BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT among PARKER-HANNIFIN CORPORATION as the Borrower THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN as the Lenders and CITIBANK, N.A. as the Administrative Agent CITIBANK, N.A. as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner dated as of August 2, 2021
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
£6,524,000,000
among
XXXXXX-XXXXXXXX CORPORATION
as the Borrower
THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN
as the Lenders
and
CITIBANK, N.A.
as the Administrative Agent
CITIBANK, N.A.
as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner
dated as of
August 2, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Table of Contents is not part of the Agreement to which it is attached but is inserted for convenience of reference only.
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | ||||
Section 1.01. |
Certain Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
Section 1.02. |
Computation of Time Periods; Terms Generally | 26 | ||||
Section 1.03. |
Accounting Terms; GAAP | 26 | ||||
Section 1.04. |
Daily Simple XXXXX Disclaimer | 27 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE LOANS | 28 | ||||
Section 2.01. |
Loans | 28 | ||||
Section 2.02. |
Evidence of Indebtedness | 28 | ||||
Section 2.03. |
Interest | 28 | ||||
Section 2.04. |
Voluntary Commitment Reductions and Prepayments | 29 | ||||
Section 2.05. |
Notice of Credit Events; Funding of Loans | 29 | ||||
Section 2.06. |
Payment on the Loans and Other Obligations | 30 | ||||
Section 2.07. |
Mandatory Commitment Reductions and Repayments | 31 | ||||
Section 2.08. |
Payment of Fees | 32 | ||||
Section 2.09. |
Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc | 32 | ||||
Section 2.10. |
Taxes | 34 | ||||
Section 2.11. |
Sharing of Payments, Etc | 38 | ||||
Section 2.12. |
Mitigation; Replacement of Lender | 39 | ||||
Section 2.13. |
Interest Rate Determination | 40 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
RESERVED | 40 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 40 | ||||
Section 4.01. |
Organization; Powers | 40 | ||||
Section 4.02. |
Authorization; Enforceability | 40 | ||||
Section 4.03. |
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 41 | ||||
Section 4.04. |
Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change | 41 | ||||
Section 4.05. |
Litigation | 41 | ||||
Section 4.06. |
Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Default | 41 | ||||
Section 4.07. |
Investment Company Status | 42 |
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Section 4.08. |
Taxes | 42 | ||||
Section 4.09. |
Disclosure | 42 | ||||
Section 4.10. |
Margin Regulations | 42 | ||||
Section 4.11. |
Beneficial Ownership | 43 | ||||
Section 4.12. |
Use of Proceeds | 43 | ||||
Section 4.13. |
Acquisition Documents | 43 | ||||
Section 4.14. |
Solvency | 43 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
CONDITIONS OF LENDING | 43 | ||||
Section 5.01. |
Conditions to Effective Date | 43 | ||||
Section 5.02. |
Conditions to Closing Date | 44 | ||||
Section 5.03. |
Each Subsequent Borrowing Date | 45 | ||||
Section 5.04. |
Actions during Certain Funds Period | 45 | ||||
Section 5.05. |
Determinations under Article V | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 46 | ||||
Section 6.01. |
Financial Statements and Other Information | 46 | ||||
Section 6.02. |
Notices of Material Events | 48 | ||||
Section 6.03. |
Existence; Conduct of Business | 48 | ||||
Section 6.04. |
Payment of Obligations | 48 | ||||
Section 6.05. |
Maintenance of Properties | 48 | ||||
Section 6.06. |
Insurance | 48 | ||||
Section 6.07. |
Books and Records and Visitation Rights | 49 | ||||
Section 6.08. |
Compliance with Laws | 49 | ||||
Section 6.09. |
Use of Proceeds | 49 | ||||
Section 6.10. |
Beneficial Ownership | 49 | ||||
Section 6.11. |
Scheme and Offer | 50 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 52 | ||||
Section 7.01. |
Liens | 52 | ||||
Section 7.02. |
Fundamental Changes | 53 | ||||
Section 7.03. |
Transactions with Affiliates | 53 | ||||
Section 7.04. |
Debt to Capitalization Ratio | 54 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 54 | ||||
