compel us to apply all of our available cash to repay our borrowings or they could prevent us from making payments on the exchange notes. If the amounts outstanding under the exchange notes, our revolving credit facility and any other indebtedness, were to be accelerated, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full the money owed to the lenders or to our other debt holders, including you as noteholders.

         The indenture governing the original notes and exchange notes and the credit agreement governing our revolving credit facility impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries that may prevent us from pursuing certain business opportunities and restrict our ability to operate our business.

        The indenture governing the notes and the credit agreement governing our revolving credit facility contains covenants that restrict our and our subsidiaries' ability to take various actions, such as:

        Our revolving credit facility also requires us to comply with specified financial ratios, including a borrowing base availability and minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Our ability to comply with these covenants will likely be affected by many factors, including events beyond our control, and we may not satisfy those requirements. Our failure to comply with our debt-related obligations could result in an

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event of default under our other indebtedness and the acceleration of our other indebtedness, in whole or in part, could result in an event of default under the indenture.

        The restrictions contained in the indenture and in the credit agreement governing our revolving credit facility will also limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions, meet capital needs or otherwise restrict our activities or business plans and adversely affect our ability to finance our operations, enter into acquisitions or to engage in other business activities that would be in our interest.

         The exchange notes may receive a reduced rating in the future, which could cause a decline in the liquidity or market price of the notes.

        If one or more rating agencies assigns the exchange notes a reduced rating lower than the rating in the future, the market price of the notes may be adversely affected.

         We will in most cases have control over the collateral, and the sale of particular assets by us could reduce the pool of assets securing the exchange notes and the guarantees.

        The collateral documents allow us to remain in possession of, retain exclusive control over, freely operate, and collect, invest and dispose of any income from, the collateral securing the exchange notes and the related guarantees. There are circumstances other than repayment or discharge of the exchange notes under which the collateral securing the exchange notes and guarantees will be released automatically, without your consent or the consent of the trustee, including:

Pursuant to the terms of the intercreditor agreement, the holders of the exchange notes may not be able to control actions with respect to the collateral, whether or not the holders of the exchange notes agree or disagree with those actions.

        The indenture governing the exchange notes also permits us to designate any existing or future restricted subsidiary that is a guarantor of the exchange notes or any future subsidiary as an unrestricted subsidiary. If we designate such a future subsidiary guarantor as an unrestricted subsidiary for purposes of the indenture governing the exchange notes, all of the liens on any collateral owned by such subsidiary or any of its subsidiaries and any guarantees of the exchange notes by such subsidiary or any of its subsidiaries will be released under the indenture governing the exchange notes but not necessarily under our revolving credit facility. Designation of an unrestricted subsidiary will reduce the aggregate value of the collateral securing the exchange notes to the extent that liens on the assets of the unrestricted subsidiary and its subsidiaries are released.

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         The lien-ranking provisions set forth in the intercreditor agreement substantially limit the rights of the holders of the exchange notes with respect to liens on the assets (other than Notes Priority Collateral) securing the exchange notes and the guarantees.

        The rights of the holders of the exchange notes with respect to the liens on our assets (other than Notes Priority Collateral) securing the exchange notes and the guarantees are substantially limited pursuant to the terms of the lien-ranking provisions set forth in the intercreditor agreement. Under those lien-ranking provisions, at any time that obligations, such as our revolving credit facility, that have the benefit of senior liens on our assets (other than Notes Priority Collateral) are outstanding, any actions that may be taken in respect of such collateral, including the ability to cause the commencement of enforcement proceedings against such collateral and to control the conduct of such proceedings, and the approval of amendments to, releases of such collateral from the lien of, and waivers of past defaults under, the collateral documents, will be at the direction of the holders of such obligations secured by the senior liens on such collateral. The trustee, on behalf of the holders of the exchange notes, will not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if the rights of the holders of the exchange notes are adversely affected. See "Description of the Exchange Notes—Intercreditor Agreement."

         The rights of holders of exchange notes to the collateral securing the exchange notes may be adversely affected by the failure to perfect security interests in the collateral and other issues generally associated with the realization of security interests in collateral.

        Your rights in the collateral may be adversely affected by the failure to perfect security interests in certain collateral in the future. Applicable law requires that certain property and rights acquired after the grant of a general security interest, such as real property, equipment subject to a certificate and certain proceeds, can be perfected only at the time at which such property and rights are acquired and identified. The trustee and the collateral agent for the exchange notes may not monitor, and we are not required to inform the trustee and the collateral agent of, the future acquisition of property and rights that constitute collateral, and necessary action may not be taken to properly perfect the security interest in such after-acquired collateral. The collateral agent for the exchange notes has no obligation to monitor the acquisition of additional property or rights that constitute collateral or the perfection of any security interest in favor of the exchange notes against third parties. A failure to monitor such acquisition and take necessary action may result in the loss of the effectiveness of the grant of the security interest therein or the priority of the security interest in favor of the exchange notes against third parties.

        In addition, the security interest of the collateral agent for the exchange notes will be subject to practical challenges generally associated with the realization of security interests in collateral. For example, the collateral agent may need to obtain the consent of third parties and make additional filings. If we are unable to obtain these consents or make these filings, the security interests may be invalid and the holders of the exchange notes will not be entitled to the collateral or any recovery with respect to the collateral. The collateral agent may not be able to obtain any such consent. Further, the consents of any third parties may not be given when required to facilitate a foreclosure on such collateral. Accordingly, the collateral agent may not have the ability to foreclose upon those assets, and the value of the collateral may significantly decrease. We are also not required to obtain third party consents in certain categories of collateral.

         The imposition of certain permitted liens will cause the assets on which such liens are imposed to be excluded from the collateral securing the exchange notes and the guarantees. There are also certain other categories of property that are also excluded from the collateral.

        The indenture governing the exchange notes will permit liens in favor of third parties to secure certain indebtedness, such as indebtedness incurred under our revolving credit facility (which could

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exceed $25.0 million in the aggregate), purchase money indebtedness and capital lease obligations, and assets subject to such liens will in certain circumstances be excluded from the collateral securing the exchange notes and the guarantees. Our ability to incur purchase money indebtedness and capital lease obligations is subject to limitations as described in "Description of the Exchange Notes—Collateral." Certain of these third party liens rank senior to the liens securing the exchange notes under the indenture. In addition, certain categories of assets are excluded from the collateral securing the exchange notes and the guarantees and the liens on certain categories of assets are not required to be perfected. Excluded assets include certain contracts, certain equipment, and the assets of any non-guarantor subsidiary and certain capital stock and other securities of domestic subsidiaries substantially all of whose assets consist of the equity of foreign entities. See "Description of the Exchange Notes." If an event of default occurs and the exchange notes are accelerated, the exchange notes and the guarantees will rank equally with the holders of other unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness of the relevant entity with respect to such excluded property and will be effectively subordinated to holders of obligations secured by a lien perfected on such excluded property.

         The pledge of the capital stock of our subsidiaries that secure the exchange notes will automatically be released from the lien on them and no longer constitute collateral when the pledge of such capital stock or such other securities would require the filing of separate financial statements with the SEC for that subsidiary.

        The exchange notes and the guarantees will be secured by a pledge of the stock of some of our subsidiaries. Under the SEC regulations in effect as of the issue date of the exchange notes, if the par value, book value as carried by us or market value (whichever is greatest) of the capital stock, other securities or similar items of a subsidiary pledged as part of the collateral is greater than or equal to 20% of the aggregate principal amount of the exchange notes then outstanding, such a subsidiary would be required to provide separate financial statements to the SEC. Therefore, the indenture and the collateral documents provide that any capital stock and other securities of our subsidiaries will be excluded from the collateral to the extent that the pledge of such capital stock or other securities to secure the exchange notes would cause such companies to be required to file separate financial statements with the SEC pursuant to Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X (as in effect from time to time).

        As a result, holders of the exchange notes could lose a portion or all of their security interest in the capital stock or other securities of those subsidiaries. It may be more difficult, costly and time-consuming for holders of the exchange notes to foreclose on the assets of a subsidiary than to foreclose on its capital stock or other securities, so the proceeds realized upon any such foreclosure could be significantly less than those that would have been received upon any sale of the capital stock or other securities of such subsidiary. See "Description of the Exchange Notes."

         Rights of holders of exchange notes in the collateral may be adversely affected by bankruptcy proceedings.

        The right of the collateral agent for the exchange notes to repossess and dispose of the collateral securing the exchange notes upon acceleration is likely to be significantly impaired by U.S. federal bankruptcy law if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced by or against us prior to or possibly even after the collateral agent has repossessed and disposed of the collateral. Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, a secured creditor, such as the collateral agent for the exchange notes, is prohibited from repossessing its security from a debtor in a bankruptcy case, or from disposing of security repossessed from a debtor, without bankruptcy court approval. Moreover, bankruptcy law permits the debtor to continue to retain and to use collateral, and the proceeds, products, rents or profits of the collateral, even though the debtor is in default under the applicable debt instruments; provided that the secured creditor is given "adequate protection." The meaning of the term "adequate protection" may vary according to circumstances, but it is intended in general to protect the value of the secured creditor's interest in the collateral and may include cash payments or the granting of additional security, if and at such time as the court in its discretion determines, for any diminution in the value of the collateral as a

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result of the stay of repossession or disposition or any use of the collateral by the debtor during the pendency of the bankruptcy case. In view of the broad discretionary powers of a bankruptcy court, it is impossible to predict how long payments under the exchange notes could be delayed following commencement of a bankruptcy case, whether or when the collateral agent would repossess or dispose of the collateral, or whether or to what extent holders of the exchange notes would be compensated for any delay in payment of loss of value of the collateral through the requirements of "adequate protection." Furthermore, in the event the bankruptcy court determines that the value of the collateral is not sufficient to repay all amounts due on the exchange notes, the holders of the exchange notes would have "under-secured claims" as to the difference. Federal bankruptcy laws do not permit the payment or accrual of interest, costs and attorneys' fees for "under-secured claims" during the debtor's bankruptcy case. Additionally, the trustee's ability to foreclose on the collateral on your behalf may be subject to the consent of third parties, prior liens and practical problems associated with the realization of the trustee's security interest in the collateral. Moreover, the debtor or trustee in a bankruptcy case may seek to void an alleged security interest in collateral for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate. It may successfully do so if the security interest is not properly perfected or was perfected within a specified period of time (generally 90 days) prior to the initiation of such proceeding. Under such circumstances, a creditor may hold no security interest and be treated as holding a general unsecured claim in the bankruptcy case. It is impossible to predict what recovery (if any) would be available for such an unsecured claim if we became a debtor in a bankruptcy case. While U.S. bankruptcy law generally invalidates provisions restricting a debtor's ability to assume and/or assign a contract, there are exceptions to this rule which could be applicable in the event that we become subject to a U.S. bankruptcy proceeding.

         Under certain circumstances, a court could cancel the exchange notes or the related guarantees and the security interests that secure the exchange notes and the guarantees under fraudulent conveyance laws.

        Our issuance of the exchange notes and the related guarantees may be subject to review under U.S. federal or state fraudulent transfer laws. If we become a debtor in a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or encounter other financial difficulty, a court could avoid (that is, cancel) our obligations under the exchange notes. The court might do so if it finds that when we issued the exchange notes, (a) we received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration and (b) we either (1) were or were rendered insolvent, (2) were left with inadequate capital to conduct our business or (3) believed or reasonably should have believed that we would incur debts beyond our ability to pay. The court could also avoid the exchange notes, without regard to the factors described in clauses (a) and (b) above, if it finds that we issued the exchange notes with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud our creditors.

        Similarly, if one of our guarantors becomes a debtor in a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or encounters other financial difficulty, a court might cancel its guarantee if it finds that when such guarantor issued its guarantee (or in some jurisdictions, when payments become due under the guarantee), factors (a) and (b) above applied to such guarantor, such guarantor was a defendant in an action for money damages or had a judgment for money damages docketed against it (if, in either case, after final judgment the judgment is unsatisfied), or if it found that such guarantor issued its guarantee with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors.

        A court could avoid any payment by us or any guarantor pursuant to the exchange notes or a guarantee or any realization on the pledge of assets securing the exchange notes or the guarantees, and require the return of any payment or the return of any realized value to us or such guarantor, as the case may be, or to a fund for the benefit of our or such guarantor's creditors. In addition, under the circumstances described above, a court could subordinate rather than avoid obligations under the exchange notes, the guarantees or the pledges. If the court were to avoid any guarantee, funds may not be available to pay the exchange notes from another guarantor or from any other source.

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        The test for determining solvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary depending on the law of the jurisdiction being applied. In general, a court would consider an entity insolvent either if the sum of its existing debts exceeds the fair value of all of its property, or its assets' present fair saleable value is less than the amount required to pay the probable liability on its existing debts as they become due. For this analysis, "debts" include contingent and unliquidated debts. If a court avoided our obligations under the notes and the obligations of all of the guarantors under their guarantees, holders of the exchange notes would cease to be our creditors or creditors of the future guarantors and likely have no source from which to recover amounts due under the exchange notes. Even if the guarantee of a guarantor is not avoided as a fraudulent transfer, a court may subordinate the guarantee to such guarantor's other debt. In that event, the guarantees would be structurally subordinated to all of such guarantor's other debt.

        The indenture governing the exchange notes will limit the liability of each guarantor on its guarantee to the maximum amount that such guarantor can incur without risk that its guarantee will be subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer. This limitation may not protect such guarantees from fraudulent transfer challenges or, if it does, that the remaining amount due and collectible under the guarantees may not suffice, if necessary, to pay the exchange notes in full when due.

         Any future pledge of collateral may be avoidable in bankruptcy.

        Any future pledge of collateral in favor of the trustee or collateral agent, including pursuant to security documents delivered after the date of the indenture governing the exchange notes, may be avoidable by the pledgor (a debtor in possession) or by its trustee in bankruptcy if certain events or circumstances exist or occur, including, among others, if (1) the pledgor is insolvent at the time of the pledge, (2) the pledge permits the holders of the exchange notes to receive a greater recovery than if the pledge had not been given and (3) a bankruptcy proceeding in respect of the pledgor is commenced within 90 days following the pledge or the perfection thereof, or, in certain circumstances, a longer period.

         The collateral is subject to casualty risks.

        We intend to maintain insurance or otherwise insure against hazards in a manner appropriate and customary for our business. There are, however, certain losses that may be either uninsurable or not economically insurable, in whole or in part. Insurance proceeds may not compensate us fully for our losses. If there is a complete or partial loss of any of the collateral, the insurance proceeds may not be sufficient to satisfy all of the secured obligations, including the exchange notes and the guarantees.

         Our ability to repurchase the exchange notes upon a change of control may be limited.

        Upon the occurrence of specific change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding exchange notes at 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. The lenders under our revolving credit facility will have the right to accelerate the indebtedness thereunder upon a change of control. Any of our future debt agreements may contain a similar provision. However, we may not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of exchange notes or repayment of our other indebtedness. Any of our future debt agreements may contain similar restrictions. If we fail to repurchase any exchange notes submitted in a change of control offer, it would constitute an event of default under the indenture governing the exchange notes which would, in turn, constitute an event of default under our revolving credit facility and could constitute an event of default under our other indebtedness, even if the change of control itself would not cause a default. Important corporate events, such as takeovers, recapitalizations or similar transactions, may not constitute a change of control under the indenture governing the exchange notes and thus not permit the holders of the

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exchange notes to require us to repurchase or redeem the exchange notes. See "Description of the Exchange Notes—Repurchase Upon Change of Control."

Our business could be adversely affected by changes in the contracting or fiscal policies of the U.S. federal government and governmental entities.

        We derive a significant portion of our revenue from contracts with the U.S. federal government and government agencies and subcontracts under U.S. federal government prime contracts and the success of our business and growth of our business will continue to depend on our successful procurement of government contracts either directly or through prime contractors. Accordingly, changes in government contracting policies or government budgetary constraints could directly affect our financial performance. Among the factors that could adversely affect our business are:

        These and other factors could cause governments and government agencies, or prime contractors that use us as a subcontractor, to reduce their purchases under existing contracts, to exercise their rights to terminate contracts at-will or to abstain from exercising options to renew contracts, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Many of our government customers are subject to stringent budgetary constraints. The award of additional contracts from government agencies could be adversely affected by spending reductions or budget cutbacks at these agencies.