Section 8.01. |
Events of Default | 54 |
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ARTICLE IX |
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 56 | ||||
Section 9.01. |
Authorization and Action | 56 | ||||
Section 9.02. |
No Reliance | 57 | ||||
Section 9.03. |
Capacity as Lender | 57 | ||||
Section 9.04. |
Lender Credit Decision | 57 | ||||
Section 9.05. |
Indemnification | 58 | ||||
Section 9.06. |
Successor Administrative Agent | 58 | ||||
Section 9.07. |
ERISA Representations | 58 | ||||
Section 9.08. |
Erroneous Payments | 60 | ||||
ARTICLE X |
MISCELLANEOUS | 62 | ||||
Section 10.01. |
Notices | 62 | ||||
Section 10.02. |
Waivers; Amendments | 63 | ||||
Section 10.03. |
Costs and Expenses and Indemnification | 64 | ||||
Section 10.04. |
Assignments and Participations | 65 | ||||
Section 10.05. |
Survival | 68 | ||||
Section 10.06. |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 69 | ||||
Section 10.07. |
Severability | 69 | ||||
Section 10.08. |
Right of Setoff | 69 | ||||
Section 10.09. |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc | 69 | ||||
Section 10.10. |
Headings | 70 | ||||
Section 10.11. |
Confidentiality | 70 | ||||
Section 10.12. |
USA PATRIOT ACT | 72 | ||||
Section 10.13. |
NO FIDUCIARY DUTY | 72 | ||||
Section 10.14. |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 72 | ||||
Section 10.15. |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 73 |
SCHEDULE I |
Commitments | |
SCHEDULE II |
[Reserved] | |
SCHEDULE III |
Liens | |
SCHEDULE IV |
Disclosed Matters | |
EXHIBIT A |
Form of Assignment and Acceptance |
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EXHIBIT B |
Form of Note | |
EXHIBIT C |
Form of Notice of Loan Borrowing | |
EXHIBIT D |
Form of Closing Date Officer’s Certificate | |
EXHIBIT E |
Form of Confidentiality and Front Running Letter |
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This BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT (as the same may from time to time be amended, restated or otherwise modified, this “Agreement”) is made effective as of August 2, 2021 among:
(a) XXXXXX-XXXXXXXX CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation (the “Borrower”);
(b) the financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereof and each other Eligible Transferee (as defined below) that from time to time becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 10.04(b) hereof (collectively, the “Lenders” and, individually, each a “Lender”); and
(c) CITIBANK, N.A., as the administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders make loans to it and the Lenders are prepared to do so for the purposes and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
“Acceptance Condition” means the condition with respect to the number of acceptances to the Offer which must be secured in order for the Offer to become or be declared unconditional.
“Acquired Business” means the Target, together with its Subsidiaries.
“Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Borrower of Target Shares pursuant to (a) a Scheme or (b) an Offer and (if applicable) a Squeeze-Out, in each case, including (i) any fees and stamp duty payable by the Borrower in connection with the acquisition and (ii) any proposal made by the Borrower pursuant to Rule 15 of the Takeover Code).
“Acquisition Documents” means the Scheme Documents or the Offer Documents (as the case may be).
“Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in the recital of the parties to this Agreement.
“Administrative Agent’s Account” means an account designated by the Administrative Agent in a notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affected Lender” means a Defaulting Lender or an Insolvent Lender.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the specified Person.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption (including, without limitation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1, et seq.), as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder).
“Applicable Law” means, as to any Person, all applicable laws binding upon such Person or to which such a Person is subject.
“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth below for each Rating Level Period under the caption “Loan Spread” and (b) with respect to the Ticking Fee, the applicable rate per annum set forth below for each Rating Level Period under the caption “Ticking Fee”:
Rating Level Period |
Loan Spread | Ticking Fee | ||||||||||||||||||
Closing Date until 89 days following the Closing Date |
90th day following the Closing Date until 179th day following the Closing Date |
180th day following the Closing Date until 269th day following the Closing Date |
From the 270th day following the Closing Date |
|||||||||||||||||
Rating Level I Period |
1.0326 | % | 1.2826 | % | 1.5326 | % | 1.7826 | % | 0.0900 | % | ||||||||||
Rating Level II Period |
1.1576 | % | 1.4076 | % | 1.6576 | % | 1.9076 | % | 0.1000 | % | ||||||||||
Rating Level III Period |
1.2826 | % | 1.5326 | % | 1.7826 | % | 2.0326 | % | 0.1250 | % | ||||||||||
Rating Level IV Period |
1.4076 | % | 1.6576 | % | 1.9076 | % | 2.1576 | % | 0.1750 | % | ||||||||||
Rating Level V Period |
1.6576 | % | 1.9076 | % | 2.1576 | % | 2.4076 | % | 0.2000 | % |
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provided that (a) if the Xxxxx’x Rating, the S&P Rating and the Fitch Rating fall into different Rating Level Periods, then the applicable Rating Level Period shall be deemed to be the Rating Level Period that includes the lower of the two highest Debt Rating levels, (b) if the two highest Debt Rating levels are equivalent, the applicable Rating Level Period shall be deemed to be the Rating Level Period that includes the two highest Debt Rating levels, (c) for purposes of this definition, any change in the Applicable Rate by reason of a change in the Xxxxx’x Rating, the S&P Rating or the Fitch Rating shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced by the applicable rating agency, and (d) Rating Level Period V shall include a period during which two or all of S&P, Xxxxx’x and Fitch shall not have a Debt Rating in effect.
“Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in accordance with Section 10.04 and in substantially the form of Exhibit A.
“Availability Period” means the period starting on (and including) the Closing Date and ending on the occurrence of a Mandatory Cancellation Event.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
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“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the recital of the parties to this Agreement.
“Business Day” means a day other than (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday, (iii) a day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close or (iv) a day on which banks are not open for general business in London.
”Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal Property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Central Bank Rate” means The Bank of England’s Bank Rate as published by the Bank of England from time to time.
“Central Bank Rate Adjustment” means, in relation to the Central Bank Rate prevailing at close of business on any XXXXX Interest Day, the 20 per cent. trimmed arithmetic mean (calculated by the Administrative Agent) of the Central Bank Rate Spreads for the five most immediately preceding XXXXX Interest Days for which Daily Simple XXXXX is available.
“Central Bank Rate Spread” means, in relation to any XXXXX Interest Day, the difference (expressed as a percentage rate per annum) calculated by the Administrative Agent between:
(a) Daily Simple XXXXX for such XXXXX Interest Day; and
(b) the Central Bank Rate prevailing at close of business on such XXXXX Interest Day.
“Certain Funds Covenant” means, with respect to the Borrower (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of any obligation to procure that any Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Target or any Subsidiary of the Target take, or refrain from taking, any action), any covenant under any of Sections 6.03(a), 6.09, 6.11 (excluding clauses (a)(i), (a)(iv), (a)(v), (a)(vii), (a)(ix) and (a)(xi)), 7.01 (solely with respect to intentional breaches thereof by the Borrower) or 7.02(a).
“Certain Funds Event of Default” means, with respect to the Borrower only (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of any obligation to procure that any Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Target or any Subsidiary of the Target take, or refrain from taking, any action and not as a result of any Event of Default that is triggered by any Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Target or any Subsidiary of the Target) any Event of Default under any of Sections 8.01(a), 8.01(b) (insofar as it relates to the payment of interest or fees under the Loan Documents), 8.01(c) (insofar as it
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relates to a breach of any Certain Funds Representation), 8.01(d) (insofar as it relates to a breach of any Certain Funds Covenant), 8.01(e) (insofar as it relates to a breach of any Certain Funds Covenant), 8.01(h) (but excluding any Event of Default thereunder caused by a frivolous or vexatious (and in either case, lacking in merit) action, proceeding or petition in respect of which no order or decree in respect of such involuntary case or proceeding shall have been entered), 8.01(i) (other than 8.01(i)(ii)(y) or 8.01(i)(iv)), 8.01(j), 8.01(m) (solely with respect to clause (d) of the definition of Change in Control) or 8.01(n) (solely if any material provision in any Loan Document shall cease to be in full force and effect or the Borrower so asserts in writing).
“Certain Funds Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date and ending on the date on which a Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or exists; it being understood that the Certain Funds Period will end on such date but immediately after the relevant Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or first exists.