         We may not realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions, including our acquisition of Gichner, because of integration difficulties.

        Integrating the operations of acquired businesses, including our acquisition of Gichner, successfully or otherwise realizing any of the anticipated benefits of an acquisition, including anticipated cost savings and additional revenue opportunities, involves a number of potential challenges. The failure to meet these integration challenges could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations. Realizing the benefits of acquisitions will depend in part on the integration of information technology (IT) operations and personnel. These integration activities are complex and time-consuming and we may encounter unexpected difficulties or incur unexpected costs, including:

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        We may not successfully integrate the operations acquired businesses in a timely manner, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of an acquisition to the extent, or in the time frame, anticipated.

         If we are unable to manage our growth profitably after an acquisition is completed, our business and financial results could suffer.

        Our future financial results will depend in part on our ability to profitably manage our growth on a combined basis with acquired entities. We will need to maintain existing customers and attract new customers, recruit, retain and effectively manage employees, as well as expand operations and integrate customer support and financial control systems. If our integration-related expenses and capital expenditure requirements are greater than anticipated or if we are unable to manage our growth profitably after an acquisition, our financial condition and results of operations may suffer.

         Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

        Federal and state tax laws impose restrictions on the utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards in the event of an "ownership change" for tax purposes as defined by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, if a corporation undergoes an "ownership change" (generally defined as greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three year period), the corporation's ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. We believe that an "ownership change" has occurred, which will limit our utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards. We are currently evaluating the extent of the limitation on our annual utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards. Any potential limitation would not impact the income tax provisions for the year ended December 26, 2010. In addition, future equity offerings or acquisitions that have equity as a component of the purchase price could result in an "ownership change".

         We derive a substantial amount of our revenues from the sale of our solutions either directly or indirectly to U.S. government entities pursuant to government contracts, which differ materially from standard commercial contracts, involve competitive bidding and may be subject to cancellation or delay without penalty, any of which may produce volatility in our revenues and earnings.

        Government contracts frequently include provisions that are not standard in private commercial transactions, and are subject to laws and regulations that give the U.S. federal government rights and remedies not typically found in commercial contracts, including provisions permitting the U.S. federal government to:

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        In addition, government contracts are frequently awarded only after formal competitive bidding processes, which have been and may continue to be protracted and typically impose provisions that permit cancellation in the event that necessary funds are unavailable to the public agency. Competitive procurements impose substantial costs and managerial time and effort in order to prepare bids and proposals for contracts that may not be awarded to us. In many cases, unsuccessful bidders for government agency contracts are provided the opportunity to formally protest certain contract awards through various agencies, administrative and judicial channels. The protest process may substantially delay a successful bidder's contract performance, result in cancellation of the contract award entirely and distract management. We may not be awarded contracts for which we bid, and substantial delays or cancellation of purchases may follow our successful bids as a result of such protests.

        Certain of our government contracts also contain "organizational conflict of interest" clauses that could limit our ability to compete for certain related follow-on contracts. For example, when we work on the design of a particular solution, we may be precluded from competing for the contract to install that solution. While we actively monitor our contracts to avoid these conflicts, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to avoid all organizational conflict of interest issues.

         We may not receive the full amounts estimated under the contracts in our backlog, which could reduce our revenue in future periods below the levels anticipated and which makes backlog an uncertain indicator of future operating results.

        As of March 29, 2009 and March 28, 2010, our total backlog was approximately $690 million and $583 million, respectively, of which $165 million was funded as of March 29, 2009 and $185 million was funded as of March 28, 2010. Funded backlog is estimated future revenue under government contracts and task orders for which funding has been appropriated by Congress and authorized for expenditure by the applicable agency, plus our estimate of the future revenue we expect to realize from our commercial contracts that are under firm orders. Although funded backlog represents only business which is considered to be firm, cancellations or scope adjustments may still occur. Unfunded backlog reflects our estimate of future revenue under awarded government contracts and task orders for which either funding has not yet been appropriated or expenditure has not yet been authorized. Unfunded backlog does not include estimates of revenue from government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) or General Services Administration (GSA) schedules beyond awarded or funded task orders, but does include estimates of revenue beyond awarded or funded task orders for other types of indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts. The amount of unfunded backlog is not exact or guaranteed and is based upon, among other things, management's experience under such contracts and similar contracts, the particular clients, the type of work and budgetary expectations. Our management may not accurately assess these factors or estimate the revenue we will realize from these contracts, and our unfunded and total backlog may not reflect the actual revenue ultimately received from these contracts.

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        Backlog is typically subject to large variations from quarter to quarter and comparisons of backlog from period to period are not necessarily indicative of future revenues. The contracts comprising our backlog may not result in actual revenue in any particular period or at all, and the actual revenue from such contracts may differ from our backlog estimates. The timing of receipt of revenues, if any, on projects included in backlog could change because many factors affect the scheduling of projects. Cancellation of or adjustments to contracts may occur. Additionally, all U.S. government contracts included in backlog, whether or not funded, may be terminated at the convenience of the U.S. government. The failure to realize all amounts in our backlog could adversely affect our revenues and gross margins. As a result, our funded and total backlog as of any particular date may not be an accurate indicator of our future earnings.

         We are subject to environmental laws and potential exposure to environmental liabilities. This may affect our ability to develop, sell or rent our property or to borrow money where such property is required to be used as collateral.

        Because of our recent acquisition of Gichner, we use hazardous materials common to industrial manufacturing. We are required to follow U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations regarding the handling, storage and disposal of these materials, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the Toxic Substances Control Act. We could be subject to fines, suspensions of production, alteration of our manufacturing processes or interruption or cessation of our operations if we fail to comply with present or future laws or regulations related to the use, storage, handling, discharge or disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in our manufacturing processes. These regulations could require us to acquire expensive remediation equipment or to incur significant other expenses to comply with environmental regulations. Our failure to control the handling, use, storage or disposal of, or adequately restrict the discharge of, hazardous substances could subject us to liabilities and production delays, which could cause us to miss our customers' delivery schedules, thereby reducing our sales for a given period. We may also have to pay regulatory fines, penalties or other costs (including remediation costs), which could materially reduce our profits and adversely affect our financial condition. Permits are required for our operations, and these permits are subject to renewal, modification and, in some cases, revocation.

        Environmental and health and safety laws change rapidly and have tended to become more stringent over time. As a result, acquired entities may not have always been and may not always be in compliance with all environmental and health and safety laws, regulations and/or permit conditions. Additionally, future environmental and health and safety laws and regulations may require us to make substantial expenditures. Additionally, our costs to comply with, or any liabilities under, these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Environmental permits and other governmental authorizations are required for our operations. A decision by a government agency to deny or delay issuing a new or renewed material permit or approval, or to revoke or substantially modify an existing permit or approval, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue operations at the affected facility and on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, under environmental laws, ordinances or regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of some kinds of hazardous substances or petroleum products on, under, or in its property, adjacent or nearby property, or offsite disposal locations, without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or caused, the presence of the contaminants, and regardless of whether the practices that resulted in the contamination were legal at the time they occurred. One of our recently acquired entities has incurred, is incurring currently, and may incur in the future, liabilities under CERCLA and other environmental cleanup laws

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at our current or former facilities, adjacent or nearby properties or offsite disposal locations. The costs associated with future cleanup activities that we may be required to conduct or finance may be material. The presence of, or failure to remediate properly, hazardous substances or petroleum products may adversely affect the ability to sell or rent the property or to borrow funds using the property as collateral and may require us to record environmental covenants restricting the use of such property. Additionally, we may become subject to claims by third parties based on damages, including personal injury and property damage, and costs resulting from the disposal or release of hazardous substances into the environment.

         We face intense competition from many competitors that have greater resources than we do, which could result in price reductions, reduced profitability or loss of market share.

        We operate in highly competitive markets and generally encounter intense competition to win contracts from many other firms, including mid-tier U.S. federal contractors with specialized capabilities and large defense and IT services providers. Competition in our markets may increase as a result of a number of factors, such as the entrance of new or larger competitors, including those formed through alliances or consolidation. These competitors may have greater financial, technical, marketing and public relations resources, larger client bases and greater brand or name recognition than we do. These competitors could, among other things:

        If we lose business to our competitors or are forced to lower our prices, our revenue and our operating profits could decline. In addition, we may face competition from our subcontractors who, from time to time, seek to obtain prime contractor status on contracts for which they currently serve as a subcontractor to us. If one or more of our current subcontractors are awarded prime contractor status on such contracts in the future, it could divert sales from us or could force us to charge lower prices, which could cause our margins to suffer.

         Our financial results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

        We expect our revenue and operating results to vary from quarter to quarter. Reductions in revenue in a particular quarter could lead to lower profitability in that quarter because a relatively large amount of our expenses are fixed in the short-term. We may incur significant operating expenses during the start-up and early stages of large contracts and may not be able to recognize corresponding revenue in that same quarter. We may also incur additional expenses when contracts expire, are terminated or are not renewed.

        In addition, payments due to us from U.S. federal government agencies may be delayed due to billing cycles or as a result of failures of government budgets to gain congressional and administration approval in a timely manner. The U.S. federal government's fiscal year ends September 30. If a U.S. federal budget for the next U.S. federal fiscal year has not been approved by that date in each year, our clients may have to suspend engagements that we are working on until a budget has been approved. Any such suspensions may reduce our revenue in the fourth quarter of that year or the first quarter of the subsequent year. The U.S. federal government's fiscal year end can also trigger increased purchase requests from clients for equipment and materials. Any increased purchase requests we receive as a result of the U.S. federal government's fiscal year end would serve to increase our third or fourth quarter revenue, but will generally decrease profit margins for that quarter, as these activities generally are not as profitable as our typical offerings.

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        Additional factors that may cause our financial results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter include those addressed elsewhere in "Risk Factors" and the following, among others:

        Significant fluctuations in our operating results for a particular quarter could cause us to fall out of compliance with the financial covenants contained in our credit facility, which if not waived by the lenders thereunder, could restrict our access to capital and cause us to take extreme measures to pay down our debt under the credit facility.

         If we fail to establish and maintain important relationships with government entities and agencies and other government contractors, our ability to bid successfully for new business may be adversely affected.

        To develop new business opportunities, we primarily rely on establishing and maintaining relationships with various government entities and agencies. We may be unable to successfully maintain our relationships with government entities and agencies, and any failure to do so could materially adversely affect our ability to compete successfully for new business. In addition, we often act as a subcontractor or in "teaming" arrangements in which we and other contractors bid together on particular contracts or programs for the U.S. federal government or government agencies. As a subcontractor or team member, we often lack control over fulfillment of a contract, and poor performance on the contract could tarnish our reputation, even when we perform as required. We expect to continue to depend on relationships with other contractors for a portion of our revenue in the foreseeable future. Moreover, our revenue and operating results could be materially adversely affected if any prime contractor or teammate chooses to offer a client services of the type that we provide or if any prime contractor or teammate teams with other companies to independently provide those services.

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         We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of customers.

        We have derived, and believe that we will continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of customers. To the extent that any significant customer uses less of our services or terminates its relationship with us, our revenues could decline significantly. As a result, the loss of any significant client could seriously harm our business. For the year ended December 27, 2009, two customers, each representing multiple agency customers, comprised approximately 60% and 52% of our U.S. federal business revenues and total revenues, respectively. On a pro forma basis including the Gichner acquisition, these two customers accounted for approximately 77% and 69%, respectively, of our U.S. federal business for the year ended December 27, 2009. None of our customers are obligated to purchase additional services from us. As a result, the volume of work that we perform for a specific customer is likely to vary from period to period, and a significant client in one period may not use our services in a subsequent period.

         Our margins and operating results may suffer if we experience unfavorable changes in the proportion of cost-plus-fee or fixed-price contracts in our total contract mix.

        Although fixed-price contracts entail a greater risk of a reduced profit or financial loss on a contract compared to other types of contracts we enter into, fixed-price contracts typically provide higher profit opportunities because we may be able to benefit from cost savings. In contrast, cost-plus-fee contracts are subject to statutory limits on profit margins, and generally are the least profitable of our contract types. Our U.S. federal government customers typically determine what type of contract we enter into. Cost-plus-fee and fixed-price contracts in our U.S. federal business accounted for approximately 36% and 31%, respectively, of our U.S. federal business revenues for the year ended December 27, 2009. On a pro forma basis including the Gichner acquisition, our cost-plus-fee and fixed-price contracts accounted for approximately 24% and 54%, respectively, of our U.S. federal business for the year ended December 27, 2009. To the extent that we enter into more cost-plus-fee or less fixed-price contracts in proportion to our total contract mix in the future, our margins and operating results may suffer.

         Our cash flow and profitability could be reduced if expenditures are incurred prior to the final receipt of a contract.

        We provide various professional services and sometimes procure equipment and materials on behalf of our U.S. federal government customers under various contractual arrangements. From time to time, in order to ensure that we satisfy our customers' delivery requirements and schedules, we may elect to initiate procurement in advance of receiving final authorization from the government customer or a prime contractor. If our government or prime contractor customers' requirements should change or if the government or the prime contractor should direct the anticipated procurement to a contractor other than us or if the equipment or materials become obsolete or require modification before we are under contract for the procurement, our investment in the equipment or materials might be at risk if we cannot efficiently resell them. This could reduce anticipated earnings or result in a loss, negatively affecting our cash flow and profitability.

         Loss of our GSA contracts or GWACs would impair our ability to attract new business.

        We are a prime contractor under several GSA contracts and GWACs. We believe that our ability to provide services under these contracts will continue to be important to our business because of the multiple opportunities for new engagements each contract provides. If we were to lose our position as prime contractor on one or more of these contracts, we could lose substantial revenues and our operating results could suffer. GSA contracts and other GWACs typically have a five-year initial term with multiple options exercisable at the government client's discretion to extend the contract for one or more additional five-year terms. We cannot be assured that our government clients will continue to exercise the options remaining on our current contracts, nor can we be assured that our future clients will exercise options on any contracts we may receive in the future.

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         Failure to properly manage projects may result in additional costs or claims.

        Our engagements often involve large scale, highly complex projects. The quality of our performance on such projects depends in large part upon our ability to manage relationships with our customers, and to effectively manage the project and deploy appropriate resources, including third-party contractors, and our own personnel, in a timely manner. Any defects or errors or failure to meet clients' expectations could result in claims for substantial damages against us. Our contracts generally limit our liability for damages that arise from negligent acts, error, mistakes or omissions in rendering services to our clients. However, we cannot be sure that these contractual provisions will protect us from liability for damages in the event we are sued. In addition, in certain instances, we guarantee customers that we will complete a project by a scheduled date. If the project experiences a performance problem, we may not be able to recover the additional costs we will incur, which could exceed revenues realized from a project. Finally, if we underestimate the resources or time we need to complete a project with capped or fixed fees, our operating results could be seriously harmed.

         The loss of any member of our senior management could impair our relationships with U.S. federal government clients and disrupt the management of our business.

        We believe that the success of our business and our ability to operate profitably depends on the continued contributions of the members of our senior management. We rely on our senior management to generate business and execute programs successfully. In addition, the relationships and reputation that many members of our senior management team have established and maintain with U.S. federal government personnel contribute to our ability to maintain strong client relationships and to identify new business opportunities. We do not have any employment agreements providing for a specific term of employment with any member of our senior management. The loss of any member of our senior management could impair our ability to identify and secure new contracts, maintain good client relations and otherwise manage our business.

         If we fail to attract and retain skilled employees or employees with the necessary security clearances, we might not be able to perform under our contracts or win new business.