“Certain Funds Purposes” means
(a) where the Acquisition proceeds by way of a Scheme:
(i) payment (directly or indirectly) of the cash consideration payable by the Borrower to the holders of the Scheme Shares in consideration of such Scheme Shares being acquired by the Borrower;
(ii) payment (directly or indirectly) of the cash consideration payable to holders of options to acquire Target Shares pursuant to any proposal in respect of those options as required by the Takeover Code;
(iii) (directly or indirectly) the Target Refinancing; and
(iv) payment (directly or indirectly) of the fees, costs and expenses in respect of the Transactions (including stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax); or
(b) where the Acquisition proceeds by way of an Offer:
(i) payment (directly or indirectly) of the cash consideration payable by the Borrower to the holders of the Target Shares subject to the Offer in consideration of the acquisition of such Target Shares pursuant to the Offer;
(ii) payment (directly or indirectly) of the cash consideration payable to the holders of Target Shares pursuant to the exercise by the Borrower of the Squeeze-Out Rights;
(iii) payment (directly or indirectly) of the cash consideration payable to holders of options to acquire Target Shares pursuant to any proposal in respect of those options as required by the Takeover Code;
(iv) (directly or indirectly) the Target Refinancing; and
5
(v) payment (directly or indirectly) of the fees, costs and expenses in respect of the Transactions (including stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax).
“Certain Funds Representation” means, with respect to the Borrower (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of any obligation to procure that any Subsidiary of the Borrower, Target or any Subsidiary of the Target take, or refrain from taking, any action and not as a result of any misrepresentation with respect to, or made by, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Target or any Subsidiary of the Target), any representation and/or warranty under any of Sections 4.01(a) (but with respect to good standing, only to the extent a breach would have a material adverse effect on the Borrower’s ability to perform and comply with its monetary obligations under this Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan Document), Section 4.02, Section 4.03(b)(ii), Section 4.03(c) (limited to violations or defaults under indentures, agreements or other instruments with respect to Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $100,000,000), Section 4.07 and Section 4.10.
“Change in Control” means any of the following events:
(a) the Borrower is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other Person, and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or other Person that is the survivor of such merger, consolidation or reorganization immediately after such transaction is held in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction;
(b) the Borrower sells all or substantially all of its Property to any other corporation or other Person, and less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or other Person immediately after such transaction is held in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock immediately prior to such sale; and/or
(c) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, whether or not applicable, except that for purposes of this subsection (c) such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), other than any “person” or “group” that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than forty percent (40%) of the aggregate voting power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower.
“Citibank” means Citibank, N.A.
“Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.02 shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).
“Closing Date Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D, dated as of the Closing Date, and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, certifying that:
(a) the condition set forth in Section 5.02(d) has been satisfied;
6
(b) there have been no changes since the Effective Date with respect to the documents delivered or matters certified (as applicable) pursuant to Section 5.01(d) (or otherwise providing updates to such documents or certifications); and
(c) (i) in the case of an Offer, that the Minimum Acceptance Level has been achieved and the Offer Unconditional Date has occurred; and (ii) in the case of the Scheme, that the Scheme Effective Date has occurred, in each case without the Borrower having agreed to any Materially Adverse Amendment to the applicable Acquisition Documents except in accordance with Section 6.11(b).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Commitment” means the obligation hereunder of each Lender to make Loans to the Borrower, in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name under the column headed “Commitment Amount” as set forth on Schedule I hereto. As of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of the Commitments is £6,524,000,000.
“Companies Act” means the Companies Xxx 0000 of the United Kingdom, as amended.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.
“Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Court” means the High Court of Justice of England and Wales.
“Court Meeting” means the meeting or meetings of Scheme Shareholders (or any adjournment thereof) to be convened at the direction of the Court for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, approving the Scheme.
“Court Order” means the Order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme.