        The growth of our business and revenue depends in large part upon our ability to attract and retain sufficient numbers of highly qualified individuals who have advanced information technology and/or engineering skills. These employees are in great demand and are likely to remain a limited resource in the foreseeable future. Certain U.S. federal government contracts require us, and some of our employees, to maintain security clearances. Obtaining and maintaining security clearances for employees involves a lengthy process, and it is difficult to identify, recruit and retain employees who already hold security clearances. In addition, some of our contracts contain provisions requiring us to staff an engagement with personnel that the client considers key to our successful performance under the contract. In the event we are unable to provide these key personnel or acceptable substitutions, the client may terminate the contract and we may lose revenue.

        If we are unable to recruit and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees, our ability to maintain and grow our business could be limited. In a tight labor market, our direct labor costs could increase or we may be required to engage large numbers of subcontractor personnel, which could cause our profit margins to suffer. Conversely, if we maintain or increase our staffing levels in anticipation of one or more projects and the projects are delayed, reduced or terminated, we may underutilize the additional personnel, which would increase our general and administrative expenses, reduce our earnings and possibly harm our results of operations.

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         If our subcontractors fail to perform their contractual obligations, our performance and reputation as a prime contractor and our ability to obtain future business could suffer.

        As a prime contractor, we often rely upon other companies to perform work we are obligated to perform for our clients as subcontractors. As we secure more work under our GWACs, we expect to require an increasing level of support from subcontractors that provide complementary and supplementary services to our offerings. Depending on labor market conditions, we may not be able to identify, hire and retain sufficient numbers of qualified employees to perform the task orders we expect to win. In such cases, we will need to rely on subcontracts with unrelated companies. Moreover, even in favorable labor market conditions, we anticipate entering into more subcontracts in the future as we expand our work under our GWACs. We are responsible for the work performed by our subcontractors, even though in some cases we have limited involvement in that work.

        If one or more of our subcontractors fail to satisfactorily perform the agreed-upon services on a timely basis or violate U.S. federal government contracting policies, laws or regulations, our ability to perform our obligations as a prime contractor or meet our clients' expectations may be compromised. In extreme cases, performance or other deficiencies on the part of our subcontractors could result in a client terminating our contract for default. A termination for default could expose us to liability, including liability for the agency's costs of procurement, could damage our reputation and could hurt our ability to compete for future contracts.

         Our contracts and administrative processes and systems are subject to audits and cost adjustments by the U.S. federal government, which could reduce our revenue, disrupt our business or otherwise adversely affect our results of operations.

        U.S. federal government agencies, including the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), routinely audit and investigate government contracts and government contractors' administrative processes and systems. These agencies review our performance on contracts, pricing practices, cost structure and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards. They also review the adequacy of our compliance with government standards for our accounting and management of internal control systems, including: control environment and overall accounting system, general information technology system, budget and planning system, purchasing system, material management and accounting system, compensation system, labor system, indirect and other direct costs system, billing system and estimating system used for pricing on government contracts. Both contractors and the U.S. government agencies conducting these audits and reviews have come under increased scrutiny. The current audits and reviews have become more rigorous and the standards to which contractors are being held are being more strictly interpreted, increasing the likelihood of an audit or review resulting in an adverse outcome.

        While we have submitted all applicable incurred cost claims, the actual indirect cost audits by the DCAA have not been completed for fiscal 2005 and subsequent fiscal years. Although we have recorded contract revenues subsequent to fiscal 2004 based upon costs that we believe will be approved upon final audit or review, we do not know the outcome of any ongoing or future audits or reviews and, if future adjustments exceed our estimates, our profitability would be adversely affected.

         Our failure to comply with complex procurement laws and regulations could cause us to lose business and subject us to a variety of penalties.

        We must comply with laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration and performance of U.S. federal government contracts, which affect how we do business with our clients, prime contractors, subcontractors and vendors and may impose added costs on us. Our role as a contractor to agencies and departments of the U.S. government results in our being routinely subject to investigations and reviews relating to compliance with various laws and regulations, including those

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associated with organizational conflicts of interest. These investigations may be conducted without our knowledge. Adverse findings in these investigations or reviews can lead to criminal, civil or administrative proceedings and we could face civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines and suspension or debarment from doing business with U.S. federal government agencies. In addition, we could suffer serious harm to our reputation and competitive position if allegations of impropriety were made against us, whether or not true. If our reputation or relationship with U.S. federal government agencies were impaired, or if the U.S. federal government otherwise ceased doing business with us or significantly decreased the amount of business it does with us, our revenue and operating profit would decline.

         If we experience systems or service failure, our reputation could be harmed and our clients could assert claims against us for damages or refunds.

        We create, implement and maintain IT solutions that are often critical to our clients' operations. We have experienced, and may in the future experience, some systems and service failures, schedule or delivery delays and other problems in connection with our work. If we experience these problems, we may:

        In addition to any costs resulting from product or service warranties, contract performance or required corrective action, these failures may result in increased costs or loss of revenue if clients postpone subsequently scheduled work or cancel, or fail to renew, contracts.

        While many of our contracts limit our liability for consequential damages that may arise from negligence in rendering services to our clients, we cannot ensure that these contractual provisions will be legally sufficient to protect us if we are sued. In addition, our errors and omissions and product liability insurance coverage may not be adequate, may not continue to be available on reasonable terms or in sufficient amounts to cover one or more large claims, or the insurer may disclaim coverage as to some types of future claims. The successful assertion of any large claim against us could seriously harm our business. Even if not successful, these claims could result in significant legal and other costs, may be a distraction to our management and may harm our reputation.

         Security breaches in sensitive U.S. federal government systems could result in the loss of clients and negative publicity.

        Many of the systems we develop, install and maintain involve managing and protecting information involved in intelligence, national security and other sensitive or classified U.S. federal government functions. A security breach in one of these systems could cause serious harm to our business, damage our reputation and prevent us from being eligible for further work on sensitive or classified systems for U.S. federal government clients. We could incur losses from such a security breach that could exceed the policy limits under our errors and omissions and product liability insurance. Damage to our reputation or limitations on our eligibility for additional work resulting from a security breach in one of the systems we develop, install and maintain could materially reduce our revenue.

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         Our employees may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, which could cause us to lose contracts.

        We are exposed to the risk that employee fraud or other misconduct could occur. Misconduct by employees could include intentional failures to comply with U.S. federal government procurement regulations, engaging in unauthorized activities or falsifying time records. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of our clients' sensitive or classified information, which could result in regulatory sanctions against us and serious harm to our reputation and could result in a loss of contracts and a reduction in revenues. It is not always possible to deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses, which could cause us to lose contracts or cause a reduction in revenues. In addition, alleged or actual employee misconduct could result in investigations or prosecutions of employees engaged in the subject activities, which could result in unanticipated consequences or expenses and management distraction for us regardless of whether we are alleged to have any responsibility.

         Our business is dependent upon our ability to keep pace with the latest technological changes.

        The market for our services is characterized by rapid change and technological improvements. Failure to respond in a timely and cost effective way to these technological developments would result in serious harm to our business and operating results. We have derived, and we expect to continue to derive, a substantial portion of our revenues from providing innovative engineering services and technical solutions that are based upon today's leading technologies and that are capable of adapting to future technologies. As a result, our success will depend, in part, on our ability to develop and market service offerings that respond in a timely manner to the technological advances of our customers, evolving industry standards and changing client preferences.

         If we are unable to manage our growth, our business could be adversely affected.

        Sustaining our growth has placed significant demands on our management, as well as on our administrative, operational and financial resources. For us to continue to manage our growth, we must continue to improve our operational, financial and management information systems and expand, motivate and manage our workforce. If we are unable to manage our growth while maintaining our quality of service and profit margins, or if new systems that we implement to assist in managing our growth do not produce the expected benefits, our business, prospects, financial condition or operating results could be adversely affected.

         We may be harmed by intellectual property infringement claims and our failure to protect our intellectual property could enable competitors to market products and services with similar features.

        We may become subject to claims from our employees or third parties who assert that software and other forms of intellectual property that we use in delivering services and solutions to our clients infringe upon intellectual property rights of such employees or third parties. Our employees develop some of the software and other forms of intellectual property that we use to provide our services and solutions to our clients, but we also license technology from other vendors. If our employees, vendors, or other third parties assert claims that we or our clients are infringing on their intellectual property rights, we could incur substantial costs to defend those claims. If any of these infringement claims are ultimately successful, we could be required to cease selling or using products or services that incorporate the challenged software or technology, obtain a license or additional licenses from our employees, vendors, or other third parties, or redesign our products and services that rely on the challenged software or technology.

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        We attempt to protect our trade secrets by entering into confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with third parties, our employees and consultants. However, these agreements can be breached and, if they are, there may not be an adequate remedy available to us. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information and in such cases we could not assert any trade secret rights against such party. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally obtained and is using our trade secret is difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, our competitors could market services or products similar to our services and products, which could reduce demand for our offerings. Any litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, with no assurance of success.

         If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.

        Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports, our operating results could be misstated, our reputation may be harmed and the trading price of the notes could be negatively affected. Our management has concluded that there are no material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 27, 2009. However, there can be no assurance that our controls over financial processes and reporting will be effective in the future or that additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls will not be discovered in the future. Any failure to remediate any future material weaknesses or implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in our financial statements or other public disclosures. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of the notes. In addition, from time to time we acquire businesses which could have limited infrastructure and systems of internal controls.

         Our stock price may be volatile, which may result in lawsuits against us and our officers and directors.

        The stock market in general and the stock prices of government services companies in particular, have experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. The market price of our common stock has fluctuated in the past and is likely to fluctuate in the future. Factors which could have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock include, but are not limited to, the following:

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        Companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have frequently been the subject of securities class action litigation. We and certain of our current and former officers and directors have been named defendants in class action and derivative lawsuits. These matters and any other securities class action litigation and derivative lawsuits in which we may be involved could result in substantial costs to us and a diversion of our management's attention and resources, which could materially harm our financial condition and results of operations.

         We have incurred and may continue to incur goodwill impairment charges in our reporting entities which could harm our profitability.

        A significant portion of our net assets come from goodwill and other intangible assets. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), we periodically review the carrying values of our goodwill to determine whether such carrying values exceed the fair market value. Our acquired companies are subject to annual review for goodwill impairment. If impairment testing indicates that the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is deemed impaired. Accordingly, an impairment charge would be recognized for that reporting unit in the period identified.

        In 2008, as a result of our annual review, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $105.8 million related to our KGS segment, to reflect the declining market and economic conditions through December 28, 2008. In the beginning of 2009, we performed another impairment test for goodwill in accordance with Topic 350 as of February 28, 2009. The test indicated that the book value for our KGS segment exceeded the fair values of the businesses and resulted in our recording a charge totaling $41.3 million in that segment for the impairment of goodwill. The impairment charge was primarily driven by adverse equity market conditions that caused a decrease in current market multiples and our average stock price as of February 28, 2009, compared with the test performed as of December 28, 2008. Future reviews could result in further impairment charges, which could have a significant effect on our financial results.

         The commercial business arena in which we operate has relatively low barriers to entry and increased competition could result in margin erosion, which would make profitability even more difficult to sustain.

        We believe that other than the technical skills required in our commercial business, the barriers to entry in this area are relatively low. We do not have any intellectual property rights in this segment of our business to protect our methods, and business start-up costs do not pose a significant barrier to entry. The success of our commercial business is dependent on our employees, customer relations and the successful performance of our services. If we face increased competition as a result of new entrants in our markets, we could experience reduced operating margins and loss of market share and brand recognition.

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006, December 31, 2007, December 28, 2008, and December 27, 2009, which have been derived from our audited financial statements as of such dates and for such periods, and as of and for the three months ended March 29, 2009 and March 28, 2010 which have been derived from our unaudited financial statements. You should not regard the results of operations for the three months ended March 28, 2010 as indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the entire fiscal year. You should read the following information together with our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in our Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 28, 2010 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2009, which are incorporated by reference herein.

 
  Fiscal Year Ended
(audited)
  Three Months Ended
(unaudited)
 
 
  December 31,
2005
  December 31,
2006
  December 31,
2007
  December 28,
2008
  December 27,
2009
  March 29,
2009
  March 28,
2010
 
 
  (All amounts except per share data in millions)
 

Consolidated Statements of Operations Financial Data:

                                           
 

Revenue

  $ 130.7   $ 138.2   $ 180.7   $ 286.2   $ 334.5   $ 82.6   $ 68.7  
 

Gross profit

    29.8     26.2     29.7     58.2     69.3     17.2     16.5  
 

Loss from continuing operations

    (0.9 )   (25.9 )   (23.6 )   (93.2 )   (27.0 )   (41.2 )   (0.1 )
 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (1.8 )   14.5     1.3     (0.7 )   1.0     0.3     0.3  
 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

    1.2     (41.2 )   (27.2 )   (104.0 )   (38.3 )   (41.5 )   (0.4 )
 

Income (loss) from discontinuing operations

    0.4     (16.7 )   (13.6 )   (7.1 )   (3.2 )   (0.6 )   0.6  
 

Net income (loss)

  $ 1.6   $ (57.9 ) $ (40.8 ) $ (111.1 ) $ (41.5 ) $ (42.1 ) $ 0.2  

Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share

                                           
 

Basic

  $ 0.16   $ (5.56 ) $ (3.67 ) $ (11.18 ) $ (2.76 ) $ (3.24 ) $ (0.02 )
 

Diluted

  $ 0.16   $ (5.56 ) $ (3.67 ) $ (11.18 ) $ (2.76 ) $ (3.24 ) $ (0.02 )

Income (loss) from discontinuing operations per common share

                                           
 

Basic

  $ 0.06   $ (2.26 ) $ (1.84 ) $ (0.77 ) $ (0.23 ) $ (0.05 ) $ 0.04  
 

Diluted

  $ 0.06   $ (2.26 ) $ (1.84 ) $ (0.77 ) $ (0.23 ) $ (0.05 ) $ 0.04  

Net income (loss) per common share

                                           
 

Basic

  $ 0.22   $ (7.82 ) $ (5.51 ) $ (11.95 ) $ (2.99 ) $ (3.29 ) $ 0.02  
 

Diluted

  $ 0.22   $ (7.82 ) $ (5.51 ) $ (11.95 ) $ (2.99 ) $ (3.29 ) $ 0.02  

Weighted average shares

                                           
 

Basic

    7.4     7.4     7.4     9.3     13.9     12.8     15.9  
 

Diluted

    7.4     7.4     7.4     9.3     13.9     12.8     15.9  

 

 
  As of  
 
  December 31,
2005
  December 31,
2006
  December 31,
2007
  December 28,
2008
  December 27,
2009
  March 28,
2010
 
(All amounts in millions)
  (Audited)
  (Unaudited)
 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

                                     
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 7.4   $ 5.6   $ 8.9   $ 3.7   $ 9.9   $ 6.3  
 

Working capital

    67.4     (3.8 )   23.4     35.0     37.1     35.5  
 

Total assets

    342.0     337.7     335.3     312.4     241.6     255.9  
 

Short-term debt

    0.3     51.4     2.7     6.1     4.7     6.2  
 

Long-term debt

    0.4         74.0     76.9     51.6     48.3  
 

Total stockholders' equity

  $ 229.7   $ 187.1   $ 167.2   $ 146.9   $ 124.9   $ 126.2  

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes. In consideration for issuing the exchange notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange original notes in like principal amount. The original notes surrendered in exchange for exchange notes will be retired and canceled and cannot be reissued. Issuance of the exchange notes will not result in a change in our amount of outstanding debt.


THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer

        We issued $225 million aggregate principal amount of the original notes on May 19, 2010 to Jefferies & Company, Inc., B. Riley & Co., LLC, Imperial Capital, LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Noble International Investments, Inc., the initial purchasers, pursuant to a purchase agreement. The initial purchasers subsequently sold the original notes to "qualified institutional buyers," as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, in reliance on Rule 144A, and outside the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act. As a condition to the sale of the original notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers on May 19, 2010. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, we agreed that we would:

        Upon the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement, we will offer the exchange notes in exchange for the original notes. A copy of the registration rights agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Resale of the Exchange Notes

        Based upon an interpretation by the staff of the SEC contained in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that you may exchange original notes for exchange notes in the ordinary course of business. For further information on the SEC's position, see Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, available May 13, 1988, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, available June 5, 1991 and Shearman & Sterling, available July 2, 1993, and other interpretive letters to similar effect. You will be allowed to resell exchange notes to the public without further registration under the Securities Act and without delivering to purchasers of the exchange notes a prospectus that satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act so long as you do not participate, do not intend to participate, and have no arrangement with any person to participate, in a distribution of the exchange notes. However, the foregoing does not apply to you if you are: a broker-dealer who purchased the exchange notes directly from us to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act; or you are an "affiliate" of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

        In addition, if you are a broker-dealer, or you acquire exchange notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing or participating in the distribution of the exchange notes, you cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC contained in the no-action letters mentioned above and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction, unless an exemption from registration is otherwise available.

        Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for original notes, which the broker-dealer acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must

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acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. The letter of transmittal for use in connection with any such resale will state that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. A broker-dealer may use this prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes which the broker-dealer acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities.

Terms of the Exchange Offer

        Upon the terms and subject to the conditions stated in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept all original notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the expiration date. After authentication of the exchange notes by the trustee or an authenticating agent, we will issue $1,000 principal amount of exchange notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of original notes accepted in the exchange offer. Holders may tender some or all of their original notes in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000.

        If you wish to exchange your original notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, you will be required to represent that:

        You will make these representations to us by signing or agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal.

        Broker-dealers that are receiving exchange notes for their own account must have acquired the original notes as a result of market-making or other trading activities in order to participate in the exchange offer. Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes during the 180 day period following the completion of the exchange offer, exclusive of any period during which a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is in effect or we have suspended the use of this prospectus. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer during the 180 day period following the closing of the exchange offer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes where such original notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities. We have agreed that, during the

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180 day period following the closing of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."

        The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the original notes and will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture. The form and terms of the exchange notes are identical in all material respects to the form and terms of the original notes except that:

        Holders of original notes that are not entitled to participate in the exchange offer and holders who do not receive freely-tradable exchange notes will have, for a period of 180 days following the consummation of the exchange offer, the right to require us to file a registration statement covering resales of their notes. If we do not timely file or cause this resale registration statement to become effective, these holders will be entitled to additional interest.

        As of the date of this prospectus, $225 million aggregate principal amount of the original notes was outstanding. In connection with the issuance of the original notes, we arranged for the original notes to be issued and transferable in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC, acting as depositary. The exchange notes will also be issuable and transferable in book-entry form through DTC.

        This prospectus, together with the accompanying letter of transmittal, is initially being sent to all registered holders as of the close of business on July 12, 2010. We intend to conduct the exchange offer as required by the Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act), and the rules and regulations of the SEC under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14e-1, to the extent applicable.

        The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of original notes being tendered, and holders of the original notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters' rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or under the indenture in connection with the exchange offer. No governmental approvals or consents must be received to consummate the exchange offer. We shall be considered to have accepted original notes tendered according to the procedures in this prospectus when, as and if we have given oral or written notice of acceptance to the exchange agent. See "—Exchange Agent." The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of receiving exchange notes from us and delivering exchange notes to those holders.

        If any tendered original notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender or the occurrence of other events described in this prospectus, the unaccepted original notes will be credited to the holder's account at DTC according to the procedures described below or, in the case of original notes tendered by delivery of certificates, certificates for these unaccepted original notes will be returned, at our cost, to the tendering holder of the original notes, promptly after the expiration date.

        Holders who tender original notes in the exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, except as described in the following sentence, transfer taxes related to the exchange of original notes in the exchange offer. If you instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request that original notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than you, you will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than applicable taxes, in connection with the exchange offer. See "—Solicitation of Tenders; Fees and Expenses."

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        Neither we nor our board of directors makes any recommendation to holders of original notes as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their original notes pursuant to the exchange offer. Moreover, no one has been authorized to make any recommendation. Holders of original notes must make their own decision whether to tender in the exchange offer and, if so, the amount of original notes to tender after reading this prospectus and the letter of transmittal and consulting with their advisors, if any, based on their own financial position and requirements.

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments

        The term "expiration date" shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 11, 2010 unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the exchange offer, in which case the term "expiration date" shall mean the latest date to which the exchange offer is extended.

        We expressly reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

        The terms of the purchases or offers described in the fourth and fifth clauses above may differ from the terms of the exchange offer.

        Any delay in acceptance, termination, extension, or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by making a public announcement. If the exchange offer is amended in a manner determined by us to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose the amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders.

        Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make public announcements of any delay in acceptance, termination, extension, or amendment of the exchange offer, we shall have no obligation to publish, advise, or otherwise communicate any public announcement, other than by making a timely press release to an appropriate news agency.

        You are advised that we may extend the exchange offer because some of the holders of the original notes do not tender on a timely basis.

Interest on the Exchange Notes

        The exchange notes will bear interest from May 19, 2010, the date of issuance of the original notes that are being tendered in exchange for the exchange notes, or, if later, the most recent date on which interest was paid or provided for on the original notes surrendered for the exchange notes, at a rate of 10% per year. Accordingly, holders of original notes that are accepted for exchange will not receive interest that is accrued but unpaid on the original notes at the time of tender. We will pay interest on the exchange notes twice a year, on December 1st and June 1st, beginning December 1, 2010.

Procedures for Tendering

        Only a holder may tender his, her or its original notes in the exchange offer. Any beneficial owner whose original notes are registered in the name of such owner's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust

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company or other nominee or are held in book-entry form and who wishes to tender should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct the registered holder to tender on such owner's behalf. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender on his, her or its own behalf, the beneficial owner must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering the owner's original notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the original notes in the owner's name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of record ownership may take considerable time and may not be completed prior to the expiration time.

        The tender by a holder will constitute an agreement between the holder, us and the exchange agent according to the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

        A holder who desires to tender original notes and who cannot comply with the procedures set forth in this prospectus for tender on a timely basis or whose original notes are not immediately available must comply with the procedures for guaranteed delivery set forth below.

        The method of delivery of original notes and the letter of transmittal and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the election and risk of the holders. Delivery of such documents will be deemed made only when actually received by the exchange agent or deemed received under the ATOP procedures described below. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to the exchange agent prior to the expiration date. No letter of transmittal or original notes should be sent to us. Holders may also request that their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees effect the tender for holders in each case as described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

        Original Notes Held in Book-Entry Form.    We understand that the exchange agent will make a request promptly after the date of the prospectus to establish accounts for the original notes for the purpose of facilitating the exchange offer, and subject to their establishment, any financial institution that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of original notes by causing DTC to transfer the original notes into the exchange agent's account for the original notes using DTC's procedures for transfer.

        The exchange offer is eligible for DTC's ATOP. Accordingly, DTC participants may, instead of physically completing and signing the letter of transmittal and delivering it to the exchange agent, electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC to transfer original notes held in book-entry form to the exchange agent in accordance with DTC's ATOP procedures for transfer. DTC will then send a book-entry confirmation, including an agent's message to the exchange agent.

        The term "agent's message" means a message transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming part of the book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering original notes that are the subject of that book-entry confirmation that the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, and that we may enforce such agreement against such participant. If you use ATOP procedures to tender original notes you will not be required to deliver a letter of transmittal to the exchange agent, but you will be bound by its terms just as if you had signed it.

        If you desire to tender original notes held in book-entry form with DTC, the exchange agent must receive, prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date, at its address set forth in this prospectus, a confirmation of book-entry transfer of the original notes into the exchange agent's account at DTC, which is referred to in this prospectus as a "book-entry confirmation," and an agent's message transmitted pursuant to DTC's ATOP procedures. In lieu of transmitting an agent's message pursuant to DTC's ATOP procedures, you may deliver to the exchange agent, prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date, at the address set forth in this prospectus, a properly completed

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and validly executed letter of transmittal, or manually signed facsimile thereof, together with any signature guarantees and other documents required by the instructions in the letter of transmittal.

        Original Notes Held in Certificated Form.    For a holder to validly tender original notes held in physical, or certificated, form, the exchange agent must receive, prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date, at its address set forth in this prospectus:

        Signatures.    Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or an "eligible guarantor institution" within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act, unless the original notes tendered with the letter of transmittal are tendered:

        If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder or DTC participant who is listed as the owner, the original notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers which authorize the person to tender the original notes on behalf of the registered holder or DTC participant who is listed as the owner, in either case signed as the name of the registered holder who appears on the original notes or the DTC participant who is listed as the owner. If the letter of transmittal or any original notes or bond powers are signed or endorsed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, those persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by us, evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to so act must be submitted with the letter of transmittal.

        If you tender your notes through ATOP, signatures and signature guarantees are not required.

        Determinations of Validity.    All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, acceptance and withdrawal of the tendered original notes will be determined by us in our sole discretion. This determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all original notes not properly tendered or any original notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular original notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of original notes must be cured within the time we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities related to tenders of original notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities related to tenders of original notes, nor shall any of us incur liability for failure to give notification. Tenders of original notes will not be considered to have been made until the irregularities have been cured or waived. Any original notes received by the exchange agent that we determine are not properly tendered or the tender of which is otherwise rejected by us and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived by

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us will be returned by the exchange agent to the tendering holder unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly following the expiration date.

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

        Holders who wish to tender their original notes and:

may effect a tender if they tender through an institution eligible to guarantee signatures described under "—Procedures for Tendering—Signatures," or if they tender using ATOP's guaranteed delivery procedures.

        A tender of original notes made by or through an eligible institution will be accepted if:

        A tender made through DTC's ATOP procedures will be accepted if:

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        Upon request to the exchange agent, a notice of guaranteed delivery will be sent to holders who wish to tender their original notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above.

Withdrawal of Tenders

        Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, tenders of original notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. To withdraw a tender of original notes in the exchange offer:

        Any notice of withdrawal must:

        All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of the withdrawal notices will be determined by us, and our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any original notes so withdrawn will be judged not to have been tendered according to the procedures in this prospectus for purposes of the exchange offer, and no exchange notes will be issued in exchange for those original notes unless the original notes so withdrawn are validly retendered. Any original notes that have been tendered but are not accepted for exchange will be returned to the holder of the original notes without cost to the holder or, in the case of original notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the holder's account at DTC according to the procedures described above. This return or crediting will take place as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn original notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described above under "—Procedures for Tendering" at any time prior to the expiration date.

Conditions

        The exchange offer is subject only to the following conditions:

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        If any of these conditions are not met, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue exchange notes in exchange for, any original notes and may terminate or amend the exchange offer. These conditions are for our sole benefit and may be asserted by us regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by us in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in our discretion. All such conditions must be satisfied or waived by us at or before the expiration date.

Exchange Agent

        Wilmington Trust FSB has been appointed as exchange agent for the exchange offer. In this capacity, the exchange agent has no fiduciary duties and will be acting solely on the basis of our directions. Requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal, and requests for the notice of guaranteed delivery should be directed to the exchange agent. You should send certificates for original notes, letters of transmittal and any other required documents to the exchange agent addressed to:

By Regular Mail, Overnight Mail or Courier:
Wilmington Trust FSB
c/o Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890-1626

        Delivery of the letter of transmittal to an address other than as listed above or transmission of instructions via facsimile other than as described above does not constitute a valid delivery of the letter of transmittal.

Solicitation of Tenders; Fees and Expenses

        We will bear the expenses of requesting that holders of original notes tender those notes for exchange notes. The principal solicitation under the exchange offer is being made by mail. Additional solicitations may be made by our officers and regular employees and our affiliates in person, by telegraph, telephone or telecopier.

        We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or other persons soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. We, however, will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse the exchange agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection with the exchange offer and will indemnify the exchange agent for all losses and claims incurred by it as a result of the exchange offer. We may also pay brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding copies of this prospectus, letters of transmittal and related documents to the beneficial owners of the original notes and in handling or forwarding tenders for exchange.

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        We will pay the expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer, including fees and expenses of the exchange agent and trustee, SEC registration fees, and accounting and legal fees, printing costs, transfer taxes and related fees and expenses.

        You will not be obligated to pay any transfer tax in connection with the exchange, except if you instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request that notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than you, you will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax.

Accounting Treatment

        The exchange notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the original notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of the exchange. Accordingly, no gain or loss for accounting purposes will be recognized by us upon the closing of the exchange offer. We will amortize the expenses of the exchange offer over the term of the exchange notes.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

        The exchange of the original notes for the exchange notes in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and thus will have no U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders of original notes. The exchange notes received pursuant to the exchange offer will be treated as a continuation of the original notes. Consequently, there will be no change in a holder's adjusted tax basis in the exchange notes, and the holder's holding period in the exchange notes will be the same as that applicable to the original notes. In addition, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of the exchange notes will be the same as those applicable to the original notes.

Participation in the Exchange Offer; Untendered Notes

        Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary. Holders of the original notes are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making their own decisions on what action to take.

        As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of all original notes tendered under the terms of, this exchange offer, we will have fulfilled a covenant contained in the terms of the registration rights agreement. Holders of the original notes who do not tender in the exchange offer will continue to hold their original notes and will be entitled to all the rights, and subject to the limitations, applicable to the original notes under the indenture. Holders of original notes will no longer be entitled to any rights under the registration rights agreement that by their terms terminate or cease to have further effect as a result of the making of this exchange offer. See "Description of the Exchange Notes." All untendered original notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer described in the indenture. To the extent that original notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market for untendered original notes could be adversely affected. This is because there will probably be many fewer remaining original notes outstanding following the exchange, significantly reducing the liquidity of the untendered notes.

        We may in the future seek to acquire untendered original notes in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We intend to make any acquisitions of original notes following the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14e-1, to the extent applicable. We have no present plan to acquire any original notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any original notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

        You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading "Certain Definitions." In this description, "Kratos" and "the Company" refers only to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

        Kratos will issue the exchange notes under an indenture among itself, the guarantors and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee and collateral agent (the "indenture" or "Indenture"). The exchange notes will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The terms of the exchange notes will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to the "Notes" include the original notes and the exchange notes and all references to the guarantees or the "Guarantees" include the original guarantees and the exchange guarantees. The exchange notes and the original notes will be treated as a single class for all purposes of the indenture.

        The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture, but it does not restate the agreement in its entirety. Since this description is only a summary, you should refer to the indenture and the forms of the Notes, which are filed as exhibits to our Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 25, 2010, for a complete description of our obligations and your rights. Certain defined terms used in this description but not defined below under "—Certain Definitions" have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture.

        The registered holder of an exchange note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the indenture.

Brief Description of the Notes and the Guarantees

        The Notes.    The Notes:

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        The Guarantees.    The Notes are initially guaranteed by all of our existing and future direct and indirect Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Discontinued Subsidiaries). Each Guarantee of a Guarantor is:

Principal, Maturity and Interest

        The Company will issue up to an aggregate of $225.0 million in exchange notes in the exchange offer. The Company may issue additional Notes (Additional Notes) from time to time, subject to the limitations set forth under "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock."

        The Notes will mature on June 1, 2017.

        Interest on the Notes accrues at the rate of 10% per annum and is due and payable semiannually in cash on each of June 1 and December 1, commencing on December 1, 2010, to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on each of May 15 and November 15 immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. Interest on the Notes accrues from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal of and premium, if any, on the Notes at 1% per annum in excess of the above rate and will pay interest on overdue installments of interest at such increased rate to the extent lawful. Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Collateral

        Pursuant to an Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes and the Guarantees are secured by (i) a Lien on the Notes Priority Collateral that is contractually senior to a Lien on the Notes Priority Collateral that secures the Credit Agreement and (ii) a Lien on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that is contractually subordinated to a Lien on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that secures the Credit Agreement, in each case subject to Permitted Liens.

        "Notes Priority Collateral" means all existing and future property and assets owned by the Company and the Guarantors (other than Excluded Assets (as defined below) and the Credit Facility Priority Collateral). The Notes Priority Collateral includes, but is not limited to, the Company's and the Guarantors' real property, equipment, machinery, apparatus, motor vehicles, fittings, furniture, furnishings and fixtures, parts and accessories of the equipment, and all replacements and substitutions

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therefor or accessions thereto, trademarks, licenses, trade names, patents, trade secrets, domain names and copyrights, and general intangibles necessary for the operation of the equipment, machinery and motor vehicles, including warranties and operational manuals and similar items, Capital Stock of each Subsidiary (other than any Discontinued Subsidiary) owned by the Company or any such Guarantor, supporting obligations securing or guaranteeing licenses of intellectual property granted to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and all identifiable proceeds of each of the foregoing (including insurance proceeds, eminent domain proceeds and condemnation proceeds for loss of the foregoing).