“Daily Simple XXXXX” means, for any day (a “XXXXX Interest Day”) that XXXXX is determined, an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) XXXXX for the day that is five Business Days prior to (x) if such XXXXX Interest Day is a Business Day, such XXXXX Interest Day, or (y) if such XXXXX Interest Day is not an Business Day, the Business Day immediately preceding such XXXXX Interest Day, in each case, as is published by the XXXXX Administrator on the XXXXX Administrator’s Website, and (ii) 0.00%. If by 5:00 pm (London time) on the second Business Day immediately following any day for which Daily Simple XXXXX is to be determined, Daily Simple XXXXX has not been published on the applicable XXXXX Administrator’s Website, then the Daily Simple XXXXX for such day will be the Daily Simple XXXXX as published in respect of the first preceding Business Day for which Daily Simple XXXXX was published on the XXXXX Administrator’s Website; provided, that Daily Simple XXXXX shall not be determined pursuant to this sentence for more than three consecutive XXXXX Interest Days. Any change in Daily Simple XXXXX due to a change in XXXXX shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change without notice to the Borrower.
7
“Debt Rating” means the Xxxxx’x Rating, the S&P Rating or the Fitch Rating.
“Debt to Capitalization Ratio” means, at any time, the ratio of (a) Total Debt to (b) Total Capitalization.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Defaulting Lender” means a Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, that (a) has failed (which failure has not been cured) to fund the Loans required to be made hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof within two Business Days of the date such funding was required (unless such Lender shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing of its good faith determination that a condition precedent hereunder to its obligation to fund the Loans shall not have been satisfied); (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such Lender shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing of its good faith determination that a condition precedent hereunder to its obligation to fund the Loans shall not have been satisfied) or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit; (c) has failed, within three Business Days after receipt of a written request from the Administrative Agent or the Borrower to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligation to fund the Loans, and such request states that the requesting party has reason to believe that the Lender receiving such request may fail to comply with such obligation, and states such reason (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower); or (d) has failed to pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender when due an amount owed by such Lender to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, unless such amount is subject to a good faith dispute or such failure has been cured. Any Defaulting Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender when the Administrative Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such Defaulting Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender based upon the characteristics set forth in this definition.
“Derived Rate” means a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Applicable Rate (from time to time in effect) plus Daily Simple XXXXX.
“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings disclosed in Schedule IV.
“Disposition” means, with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition thereof (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a division or otherwise), including as a result of foreclosure, casualty, condemnation or other similar events. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.
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“Disqualified Lender” means competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time to time by the Borrower; provided that no such updates to the list shall be deemed to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in respect of the Commitments or Loans from continuing to hold or vote such previously acquired assignments and participations on the terms set forth herein for Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders.
“Xxxx-Xxxxx Act” means the Xxxx–Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. 111-203, H.R. 4173) signed into law on July 21, 2010, as amended from time to time.
“Dollars” or “$” means the lawful currency of the United States.
“Duration Fees” has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(d).
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in subpart (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country that is a subsidiary of an institution described in subparts (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.01 shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).
“Eligible Transferee” means a commercial bank, financial institution or other “accredited investor” (as defined in SEC Regulation D) that is not the Borrower, a Subsidiary, an Affiliate of the Borrower, a natural person (or holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural person), a Disqualified Lender or any Affected Lender.
“Environmental Claim” means, with respect to any Person, any written or oral notice, claim, demand or other communication (collectively, a “claim”) by any other Person alleging or asserting such Person’s liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, damages to natural resources or other Property, personal injuries, fines or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from (i) the presence, or Release into the environment, of any Hazardous Material at any location, whether or not owned by such Person, or (ii) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law. The term “Environmental Claim” shall include, without limitation, any claim by any Governmental Authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and any claim by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from the presence of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment.
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“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, or the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material.
“Equity Interests” means all Voting Stock and any and all other shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or other ownership interests in any Person, including partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, and beneficial interests in a trust, any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing and any equity-linked and debt-equity hybrid securities.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
“Erroneous Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.08(a).
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Exchange Rate” means on any day, for purposes of determining the Sterling Equivalent of any currency, the rate at which such other currency may be exchanged into Sterling at the time of determination on such day as set forth on the Reuters WRLD Page for such currency (the “Spot Rate”). In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters WRLD Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying
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exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such an agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about such time as the Administrative Agent shall elect after determining that such rates shall be the basis for determining the Exchange Rate, on such date for the purchase of Sterling for delivery three Business Days later; provided, that (i) if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error and (ii) solely for the purpose of determining the Sterling Equivalent of any Net Cash Proceeds which are required to be applied to reduce the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07(c), the Borrower may, in lieu of the applicable Spot Rate (by notice to the Administrative Agent given on or prior to the applicable date on which the Commitments are required to be reduced pursuant to Section 2.07(c)), elect either to use (x) the currency exchange rate (which may be an average rate) set forth in currency exchange hedging agreements (including any deal-contingent hedge) entered into by the Borrower with respect to the Transactions or (y) an alternative exchange rate determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent having reasonable regard to the Borrower’s hedging strategy and its projected exposure to currency fluctuations with respect to the Transactions.