        "Excluded Assets" include:

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provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence, no asset described in clause (1) through (10) above (other than clause (8)) shall constitute an "Excluded Asset" if such asset is subject to a Permitted Lien described in clause (18) or (22) of the definition thereof.

        The "Credit Facility Priority Collateral" consists of all of the Company's and each Guarantors' existing and future (i) accounts, (ii) receivables, (iii) inventory, (iv) deposit accounts and all cash, cash equivalents, checks and other instruments on deposit therein or credited thereto, (iv) securities accounts and all investment property, cash and cash equivalents, (v) lock boxes and all cash, checks and other instruments on deposit therein or credited thereto, (vi) general intangibles, (vii) contract rights, instruments, documents, chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), drafts and acceptances, and all other forms of obligations owing to the Company or such Guarantor, and (viii) all supporting obligations (other than with respect to supporting obligations securing or guaranteeing licenses of intellectual property granted to the Company and its Subsidiaries); together with all of the Company's or such Guarantor's ledger sheets, ledger cards, files, correspondence, records, books of account, business papers, computers, computer software (owned by the Company or any Guarantor or in which it has an interest), computer programs, tapes, disks and documents and all proceeds and products of the foregoing in whatever form, including: cash, deposit accounts (whether or not comprised solely of proceeds), certificates of deposit, insurance proceeds (including credit insurance), negotiable instruments and other instruments for the payment of money, chattel paper, security agreements, documents, and tort claim proceeds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence, (i) trademarks, licenses, trade names, patents, trade secrets, domain names, and copyrights of the Company or any Guarantor, and general intangibles necessary for the operation of the equipment, machinery and motor vehicles, including warranties and operational manuals and similar items, (ii) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor (other than a Discontinued Subsidiary), (iii) any real property, equipment, machinery, apparatus, motor vehicles, fittings, furniture, furnishings and fixtures, parts and accessories of the equipment, and all replacements and substitutions therefor or accessions thereto owned by the Company or any Guarantor, (iv) supporting obligations securing or guaranteeing licenses of intellectual property granted to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (v) the identifiable proceeds of each of the foregoing (including insurance proceeds, eminent domain proceeds and condemnation proceeds for loss of the foregoing) shall not constitute Credit Facility Priority Collateral.

        No appraisals of any Collateral have been prepared in connection with the offering of the Notes. The value of the Collateral at any time will depend on market and other economic conditions, including the availability of suitable buyers for the Collateral. In the event of a foreclosure, liquidation, bankruptcy or similar proceeding, no assurance can be given that the proceeds from any sale or liquidation of the Collateral will be sufficient to pay any of the Company's Obligations under the Notes or any of the Guarantees thereof, in full or at all.

        The right of the Collateral Agent to repossess and dispose or otherwise exercise remedies in respect of the Collateral upon the occurrence of an Event of Default is likely to be significantly impaired by applicable bankruptcy law if a bankruptcy proceeding were to be commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor prior to the Collateral Agent having repossessed and disposed of the Collateral or otherwise completed the exercise of its remedies with respect to the Collateral. Under the Bankruptcy Code, a secured creditor such as the Collateral Agent is prohibited from repossessing its security from a debtor in a bankruptcy case, or from disposing of security repossessed from such

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debtor, without bankruptcy court approval. Moreover, the Bankruptcy Code permits the debtor to continue to retain and to use collateral even though the debtor is in default under the applicable debt instruments; provided that, under the Bankruptcy Code, the secured creditor is given "adequate protection." The meaning of the term "adequate protection" may vary according to circumstances, but it is intended in general to protect the value of the secured creditor's interest in the collateral securing the Obligations owed to it and may include cash payments or the granting of additional security, if and at such times as the bankruptcy court in its discretion determines, for any diminution in the value of such collateral as a result of the stay of repossession or disposition or any use of the collateral by the debtor during the pendency of the bankruptcy case. In view of the lack of a precise definition of the term "adequate protection" and the broad discretionary powers of a bankruptcy court, it is impossible to predict how long payments under the Notes or the Guarantees could be delayed following commencement of a bankruptcy case, whether or when the Collateral Agent could repossess or dispose of the Collateral or whether or to what extent Holders would be compensated for any delay in payment or loss of value of the Collateral through the requirement of "adequate protection."

        Moreover, the Collateral Agent may need to evaluate the impact of the potential liabilities before determining to foreclose on Collateral consisting of real property because a secured creditor that holds a lien on real property may be held liable under environmental laws for the costs of remediating or preventing release or threatened releases of hazardous substances at such real property. Consequently, the Collateral Agent may decline to foreclose on such Collateral or exercise remedies available if it does not receive indemnification to its satisfaction from the Holders.

        The Collateral Agent's ability to foreclose on the Collateral may be subject to lack of perfection, the consent of third parties, prior liens and practical problems associated with the realization of the Collateral Agent's Lien on the Collateral.

Intercreditor Agreement

        The Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement, which provides for the following:

        Lien Priorities.    Notwithstanding the date, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens granted to the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral or of any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York (the UCC) or any other applicable law or the Indenture Documents or the Credit Facility Documents or any other circumstance whatsoever, so long as the Discharge of the Credit Facility Claims has not occurred: (a) any Lien on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holders or any agent or trustee therefor securing any Credit Facility Claims, will be senior in all respects and prior to any Lien thereon that secures any of the Indenture Obligations; and (b) any Lien on such Credit Facility Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holders or any agent or trustee therefor securing any Indenture Obligations, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, will be junior and subordinate in all respects to all Liens thereon that secures any Credit Facility Claims. Notwithstanding the date, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders on the Notes Priority Collateral or of any Liens granted to the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders on the Notes Priority Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC or any other applicable law or the Credit Facility Documents or the Indenture Documents or any other circumstance whatsoever, so long as the Discharge of Indenture Obligations has not occurred: (a) any Lien on the Notes Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or

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any Holders or any agent or trustee therefor securing any Indenture Obligations, will be senior in all respects and prior to any Lien thereon that secures any of the Credit Facility Claims (except as provided in the definition of Indenture Obligations); and (b) any Lien on such Notes Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holders or any agent or trustee therefor securing any Credit Facility Claims, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, will be junior and subordinate in all respects to all Liens thereon that secure any Indenture Obligations (except as provided in the definition of Indenture Obligations).

        Prohibition on Contesting Liens.    The Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and each Holder, and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and each Credit Facility Claim Holder, agrees that it will not and will waive any right to contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any insolvency or liquidation proceeding), the priority, validity, perfection or enforceability of a Lien held by or on behalf of any of the Credit Facility Claim Holders in the Common Collateral or by or on behalf of any of the Holders in the Common Collateral, as the case may be; provided that nothing in the Intercreditor Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of: (a) the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holder to enforce the Intercreditor Agreement, including the priority of the Liens securing the Credit Facility Claims; or (b) the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder to enforce the Intercreditor Agreement, including the priority of the Liens securing the Indenture Obligations.

        New Liens.    The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and each Credit Facility Claim Holder, agrees that, so long as the Discharge of Indenture Obligations has not occurred, it shall not obtain a Lien on any asset or property of the Company or any Guarantor unless the Company or the Administrative Agent shall have provided the Collateral Agent with prior written notice thereof. The Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, agrees that, so long as the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims has not occurred, it shall not obtain a Lien on any asset or property of the Company or any Guarantor unless the Company or the Collateral Agent shall have provided the Administrative Agent with prior written notice thereof. To the extent the foregoing is not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any of the Credit Facility Claim Holders or the Holders pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of the foregoing shall be subject to "—Application of Proceeds".

        Exercise of Remedies in Respect of Credit Facility Priority Collateral.    So long as the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims has not occurred, whether or not any insolvency or liquidation proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor, (a) the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders will not exercise or seek to exercise any rights or remedies (including set-off) with respect to any Credit Facility Priority Collateral that secures any Indenture Obligations, institute any action or proceeding with respect to such rights or remedies (including any action of foreclosure), contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holder, the exercise of any right under any Indenture Document or any lockbox agreement, control agreement, blocked account agreement, landlord waiver or bailee's letter or similar agreement or arrangement to which the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder is a party relating to any Credit Facility Priority Collateral, or any other exercise by any such Person, of any rights and remedies relating to the Credit Facility Priority Collateral under the Credit Facility Documents or otherwise, or object to the forbearance by the Credit Facility Claim Holders from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Credit Facility Priority Collateral, and (b) the Administrative Agent and the Credit Facility Claim Holders have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including set-off and the right to

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credit bid their debt) and make determinations regarding the release, disposition, or restrictions with respect to the Credit Facility Priority Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder; provided, however, that (i) in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent may file a proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Indenture Obligations, subject to the limitations contained in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Collateral Agent may take any action (not adverse to the prior Liens on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that secures the Indenture Obligations, or the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to preserve or protect its Lien on such Credit Facility Priority Collateral so long as such action is consistent with the terms and limitations on the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders imposed by the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iii) the Collateral Agent may take any action to foreclose upon any such Credit Facility Priority Collateral so long as (1) 180 days have elapsed from the date that the Collateral Agent has given written notice to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of an Event of Default under and as defined in the Indenture Documents, (2) the Administrative Agent is not diligently pursuing in good faith the exercise of its enforcement rights or remedies against such Credit Facility Priority Collateral at the end of such 180-day period, and (3) the proceeds received by the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder in connection with such foreclosure action by the Collateral Agent is applied pursuant to "—Application of Proceeds;" provided further that, to the extent the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders are stayed or otherwise prohibited by law from exercising such rights or remedies in respect of the relevant Credit Facility Priority Collateral during such 180-day period, then the foregoing 180-day period will be automatically extended by the number of days of such stay or prohibition.

        Exercise of Remedies in Respect of Notes Priority Collateral.    So long as the Discharge of Indenture Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any insolvency or liquidation proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor, (a) the Administrative Agent and the Credit Facility Claim Holders will not exercise or seek to exercise any rights or remedies (including set-off) with respect to any Notes Priority Collateral that secures any Credit Facility Claims, institute any action or proceeding with respect to such rights or remedies (including any action of foreclosure), contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder, the exercise of any right under any Credit Facility Document or any lockbox agreement, control agreement, blocked account agreement, landlord waiver or bailee's letter or similar agreement or arrangement to which the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holder is a party relating to any Notes Priority Collateral, or any other exercise by any such Person, of any rights and remedies relating to the Notes Priority Collateral under the Indenture Documents or otherwise, or object to the forbearance by the Holders from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Notes Priority Collateral, and (b) subject to certain limitations contained in the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including set-off and the right to credit bid their debt) and make determinations regarding the release, disposition, or restrictions with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holder; provided, however, that (i) in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent may file a proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Credit Facility Claims, subject to certain limitations contained in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Administrative Agent may take any action (not adverse to the prior Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral that secures the Credit Facility Claims, or the rights of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to preserve or protect its Lien on such Notes Priority Collateral so long as such action is consistent with the terms and limitations on the Administrative Agent and the Credit Facility Claim Holders imposed by the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iii) the Administrative Agent may take any action to foreclose upon any such Notes Priority

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Collateral so long as (1) 270 days have elapsed from the date that the Administrative Agent has given written notice to the Collateral Agent of the occurrence of an Event of Default under and as defined in the Credit Facility Documents (and so long as at the time such notice is given an Event of Default under and as defined in the Indenture Documents has occurred and be continuing), (2) the Collateral Agent is not diligently pursuing in good faith the exercise of its enforcement rights or remedies against such Notes Priority Collateral at the end of such 270-day period, and (3) the proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holder in connection with such foreclosure action by the Administrative Agent is applied pursuant to "—Application of Proceeds;" provided further that, to the extent the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders are stayed or otherwise prohibited by law from exercising such rights or remedies in respect of the relevant Credit Facility Priority Collateral during such 270-day period, then the foregoing 270-day period will be automatically extended by the number of days of such stay or prohibition.

        Collateral Access and Other Rights in favor of the Administrative Agent.    The Collateral Agent will consent to allow the Administrative Agent and its officers, employees and agents reasonable and non-exclusive access to and use of any real property, equipment and fixtures of the Company or any Guarantor, for a period not exceeding 180 days; provided, that, to the extent the Administrative Agent is stayed or otherwise prohibited by law from exercising such rights or remedies in respect of the relevant Credit Facility Priority Collateral during such 180-day period, then the foregoing 180-day period shall be automatically extended by the number of days of such stay or prohibition (the "Processing and Sale Period"), as necessary or reasonably appropriate to remove or sell, in any lawful manner, any Credit Facility Priority Collateral, subject to the following conditions and limitations:

        The Collateral Agent and such foreclosure purchaser will: (i) provide reasonable cooperation to the Administrative Agent and its officers, employees and agents, in connection with the removal and sale of any Credit Facility Priority Collateral by the Administrative Agent and its officers, employees and agents, as provided above; and (ii) be entitled to receive, from the Administrative Agent, fair compensation and reimbursement for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation. The Collateral Agent and such foreclosure purchaser (or its transferee or successor) will not otherwise be contractually required to remove, insure, protect, store, safeguard, sell or deliver any Credit Facility Priority Collateral or to provide any support, assistance or cooperation to the Administrative Agent in respect thereof.

        The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein, so long as the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims has not occurred, whether or not any insolvency or liquidation proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders will not foreclose upon or otherwise sell or dispose of any of the Notes Priority Collateral or institute any action or proceeding with respect thereto (including any action of foreclosure) until after a period of 180 days, such period commencing from the date that

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the Collateral Agent shall have given written notice to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of an Event of Default and the Collateral Agent's intention to commence its exercise of remedies subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit the right of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders to (i) file a proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Indenture Obligations, subject to the limitations contained in the Intercreditor Agreement, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor, (ii) take any action in order to preserve or protect their Lien on the Notes Priority Collateral, or (iii) prepare for, or commence marketing activities for, the foreclosure, sale or other disposition of the Notes Priority Collateral.

        The Collateral Agent will consent (given without any representation, warranty or obligation whatsoever) to the grant by the Company or any Guarantor to the Collateral Agent of a non-exclusive royalty-free license to use any patent, trademark, copyrights, any licenses relating thereto or proprietary information or books and records of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, that is subject to a consensual Lien held by the Collateral Agent, in connection with the enforcement of any consensual Lien held by the Administrative Agent upon any inventory of the Company or such Guarantor or the collection of accounts or performance of contracts of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, and to the extent the use of such patent, trademark, copyrights, any licenses relating thereto or proprietary information or books and records is necessary or appropriate, in the commercially reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to manufacture, produce, complete, remove or sell any such inventory in any lawful manner, or to collect accounts or perform contracts of the Company or such Guarantor. Any consent so delivered by the Collateral Agent shall be binding on its successors and assigns, including a purchaser of the patent, trademark, copyrights, any licenses relating thereto or proprietary information or books and records subject to such license at a foreclosure sale conducted in foreclosure of any Lien held by the Collateral Agent.

        Application of Proceeds.    So long as the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims has not occurred, the Credit Facility Priority Collateral or proceeds thereof (or amounts in respect thereof) received in connection with the sale or other disposition of, or collection on, such Credit Facility Priority Collateral upon the exercise of remedies (or in respect of any Credit Facility Priority Collateral in the event of the occurrence of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding with respect to the Company or any Guarantor), shall be applied in the following order: first, to the payment of (a) the costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the Credit Agreement or the costs and expenses otherwise payable under the Credit Agreement, and (b) the costs and expenses specifically incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with such sale or other disposition or collection relating to such Credit Facility Priority Collateral by the Collateral Agent on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that is permitted pursuant to "Exercise of Remedies in Respect of Credit Facility Priority Collateral", until all such costs and expenses as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) hereof shall have been paid in full in cash; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this clause to the contrary, in no event shall proceeds of Credit Facility Priority Collateral collected prior to the commencement of such sale, disposition or collection by the Collateral Agent, be used to pay (i) costs and expenses of the Collateral Agent pursuant to this clause, or (ii) costs and expenses incurred prior to such date of commencement; second, by the Administrative Agent to the Credit Facility Claims in such order as specified in the relevant Credit Facility Documents (or, if an order is not specified in the Credit Facility Documents, in such order determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) until the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims has occurred; third; by the Collateral Agent to the Indenture Obligations in such order as specified in the Indenture until the Discharge of Indenture Obligations has occurred; fourth, by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to the Excess Credit Facility Claims and the Excess Indenture Obligations, respectively, on a pro rata basis until all such Obligations have been paid in full in cash; and fifth, to the Company or applicable Guarantor, or its successors or assigns, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining from such proceeds.

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        So long as the Discharge of Indenture Obligations has not occurred, the Notes Priority Collateral or proceeds thereof (or amounts in respect thereof) received in connection with the sale or other disposition of, or collection on, such Notes Priority Collateral upon the exercise of remedies (or in respect of any Notes Priority Collateral in the event of the occurrence of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding with respect to the Company or any Guarantor), shall be applied: first, to the payment of (a) the costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with the Indenture Documents or the costs and expenses otherwise payable under the Indenture Documents, and (b) the costs and expenses specifically incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with such sale or other disposition or collection relating to such Notes Priority Collateral by the Administrative Agent on the Notes Priority Collateral that is permitted pursuant to "Exercise of Remedies in Respect of Notes Priority Collateral", until all such costs and expenses as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) hereof shall have been paid in full in cash; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this clause to the contrary, in no event shall proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral collected prior to the commencement of such sale, disposition or collection by the Administrative Agent, be used to pay (i) costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause, or (ii) costs and expenses incurred prior to such date of commencement; second, by the Collateral Agent to the Indenture Obligations in such order as specified in the Indenture until the Discharge of Indenture Obligations has occurred; third; by the Administrative Agent to the Credit Facility Claims in such order as specified in the Credit Facility Documents (or, if an order is not specified in the Credit Facility Documents, in such order determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) until the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims has occurred; fourth, by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to the Excess Credit Facility Claims and the Excess Indenture Obligations, respectively, on a pro rata basis until all such Obligations have been paid in full in cash; and fifth, to the Company or applicable Guarantor, or its successors or assigns, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining from such proceeds.

        Turnover.    Any Credit Facility Priority Collateral or proceeds thereof (or amounts in respect thereof) received by the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including set-off) relating to the Credit Facility Priority Collateral in contravention of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Any Notes Priority Collateral or proceeds thereof (or amounts in respect thereof) received by the Administrative Agent or any Credit Facility Claim Holder in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including set-off) relating to the Notes Priority Collateral in contravention of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

        Release of Liens—Intercreditor Agreement.    If in connection with (a) the exercise of the Administrative Agent's remedies in respect of the Credit Facility Priority Collateral or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any Credit Facility Priority Collateral that, with respect to this clause (b), is both permitted or not prohibited under (i) the terms of the Credit Facility Documents (whether or not an "event of default" thereunder, and as defined therein, has occurred and is continuing) and (ii) the terms of the Indenture, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, releases (or indicates that it will release) any of its Liens on any part of the Credit Facility Priority Collateral, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, agree to promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Company such termination statements, releases and other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Company may reasonably request to effect such release. If in connection with (a) the exercise of the Collateral Agent's remedies in respect of the Notes Priority Collateral or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any Notes Priority Collateral that, with respect to this clause (b), is both permitted

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or not prohibited under (i) the terms of the Indenture Documents (whether or not an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) and (ii) under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, releases (or indicates that it will release) any of its Liens on any part of the Notes Priority Collateral, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, agree to promptly execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent or the Company such termination statements, releases and other documents as the Collateral Agent or the Company may reasonably request to effect such release.

        Bankruptcy Financing and Other Matters.    If the Company or any Guarantor shall be subject to any insolvency or liquidation proceeding and the Administrative Agent shall desire to permit the use of cash collateral or to permit the Company or any Guarantor to obtain financing under Section 363 or Section 364 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar Bankruptcy Law ("DIP Financing") in an aggregate principal amount, which when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of all pre-petition Credit Facility Claims (excluding any Credit Facility Cash Management Obligations and Credit Facility Hedging Obligations but including any Protective Advance Obligations), does not exceed the then permitted Maximum Credit Facility Principal Amount on such date, and, in any event, that is not to be secured by any of the Notes Priority Collateral, then the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, agree that it will raise no objection to such use of cash collateral or DIP Financing and will not request adequate protection or any other relief in connection therewith (except to the extent permitted in the second immediately succeeding paragraph or relating to the Notes Priority Collateral), and, to the extent the Liens securing the Credit Facility Claims are subordinated or pari passu with such DIP Financing, subordinate its Liens in the Common Collateral (other than the Notes Priority Collateral) to such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the Liens on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that secures the Indenture Obligations are subordinated to the Liens thereon that secures the Credit Facility Claims under the Intercreditor Agreement, and agrees that notice received two (2) calendar days prior to the entry of an order approving such usage of cash collateral or approving such financing shall be adequate notice.

        Until the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, agree that none of them shall seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding in respect of the Credit Facility Priority Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. Until the Indenture Obligations have been paid in full, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, agrees that none of them shall seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding in respect of the Notes Priority Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

        The Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, agree that none of them shall contest (or support any other Person contesting): (a) any request by the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders for adequate protection; or (b) any objection by the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Administrative Agent or the Credit Facility Claim Holders claiming a lack of adequate protection, in each case, in respect of the Credit Facility Priority Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, (i) if the Credit Facility Claim Holders (or any subset thereof) are granted adequate protection in the form of additional collateral in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral under Section 363 or Section 364 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar bankruptcy law, then the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee or any of the Holders, may seek or request adequate protection in the form of a replacement Lien on such additional collateral, which Lien, if any, on any assets not constituting Notes Priority Collateral or not of the type constituting Notes Priority Collateral shall be subordinated to the Liens securing the Credit Facility Claims and such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the other Liens on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that secures the Indenture Obligations are so

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subordinated to the Liens thereon that secures the Credit Facility Claims under the Intercreditor Agreement, and (ii) in the event the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, seeks or requests adequate protection and such adequate protection is granted in the form of additional collateral that does not constitute Notes Priority Collateral or is not of the type constituting Notes Priority Collateral, then the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself, the Trustee or any of the Holders, agrees that the Administrative Agent shall also be granted a senior Lien on such additional collateral as security for the Credit Facility Claims and any such DIP Financing and that any Lien on such additional collateral securing the Indenture Obligations shall be subordinated to the Liens on such collateral securing the Credit Facility Claims and any such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) and any other Liens granted to the Credit Facility Claim Holders as adequate protection on the same basis as the other Liens on the Credit Facility Priority Collateral that secures the Indenture Obligations are so subordinated to the Liens thereon that secures such Credit Facility Claims under the Intercreditor Agreement.

        The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, agree that none of them shall contest (or support any other Person contesting): (a) any request by the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders for adequate protection; or (b) any objection by the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Holders claiming a lack of adequate protection, in each case, in respect of the Notes Priority Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, (i) if the Holders (or any subset thereof) are granted adequate protection in the form of additional collateral in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral under Section 363 or Section 364 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar Bankruptcy Law, then the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself or any of the Credit Facility Claim Holders, may seek or request adequate protection in the form of a replacement Lien on such additional collateral, which Lien, if any, on any assets not constituting Credit Facility Priority Collateral or not of the type constituting Credit Facility Priority Collateral shall be subordinated to the Liens securing the Indenture Obligations and such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the other Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral that secures the Credit Facility Claims are so subordinated to the Liens thereon that secures the Indenture Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, and (ii) in the event the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Credit Facility Claim Holders, seeks or requests adequate protection and such adequate protection is granted in the form of additional collateral that does not constitute Credit Facility Priority Collateral or is not of the type constituting Credit Facility Priority Collateral, then the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself or any of the Credit Facility Claim Holders, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall also be granted a senior Lien on such additional collateral as security for the Indenture Obligations and any such DIP Financing and that any Lien on such additional collateral securing the Credit Facility Claims shall be subordinated to the Liens on such collateral securing the Indenture Obligations and any such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) and any other Liens granted to the Holders as adequate protection on the same basis as the other Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral that secures the Credit Facility Claims are so subordinated to the Liens thereon that secures such Indenture Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement.

        Asset Dispositions in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.    None of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or any Holder shall, in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding or otherwise, oppose any sale or disposition of any assets of the Company or any Guarantor made in accordance with certain limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement solely consisting of any Credit Facility Priority Collateral that is supported by the Credit Facility Credit Facility Claim Holders, and the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and each Holder will be deemed to have consented under Section 363 of Title 11 of the United States Code (and otherwise) to any sale supported by the Credit Facility Claim Holders and to have released their Liens in such assets. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Credit Facility Claim Holder shall, in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding or otherwise, oppose any sale or disposition of any assets of

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the Company or any Guarantor solely consisting of any Notes Priority Collateral that is supported by the requisite Holders (as determined in accordance with the Indenture) and the Administrative Agent and each Credit Facility Claim Holder will be deemed to have consented under Section 363 of Title 11 of the United States Code (and otherwise) to any sale supported by the Holders and to have released their Liens in such assets.

        Purchase Option.    Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of (a) the acceleration prior to maturity of all or any portion of the Indebtedness then outstanding under the Credit Agreement, (b) the exercise of any remedy with respect to Liens on the Common Collateral by the Administrative Agent, (c) a default in any scheduled payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or fees under the Indenture or the Credit Agreement that remains uncured or unwaived for a period of 30 days in the aggregate, or (d) the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, the Holders may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice from the Collateral Agent at the direction of such Holders to the Company and the Administrative Agent, irrevocably require the Credit Facility Claim Holders to transfer and assign to the Holders, without warranty or representation or recourse (other than the representation or warranty that such Credit Facility Claims are being transferred without any Lien created by the Credit Facility Claim Holders), all (but not less than all) of the Credit Facility Claims and all rights of the Credit Facility Claim Holders under the Credit Facility Documents with respect to the Credit Facility Claims; provided that (x) the Administrative Agent and the Credit Facility Claim Holders shall retain all rights to be indemnified or to be held harmless by the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with the terms of the Credit Facility Documents, (y) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other governmental authority having jurisdiction, and (z) the Holders shall have paid to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Credit Facility Claim Holders, in immediately available funds, an amount equal to 100% of the principal of such Indebtedness (including Credit Facility Hedging Obligations, Protective Advance Obligations and Credit Facility Cash Management Obligations) plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon plus all accrued and unpaid fees (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and costs) including any breakage costs and expenses (other than any other fees that become due as a result of the prepayment of the loans and other advances under, or early termination of, the Credit Agreement (such fees are referred to hereinafter as "Termination Fees")) plus all the other Credit Facility Claims then outstanding (which shall include, with respect to the aggregate face amount of the letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement, an amount in cash equal to 105% thereof). In order to effectuate the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall provide an estimated calculation, upon the written request of the Holders submitted through the Collateral Agent from time to time (but in no event more than twice in any calendar month), the amount in cash that would be necessary to so purchase the Credit Facility Claims. If the purchase option is exercised: (a) the parties shall endeavor to close promptly thereafter but in any event within ten (10) Business Days of the notice thereof, (b) such purchase of the Credit Facility Claims shall be exercised pursuant to documentation mutually acceptable to each of the Administrative Agent and the Holders purchasing such claims, and (c) such Credit Facility Claims shall be purchased pro rata among the Holders giving notice to the Collateral Agent of their intent to exercise the purchase option hereunder according to such Holders' portion of the Indenture Obligations outstanding on the date of purchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if, at any time following the consummation of such transfer and assignment and the occurrence of the Discharge of Credit Facility Claims and the Discharge of Indenture Obligations (other than the payment of any fees that become due as a result of the prepayment or termination of the Indenture Obligations), the Holders recover any termination fees prior to the first anniversary of the date of such transfer and assignment is consummated, they shall turn over such fees to Credit Facility Claim Holders in the form and to the extent received.

        Release of Liens—Notes.    The Company and the Guarantors are entitled to releases of assets included in the Collateral from the Liens securing Indenture Obligations under any one or more of the

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following circumstances, and such Liens on such assets shall automatically, without the need for any further action by any Person, be released, terminated and discharged:

        The Liens on the Collateral that secures the Indenture Obligations also will automatically, without the need for any further action by any Person, be released, terminated and discharged:

        The Collateral Documents provide that the Collateral Agent will execute, upon request and at the Company's expense, any documents, instruments, agreements or filings reasonably requested by the Company to evidence the release of the Collateral.

Guarantees

        The full and prompt payment of the Company's payment obligations under the Notes and the other Indenture Documents are guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all existing and future, direct and indirect, Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Discontinued Subsidiaries). Each Guarantor fully and unconditionally guarantees on a senior secured basis (each a "Guarantee" and, collectively, the "Guarantees"), jointly and severally, to each Holder and the Trustee, the full and prompt performance of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the other Indenture Documents, including the payment of principal of, interest on and premium, if any, on the Notes. The Guarantee of each Guarantor ranks senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor and equally in right of payment with all other existing and future senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor. The obligations of each Guarantor are limited to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under the Indenture, that result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law. The net worth of any Guarantor for such purpose shall include any claim of such Guarantor against the Company for reimbursement and any claim against any other Guarantor for contribution. Each Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into or sell its assets to the Company or another Guarantor without limitation. See "Certain Covenants—Mergers, Consolidation and Sale of Assets" and "—Limitation on Asset Sales."

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Guarantor will be released from its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder:

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        At the Company's request and expense, the Trustee will execute and deliver an instrument evidencing such release. A Guarantor may also be released from its obligations under its Guarantee in connection with a permitted amendment of the Indenture. See "—Modification of the Indenture."

        As of the Issue Date, all of our Subsidiaries are Restricted Subsidiaries. However, under certain circumstances described below under "Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments," the Company is permitted to designate certain of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the restrictive covenants of the Indenture and do not guarantee the Notes. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these Unrestricted Subsidiaries or any of our existing and future Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries, such Unrestricted Subsidiary or such Foreign Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, will pay the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Company.

Redemption

        Optional Redemption prior to June 1, 2014.    At any time on or prior to June 1, 2014, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased by the Company in whole or in part, at the Company's option, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, the date of redemption or purchase (the "Redemption Date") (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Such redemption or purchase may be made upon notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder's registered address, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

        Optional Redemption on or after June 1, 2014.    Except as described above and below, the Notes are not redeemable before June 1, 2014. Thereafter, the Company may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on June 1, of the year set forth below:

Year
  Percentage  

2014

    105.000 %

2015

    102.500 %

2016 and thereafter

    100.000 %

In addition, the Company must pay accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed.

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        Optional Redemption Upon Equity Offerings.    At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to June 1, 2013, the Company may, at its option, use an amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) originally issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 110% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, thereon, if any, to the date of redemption; provided that:

        Selection and Notice of Redemption.    In the event that the Company chooses to redeem less than all of the Notes, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee either:

        If a partial redemption is made with the proceeds of an Equity Offering, the Trustee will select the Notes only on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable (subject to DTC procedures), unless such method is otherwise prohibited. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part and Notes of a principal amount in excess of $2,000 may be redeemed in part in multiples of $1,000 only.

        Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to the Trustee and each Holder to be redeemed at its registered address. If Notes are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in the Global Note will be made).

        The Company will pay the redemption price for any Note together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption as long as the Company has deposited with the paying agent funds in satisfaction of the applicable redemption price pursuant to the Indenture.

Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases

        The Company is not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to offer to purchase the Notes as described under the captions "Repurchase upon Change of Control" and "Certain Covenants—Limitation on Asset Sales." The Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

Repurchase upon Change of Control

        Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder has the right to require that the Company purchase all or a portion (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder's Notes using immediately available funds pursuant to the offer described below (the

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"Change of Control Offer"), at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.

        Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control occurred, the Company must send, by first-class mail, an offer to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, which offer shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such offer shall state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the "Change of Control Payment Date").

        Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer are required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, to the paying agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third business day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. If only a portion of a Note is purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, a new Note in a principal amount equal to the portion thereof not purchased will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in a Global Note will be made). Notes (or portions thereof) purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be cancelled and cannot be reissued.

        The Company is required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

        If a Change of Control Offer is made, there can be no assurance that the Company will have available funds sufficient to pay the Change of Control purchase price for all the Notes that might be delivered by Holders seeking to accept the Change of Control Offer. In the event the Company is required to purchase outstanding Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, the Company expects that it would seek third party financing to the extent it does not have available funds to meet its purchase obligations. However, there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to obtain such financing and the terms of the Credit Agreement and/or the Indenture may restrict the ability of the Company to obtain such financing.

        Restrictions in the Indenture described herein on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional Indebtedness, to grant Liens on its property, to make Restricted Payments and to make Asset Sales may also make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the Company, whether favored or opposed by the management or the Board of Directors of the Company. Consummation of any such Asset Sales in certain circumstances may require redemption or repurchase of the Notes, and there can be no assurance that the Company or the acquiring party will have sufficient financial resources to effect such redemption or repurchase. Such restrictions and the restrictions on transactions with Affiliates may, in certain circumstances, make more difficult or discourage any leveraged buyout of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the management of the Company. While such restrictions cover a wide variety of arrangements that have traditionally been used to effect highly leveraged transactions, the Indenture may not afford the Holders protection in all circumstances from the adverse aspects of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger, recapitalization or similar transaction.

        One of the events that constitutes a Change of Control under the Indenture is the disposition of "all or substantially all" of the Company's assets under certain circumstances. This term has not been interpreted under New York law (which is the governing law of the Indenture) to represent a specific quantitative test. As a consequence, in the event Holders elect to require the Company to purchase the Notes and the Company elects to contest such election, there can be no assurance as to how a court interpreting New York law would interpret the phrase under such circumstances.

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        The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the "Change of Control" provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the "Change of Control" provisions of the Indenture by virtue thereof.

Certain Covenants

        The Indenture contains, among others, the following covenants:

        Limitation on Restricted Payments.    The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(each of the foregoing actions set forth in clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) being referred to as a "Restricted Payment"), if at the time of such Restricted Payment or immediately after giving effect thereto:

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In the case of clause (iii)(B) above, any net cash proceeds from issuances and sales of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company financed directly or indirectly using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, shall be excluded until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph do not prohibit:

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        Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment pursuant to the provisions of the first paragraph described under this covenant and no less frequently than quarterly in the case of all other Restricted Payments, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment complies with the Indenture and setting forth in reasonable detail the basis upon which the required calculations were computed, which calculations may be based upon the Company's latest available internal quarterly financial statements.

        Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.    (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, guarantee, acquire, become liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to, or otherwise become responsible for payment of (collectively, "incur," which term shall be deemed to include the entry into a committed revolving credit facility or agreement to increase in the amount of the revolving commitments thereunder, in each case, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of all revolving commitments thereunder at the time of such entry or increase, as the case may be, and for the avoidance of doubt not the extension or issuance of individual loans or letters of credit thereunder) any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be

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continuing at the time of or as a consequence of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company may incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is or, upon such incurrence, becomes a Guarantor may incur Indebtedness, in each case, if on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company will be, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, greater than 2.00 to 1.00.

        (b)   The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness which by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) is subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) made expressly subordinate to the Obligations of the Company or such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary under (a) in the case of the Company, the Notes and the other Indenture Documents or (b) in the case of such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary, its Guarantee and the other Indenture Documents, in each case, to the same extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated pursuant to subordination provisions that are most favorable to the holders of any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary.

        Limitation on Asset Sales.    The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

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        Pending the final application of Net Cash Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or invest such Net Cash Proceeds in Cash Equivalents. On the 361st day after an Asset Sale or such earlier date, if any, as the Board of Directors of the Company or of such Restricted Subsidiary determines not to apply the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale as set forth in clauses (3)(a), (3)(b) or (3)(c) of the preceding paragraph (each, a "Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date"), such aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds which have not been applied on or before such Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date as permitted in clauses (3)(a), (3)(b) and (3)(c) of the preceding paragraph (each a "Net Proceeds Offer Amount") shall be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to make an offer to purchase (the "Net Proceeds Offer") on a date (the "Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date") not less than 30 nor more than 60 days following the applicable Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, from all Holders, the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased with the Net Proceeds Offer Amount at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase; provided, however, that if (x) at any time any non-cash consideration received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, in connection with any Asset Sale is converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash (other than interest received with respect to any such non-cash consideration), then such conversion or disposition shall be deemed to constitute an Asset Sale hereunder on the date of such conversion or disposition, as the case may be, and the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance with clause (3) of the immediately preceding paragraph and this paragraph and (y) any Net Cash Proceeds are not applied by the date provided in any definitive and binding agreement described under clause (3)(b) of the immediately preceding paragraph (as such date may be extended in accordance with the terms of such definitive agreement, but in any event, to a date no later than 180 days following such 361st date), such date (as extended, if applicable) shall immediately be deemed to be a "Net Proceeds Trigger Date" and the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds not applied in accordance with clause (3)(a), (3)(b) or (3)(c), as applicable, by such date shall immediately be deemed to be the "Net Proceeds Offer Amount," and such aggregate amount shall be subject to a Net Proceeds Offer and such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with this paragraph.

        The Company may defer any Net Proceeds Offer until there is an aggregate unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount equal to or in excess of $5.0 million resulting from one or more Asset Sales in which case the accumulation of such amount shall constitute a Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date (at which time, the entire unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount, and not just the amount in excess of $5.0 million, shall be applied as required pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph). Upon the completion of each Net Proceeds Offer, the Net Proceeds Offer Amount will be reset at zero, and for the avoidance of doubt, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes properly tendered in connection with such Net Proceeds Offer was less than the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, any Net Cash Proceeds relating to, and remaining following the completion of, such Net Proceeds Offer shall no longer constitute Net Cash Proceeds for purposes of this covenant.

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        In the event of the transfer of substantially all (but not all) of the property and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety to a Person in a transaction permitted under "Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets," which transaction does not constitute a Change of Control, the successor entity shall be deemed to have sold the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not so transferred for purposes of this covenant, and shall comply with the provisions of this covenant with respect to such deemed sale as if it constituted an Asset Sale. In addition, the Fair Market Value of such properties and assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries deemed to be sold shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds for purposes of this covenant.

        Each notice of a Net Proceeds Offer shall be mailed first class, postage prepaid, to the record Holders as shown on the register of Holders within 20 days following the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, with a copy to the Trustee, and shall comply with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. Upon receiving notice of the Net Proceeds Offer, Holders may elect to tender their Notes in whole or in part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) in exchange for cash. To the extent Holders properly tender Notes in an amount exceeding the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, Notes of tendering Holders will be purchased on a pro rata basis (based on amounts tendered) or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable (subject to DTC procedures). A Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 business days or such longer period as may be required by law.

        The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this covenant "Limitation on Asset Sales", the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this covenant "Limitation on Asset Sales" by virtue of such compliance.

        Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.    The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to:

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        Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Subsidiaries.    The Company will not permit or cause any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue or sell any Capital Stock (other than to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company or permit any Person (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company) to own or hold any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Lien or security interest therein (other than as required by applicable law); provided, however, that this provision shall not prohibit (1) any issuance or sale if, immediately after giving effect thereto, such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person remaining after giving effect to such issuance or sale would have been permitted to be made under the "Limitation on Restricted Payments" covenant if made on the date of such issuance or sale or (2) the sale of all of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with the provisions of the "Limitation on Asset Sales" covenant.

        Limitation on Liens.    The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) of any kind against or upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after the Issue Date, or any proceeds therefrom, or assign or otherwise convey any right to receive income or profits therefrom.

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        Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.    The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if:

        Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.    The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of (or cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of) all or substantially all of the Company's assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries) whether as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless:

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        For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

        The Indenture provides that upon any consolidation, combination or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with the foregoing, in which the Company is not surviving or the continuing corporation, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such surviving entity had been named as such. Upon such substitution, the Company and any Guarantors that remain Subsidiaries of the Company shall be released from their obligations under the Indenture and the Guarantees.

        Each Guarantor (other than any Guarantor whose Guarantee is to be released in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee and the Indenture in connection with any transaction complying with the provisions of this covenant and the "Limitation on Asset Sales" covenant) will not, and the Company will not cause or permit any Guarantor to, consolidate with or merge with or into any Person, other than the Company or any other Guarantor unless:

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        Any merger or consolidation of (i) a Guarantor with and into the Company (with the Company being the surviving entity) or another Guarantor or (ii) a Guarantor or the Company with an Affiliate organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor or the Company in another jurisdiction in the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia need only comply with:

        Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates.    (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with, or for the benefit of, any of its Affiliates (each an "Affiliate Transaction"), other than

        All Affiliate Transactions (and each series of related Affiliate Transactions which are similar or part of a common plan) involving aggregate payments or other property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $5.0 million shall be approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company (including a majority of the disinterested members thereof), as the case may be, such approval to be evidenced by a Board Resolution stating that such Board of Directors has determined that such transaction complies with the foregoing provisions and the Company shall deliver an Officers' Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such transactions are in compliance with clause (a)(y) of the preceding paragraph. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company enters into an Affiliate Transaction (or a series of related Affiliate Transactions related to a common plan) that involves an aggregate Fair Market Value of more than $10.0 million, the Company shall, prior to the consummation thereof, obtain a favorable opinion as to the fairness of the financial terms of such transaction or series of related transactions to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from an Independent Financial Advisor and file the same with the Trustee.

        (b)   The restrictions set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant shall not apply to:

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        Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.    If (a) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date (other than a Discontinued Subsidiary) or (b) if any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary that was a Discontinued Subsidiary is no longer a Discontinued Subsidiary, then the Company shall cause such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary to:

        Thereafter, such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture.

        Real Estate Mortgages and Filings.    With respect to any fee interest in any real property (individually and collectively, the "Premises") (a) owned by the Company or any of its Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or (b) acquired by the Company or any such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date with a purchase price of greater than $1.0 million, on the Issue Date in the case of clause (a) and within 90 days of the acquisition thereof in the case of clause (b):

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        Conduct of Business.    The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any businesses other than Permitted Businesses.

        Reports to Holders.    The Indenture provides that, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Trustee and to the Holders:

in each case, within the time periods required for filing such forms and reports as specified in the SEC's rules and regulations.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may satisfy such requirements prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement by filing with the SEC such registration statement within the time period required for such filing as specified in the Registration Rights Agreement, to the extent that any such registration statement contains substantially the same information as would be required to be filed by the Company if it were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and by providing the Trustee

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and Holders with such Registration Statement (and any amendments thereto) promptly following the filing thereof.

        In addition, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company will file a copy of all such information and reports with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing). In addition, the Company has agreed that, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, it will furnish to the Holders upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144(A)(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

        Payments for Consent.    The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture, the Notes or any of the Collateral Agreements unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all Holders that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Events of Default

        The following events are defined in the Indenture as "Events of Default":

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        If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) above with respect to the Company) shall occur and be continuing and has not been waived, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes may declare the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the Event of Default and that it is a "notice of acceleration" (the "Acceleration Notice"), and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

        If an Event of Default specified in clause (6) above with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, then all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

        The Indenture provides that, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes as described in the preceding paragraphs, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences:

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        No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

        The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Notes.

        Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture and under the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee an indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.

        No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, or stockholder of the Company or a Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

        Under the Indenture, the Company is required to provide an Officers' Certificate to the Trustee promptly upon any Officer obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (provided that such Officers' Certificate shall be provided at least annually whether or not such Officers know of any Default or Event of Default) that has occurred and, if applicable, describe such Default or Event of Default and the status thereof.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its obligations and the obligations of the Guarantors discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes ("Legal Defeasance"). Such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, except for:

        In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture ("Covenant Defeasance") and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization and insolvency events) described under "Events of Default" will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

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        In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

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Satisfaction and Discharge

        The Indenture (and all Liens on Collateral in connection with the issuance of the Notes) will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

Modification of the Indenture

        From time to time, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and, if such amendment, modification or supplement relates to any Collateral Agreement, the Collateral Agent, without the consent of the Holders, may amend, modify or supplement the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Collateral Agreements:

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so long as such amendment, modification or supplement does not, adversely affect the rights of any of the Holders in any material respect. Other amendments of, modifications to and supplements to the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Collateral Agreements may be made with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued under the Indenture, except that,

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will not be required to enter into any amendment that affects the Trustee's or Collateral Agent's rights and obligations under the Indenture and Collateral Agreements.

Governing Law

        The Indenture provides that it, the Notes and the Guarantees are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law, of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

The Trustee

        The Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the existence of an

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Event of Default, the Trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.

        The Indenture and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payments of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. Subject to the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; provided that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

Certain Definitions

        Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for the full definition of all such terms, as well as any other terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

        "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or at the time it merges or consolidates with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or in the case of any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person and in each case not incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such acquisition, merger or consolidation and which Indebtedness is without recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective properties or assets other than the Person or the assets to which such Indebtedness related prior to the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation.

        "Administrative Agent" has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term "Credit Agreement."

        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The term "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative of the foregoing.

        "Applicable Premium" means, with respect to a Note at any Redemption Date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such Redemption Date of (1) the redemption price of such Note on June 1, 2014 (such redemption price being that described in the first paragraph of "—Redemption—Optional Redemption on or after June 1, 2014") plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Notes through June 1, 2014, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date. Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate.

        "Asset Acquisition" means:

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        "Asset Sale" means any direct or indirect sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease (other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business), assignment or other transfer (other than a Lien in accordance with the Indenture) for value by (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person other than the Company or a Guarantor or (y) a Foreign Restricted Subsidiary to any Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company of:

provided, however, that Asset Sales shall not include:

        "Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction occurring on or after the date of the Indenture means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended); provided, however, if such sale and leaseback transaction results in a Capitalized Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligation.

        "Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended, and codified as 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq.

        "Beneficial Owner" has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such "person" will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such "person" has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the

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occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms "Beneficially Owns" and "Beneficially Owned" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

        "Board of Directors" means, as to any Person, the board of directors or similar governing body of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

        "Board Resolution" means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

        "Capital Stock" means:

        "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty

        "Cash Equivalents" means:

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        "Cash Management Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, all obligations (including fees, expenses and overdrafts and related liabilities) of such Person to any other Person that arise from credit cards, stored value cards, credit card processing services, debit cards, purchase cards (including so called "procurement cards" or "P-cards"), treasury, depositary or cash management services, including in connection with any automated clearing house transfers of funds, or any similar transactions.

        "Change of Control" means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

        "Collateral" means all of the assets of the Company or any Guarantor, whether now owned or hereafter existing and whether real, personal or mixed, which secures the Indenture Obligations.

        "Collateral Agent" means the collateral agent and any successor under the Indenture.

        "Collateral Agreements" means, collectively, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement and each Mortgage, in each case, as the same may be in force from time to time.

        "Commodity Agreement" means any hedging agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company against fluctuations in commodity prices.

        "Common Collateral" means all of the assets of the Company or any Guarantor, whether now owned or hereafter existing and whether real, personal or mixed, with respect to which a Lien is granted or held as security for both the Credit Facility Claims and the Indenture Obligations.

        "Common Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person's common stock, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or issued after the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

        "Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the excess of:

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all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to any Person, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the four consecutive full fiscal quarters (the "Four Quarter Period") most recently ending on or prior to the date of the transaction or event giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for which financial statements are available (the "Transaction Date") to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for the Four Quarter Period.

        In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, "Consolidated EBITDA" and "Consolidated Fixed Charges" shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

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        Furthermore, in calculating "Consolidated Fixed Charges" for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio":

        "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

        "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and including, without duplication, (a) all amortization or accretion of original issue discount; (b) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period; and (c) net cash costs under all Interest Swap Obligations (including amortization of fees).

        "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that there shall be excluded therefrom:

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        "Consolidated Net Worth" of any Person means the consolidated stockholders' equity of the Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, less (without duplication) amounts attributable to Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person.

        "Consolidated Non-cash Charges" means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items and expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they reduce Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding any such charges constituting an extraordinary item or loss or any such charge which requires an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period).

        "Credit Agreement" means the Credit and Security Agreement dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto (together with their successors and assigns, the "Lenders") and KeyBank National Association, as administrative agent (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the "Administrative Agent"), setting forth the terms and conditions of the senior credit facility, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including pursuant to one or more agreements evidencing revolving credit facilities, commercial paper facilities, term loan facilities, receivables financings and/or notes or bond financings, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time that extend the maturity of, refinance, replace or otherwise restructure (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted to be incurred pursuant to (a) clause (2) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness" and/or (b) (i) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" and/or (ii) clause (15) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness" that, in the case of each of such clauses (i) and (ii), is secured by a Permitted Lien described in clause (22) of the definition thereof that is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) or adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness

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under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

        "Credit Facility Cash Management Obligations" means any Cash Management Obligations secured by any collateral under the Credit Facility Collateral Documents pursuant to a Permitted Lien described in clause (23) of the definition thereof.

        "Credit Facility Claims" means (a) Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (including Protective Advance Obligations); (b) the Credit Facility Cash Management Obligations and the Credit Facility Hedging Obligations, and (c) all other Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under the documents relating to Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b) above; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness (excluding Credit Facility Hedging Obligations and Credit Facility Cash Management Obligations but including the principal amount of all Protective Advance Obligations) that exceeds the Maximum Credit Facility Principal Amount (and any interest thereon) shall not constitute Credit Facility Claims (all such excess principal and interest thereon are referred to herein as "Excess Credit Facility Claims").

        "Credit Facility Claim Holder" means each holder of a Credit Facility Claim under the Credit Facility Documents.

        "Credit Facility Collateral Documents" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Intercreditor Agreement.

        "Credit Facility Documents" means the Credit Agreement, any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted securing any Credit Facility Claims or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, and each of the other agreements, documents and instruments (including each agreement, document or instrument providing for or evidencing a Credit Facility Hedging Obligation or Credit Facility Cash Management Obligation) providing for or evidencing any Obligation under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facility Claim, and any other related document or instrument executed or delivered pursuant to any Credit Facility Document at any time or otherwise evidencing any Credit Facility Claims.

        "Credit Facility Hedging Obligations" means, collectively, any Interest Swap Obligations that are permitted to be incurred under clause (4) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness," Indebtedness under Currency Agreements that are permitted to be incurred under clause (5) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness" and Indebtedness under Commodity Agreements that are permitted to be incurred under clause (14) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness," in each case, that are secured by any Credit Facility Priority Collateral under the Credit Facility Collateral Documents pursuant to Liens subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

        "Currency Agreement" means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company against fluctuations in currency values.

        "Default" means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

        "Discharge of Credit Facility Claims" means the payment in full in cash of (a) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing on or after the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, whether or not such interest would be allowed in such proceeding) and premium, if any, on all Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Credit Facility Hedging Obligations and Credit Facility Cash Management Obligations) outstanding under the Credit Agreement and related documents or, with respect to letters of credit outstanding thereunder, delivery of cash collateral (in an amount of no less than 105% of the undrawn, or drawn and unreimbursed, amount thereof) or backstop letters of credit in respect thereof in compliance with the Credit Facility and related documents, in each case

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after or concurrently with termination of all commitments to extend credit thereunder, and (b) any other Credit Facility Claims that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing at or prior to the time such principal and interest are paid.

        "Discharge of Indenture Obligations" means the earliest to occur of: (A) the payment in full in cash of (a) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing on or after the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, whether or not such interest would be allowed in such proceeding) and premium, if any, on all Indebtedness outstanding under the Indenture Documents, and (b) any other Indenture Obligations that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing at or prior to the time such principal and interest are paid; (B) the Company's exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described in and in accordance with "—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance"; and (C) the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture in accordance "—Satisfaction and Discharge.

        "Discontinued Subsidiaries" means Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that have been classified as "discontinued operations" in Note 6 to the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the quarter ended March 28, 2010.

        "Disqualified Capital Stock" means that portion of any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event (other than an event that would constitute a Change of Control), matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof (except in each case, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control) on or prior to the first anniversary of the final maturity date of the Notes for cash or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries at any time prior to such anniversary.

        "Domestic Restricted Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, a Domestic Subsidiary of such Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person.

        "Domestic Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person that is not a Foreign Subsidiary of such Person.

        "Equity Offering" means an underwritten public offering of Common Stock of the Company or any holding company of the Company pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC (other than on Form S-8) or any private placement of Common Stock of the Company or any holding company of the Company to any Person other than issuances upon exercise of options by employees of any holding company, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

        "Excess Indenture Obligations" means any principal amounts outstanding on the Notes in excess of $225 million and interest thereon.

        "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.

        "Exchange Offer" means an exchange offer that may be made by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to exchange for any and all the Notes a like aggregate principal amount of Notes having substantially identical terms to the Notes registered under the Securities Act.

        "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm's length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith and shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee; provided, that with respect to any price less than $5.0 million only the good faith determination by the Company's senior management shall be required.

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        "Foreign Restricted Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

        "Foreign Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

        "GAAP" means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, which are in effect as of the Issue Date.

        "Global Note" means the initial notes and the Additional Notes.

        "Guarantor" means (1) each of the Company's Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date and (2) each of the Company's Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries that in the future executes a supplemental indenture in which such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms of the Indenture as a Guarantor; provided that any Person constituting a Guarantor as described above shall cease to constitute a Guarantor when its respective Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

        "Holder" means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar's books.

        "Indebtedness" means with respect to any Person, without duplication:

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        For purposes hereof, the "maximum fixed repurchase price" of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such Fair Market Value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Capital Stock.

        "Indenture Documents" means the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees and the Collateral Documents.

        "Indenture Obligations" means all Obligations in respect of the Notes or arising under the Indenture Documents. Indenture Obligations shall include all interest accrued (or which would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding in accordance with and at the rate specified in the relevant Indenture Document whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such insolvency or liquidation proceeding.

        "Independent Financial Advisor" means a nationally-recognized accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm: (1) that does not, and whose directors, officers and employees or Affiliates do not, have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Company; and (2) that, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, is otherwise independent and qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

        "Intercreditor Agreement" means the Intercreditor Agreement among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Company and the Guarantors, dated as of the Issue Date, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

        "Interest Swap Obligations" means the obligations of any Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements.

        "Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances or extensions of trade credit to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender) or other extensions of credit (including by way of guarantee or similar arrangement) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition for value of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by such Person. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect thereto, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto will be deemed to be a new Investment at such time. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person at such time. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the amount of an Investment shall be its fair market value at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

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        For purposes of the definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary", the definition of "Restricted Payment" and the covenant described under "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments:"

        "Issue Date" means the date of original issuance of the Notes.

        "Lenders" has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term "Credit Agreement."

        "Lien" means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest).

        "Maximum Credit Facility Principal Amount" means the sum of (i) the maximum aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (2) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness", plus (ii) the maximum aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock", plus (iii) the maximum aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of the term "Permitted Indebtedness" that, in the case of each of such clauses (ii) and (iii), is permitted to be secured by a Permitted Lien described in clause (22) of the definition thereof that is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

        "Mortgages" means the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents securing Liens on the Premises as well as the other Collateral secured by and described in the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents.

        "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the proceeds in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (other than the portion of any such deferred payment constituting interest) received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale net of:

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provided , however, that if, after the payment of all taxes with respect to such Asset Sale, the amount of estimated taxes, if any, pursuant to clause (2) above exceeded the tax amount actually paid in cash in respect of such Asset Sale, the aggregate amount of such excess shall, at such time, constitute Net Cash Proceeds.

        "Obligations" means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

        "Offering" means the offering of the Notes hereunder.

        "Officer" means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Company.

        "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company, at least one of whom shall be the principal financial officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

        "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

        "Permitted Business" means any business that is the same as or similar, reasonably related, complementary or incidental to the business in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the Issue Date.

        "Permitted Indebtedness" means, without duplication, each of the following:

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        For purposes of determining compliance with the "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant, (a) the outstanding principal amount of any item of Indebtedness shall be counted only once and (b) in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (15) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio provisions of such covenant, the Company will be permitted, in its sole discretion, to classify (or later reclassify) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with such covenant; provided, that Permitted Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the Issue Date will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date under clause (2) above. Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Capital Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock for purposes of the "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant.

        "Permitted Investments" means:

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        "Permitted Liens" means the following types of Liens:

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        "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

        "Preferred Stock" of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation.

        "Pro Forma Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person, the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the four consecutive full fiscal quarters (the "Four Quarter Period") most recently ending on or prior to the date of the transaction or event giving rise to the need to calculate Pro Forma Consolidated EBITDA for which financial statements are available (the "Transaction Date") of such Person for the Four Quarter Period; provided, however, that such Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

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        "Protective Advance Obligations" means all obligations of the Company and Guarantors with respect to the repayment of protective advances and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to maintain, protect or preserve the Common Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Agreement and related documents and to enhance the likelihood of, or to maximize the amount of, repayment of the Credit Facility Claims or Indenture Obligations.

        "Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten public offering of Common Stock of the Company or any holding company of the Company pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC (other than on Form S-8).

        "Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price, or the cost of installation, construction or improvement, of property or equipment, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property or such purchase price or cost.

        "Qualified Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.

        "Refinance" means, in respect of any security or Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue a security or Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such security or Indebtedness in whole or in part. "Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

        "Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Refinancing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with the "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant (other than pursuant to Permitted Indebtedness) or clauses (1), (3) or (11) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, in each case that does not:

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        "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

        "Restricted Subsidiary" of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person which at the time of determination is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

        "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

        "Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, made by the Company and the Guarantors in favor of the Collateral Agent, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

        "Significant Subsidiary" with respect to any Person, means any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that satisfies the criteria for a "significant subsidiary" set forth in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

        "Subsidiary" with respect to any Person, means:

        "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to a Redemption Date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) (or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity) that has become publicly available at least two business days prior to such Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release (or any successor release) is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to June 1, 2014; provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to June 1, 2014 is not equal to the constant maturity of the United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from such Redemption Date to June 1, 2014 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

        "Trustee" means the trustee and any successor under the Indenture.

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        "Unrestricted Subsidiary" of any Person means:

        The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary owns any Capital Stock of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated, provided that:

        The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary only if:

        Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

        "Voting Stock" means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or classes of Capital Stock of such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Person.

        "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness into (2) the sum of the total of the products obtained by multiplying:

        "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person of which all the outstanding Capital Stock (other than in the case of a Foreign Restricted Subsidiary, directors' qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of shares required to be owned by other Persons pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person.

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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

        We are the borrower under a Credit and Security Agreement dated May 19, 2010 with certain lenders and with KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner, which we refer to as our revolving credit facility. The credit agreement establishes a formula-based $25.0 million senior secured revolving line of credit, with a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit and a $5.0 million sublimit for swing loans. Interest accrues on the revolving credit based either on LIBOR or a Base Rate established by KeyBank, and is payable either monthly, in the case of Base Rate borrowings, or at the end of the applicable interest period (but no less frequently than quarterly) for LIBOR borrowings. Base rate borrowings bear interest at an applicable margin of 125 to 200 basis points over the base rate (which is the greater of (x) the prime rate and (y) 50 basis points over the federal funds rate, with a floor of 100 basis points over one month LIBOR). LIBOR rate borrowings bear interest at an applicable margin of 325 to 400 basis points over the LIBOR rate.

        The applicable margin for base rate borrowings and LIBOR borrowings depends on the average monthly revolving credit availability under the credit facility. The credit facility also has a commitment fee of 75 to 100 basis points, depending on the average monthly revolving credit availability.

        The terms of the revolving credit facility include customary representations and warranties, as well as reporting and financial covenants, customary for financings of this type. The revolving credit facility has an initial commitment period of four (4) years after the closing date of the credit agreement.

        Our obligations under the credit agreement are secured by a first priority lien on all of our accounts, chattel paper, documents, deposit accounts, cash, investment property (other than the capital stock of our subsidiaries), instruments, letter of credit rights, supporting obligations, contract rights, inventory and general intangibles (other than trademarks, tradenames, patents, copyrights and the capital stock of our subsidiaries) and by a second-priority lien, junior only to the lien securing the notes, in all of our other property. Each of our material domestic subsidiaries guarantees our obligations under the credit agreement, and the obligations under the credit agreement are secured by a first priority lien on all of such guarantor's accounts, chattel paper, documents, deposit accounts, cash, investment property, instruments, letter of credit rights, supporting obligations, contract rights, inventory and general intangibles (other than trademarks, tradenames, patents and copyrights) and by a second-priority lien, junior only to the lien securing such guarantor's guaranty of the original notes, and, following the completion of the exchange offer, the exchange notes, in all other property of such guarantor.

        As of March 28, 2010, we had outstanding convertible notes payable totaling $1.0 million which were acquired as a result of the SYS acquisition and are due on August 14, 2010. $25,000 of the convertible notes are payable to a related party. The balance of the outstanding notes is convertible into our common stock at $10.20 per share or approximately 94,000 shares.

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the exchange of original notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), existing and proposed Treasury Regulations, revenue rulings, administrative interpretations and judicial decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change possibly with retroactive effect. Except as specifically set forth herein, this summary deals only with notes held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This summary does not purport to address all U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular circumstances or to holders subject to special tax rules, such as banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, tax-exempt investors, holders subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, or persons holding the notes as part of a hedging transaction, straddle, conversion transaction, or other integrated transaction.

        We have not sought and we do not expect to seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) or an opinion of counsel with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary. As such, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions. Thus, all persons that exchange original notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer are urged to consult their own tax advisors with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.

        The exchange of the original notes for the exchange notes in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and thus will have no U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders of original notes. The exchange notes received pursuant to the exchange offer will be treated as a continuation of the original notes. Consequently, there will be no change in a holder's adjusted tax basis in the exchange notes, and the holder's holding period in the exchange notes will be the same as that applicable to the original notes. In addition, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of the exchange notes will be the same as those applicable to the original notes.

        The preceding discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations is not tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult its own tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of exchanging original notes for, holding and disposing of exchange notes, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable laws.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. We have agreed that, during the period broker-dealers are required to deliver this prospectus, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes where such original notes were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities.

        We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own account in the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of these methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account in the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of exchange notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be considered underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

        During the 180 day period following the completion of this exchange offer, we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the original notes), other than dealers' and brokers' discounts, commissions and counsel fees and will indemnify the holders of the original notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.


LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain legal matters in connection with the issuance of the exchange notes will be passed on for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Diego, California and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, New York, New York.


EXPERTS

        The audited consolidated financial statements and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.

        The consolidated financial statements of Gichner and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, as set forth in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 19, 2010, have been audited by Plante & Moran, PLLC, independent public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports appearing therein, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. You should read this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference, including the exhibits to the registration statement.

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains in Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC (www.sec.gov). Our website is http://www.kratosdefense.com.

        We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the following documents filed by us with the SEC, other than information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K:

        Any information incorporated by reference is considered part of this prospectus, and any information that we file with the SEC subsequent to the filing of the incorporated material or the date of this prospectus will automatically update and, if applicable, supersede the incorporated information and this prospectus.

        You may obtain copies of each of our filings and copies of the documents pertaining to the securities offered hereby referred to in this prospectus free of charge. You may request a copy of these documents in writing or by telephone at the following address:

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
4820 Eastgate Mall
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Corporate Secretary
(858) 812-7300

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$225,000,000

LOGO

Offer to exchange all outstanding
$225,000,000 principal amount of
10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017

for

$225,000,000 principal amount of
10% Senior Secured Notes due 2017
registered under the Securities Act of 1933

PROSPECTUS

July 12, 2010