“Excluded Debt” means (i) intercompany debt among the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries or among Subsidiaries of the Borrower, (ii) credit extensions under the Revolving Credit Facility (including any amendment, refinancing or replacement thereof) up to $3,000,000,000 (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof) in the aggregate, (iii) commercial paper issuances (other than for the purpose of financing the Acquisition) in an aggregate principal amount up to $1,500,000,000 (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof), (iv) ordinary course letter of credit facilities, overdraft protection and short term working capital facilities, ordinary course foreign credit facilities, factoring arrangements, capital leases, financial leases, hedging and cash management, (v) purchase money and equipment financings and similar obligations, and (vi) other debt (other than for the purpose of financing the Acquisition) in an aggregate principal amount up to $500,000,000 (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof).
“Excluded Disposition” means any (i) unwinding of Hedging Agreements, (ii) Disposition of accounts receivable as part of collection, (iii) sale of inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business, (iv) sales or dispositions among the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries and (v) Disposition having Net Cash Proceeds, which do not exceed $25,000,000 (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof) for any transaction or series of related transactions and $250,000,000 (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof) in the aggregate.
“Excluded Equity Issuance” means issuances of Equity Interests (i) pursuant to employee stock plans and retirement plans or issued as compensation to officers and/or non-employee directors and (ii) constituting directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts required to be held by persons other than the Borrower or its subsidiaries under applicable law.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes,
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in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.12) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.10, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.10(g) and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
“Fee and Syndication Letter” means the Fee and Syndication Letter, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Borrower and the Lead Arranger.
“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of the Borrower.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, or any successor thereto.
“Fitch Rating” means, at any time, the then current rating by Fitch (including the failure to rate) of the Borrower’s senior, unsecured, non-credit-enhanced long-term indebtedness for money borrowed.
“Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
“General Meeting” means the general meeting of the holders of Target Shares (or any adjournment thereof) to be convened in connection with the implementation of a Scheme.
“Governmental Authority” means any government or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
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“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Hedging Agreement” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of Property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.03(b).
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.
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“Insolvent Lender” means a Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, that (a) is or has become insolvent or is the subsidiary of a Person that is or has become insolvent; (b) has become the subject of a proceeding under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, or is a subsidiary of a Person that has become the subject of a proceeding under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; or (c) has become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be an Insolvent Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition or control of an Equity Interest in such Lender or a parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority, so long as such ownership or acquisition or control does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any Insolvent Lender shall cease to be an Insolvent Lender when the Administrative Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such Insolvent Lender is no longer an Insolvent Lender based upon the characteristics set forth in this definition.
“Interest Payment Date” means, as to any Loan, (a) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the borrowing of such Loan; provided that, (i) if any such date would be a day other than a Business Day, such date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such date shall be the next preceding Business Day and (ii) the Interest Payment Date with respect to any borrowing of Loans that occurs on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in any applicable calendar month) shall be the last Business Day of any such succeeding applicable calendar month and (b) the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.
“Lead Arranger” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner hereunder.
“Lenders” has the meaning specified in the recital of the parties to this Agreement and shall include each Lender that is listed on Schedule I, and each other Person that from time to time becomes a party hereto as a “Lender” pursuant to Section 10.04.
“Lien” means (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge, assignment, deemed trust, security interest or other arrangement or condition that secures payment or performance of an obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing), and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
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“Loan” means a loan made to the Borrower by the Lenders hereunder, in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes and the Fee and Syndication Letter, as any of the foregoing may from time to time be amended, restated or otherwise modified or replaced, and any other document delivered pursuant thereto.
“Long-Stop Date” means February 2, 2023, or such later date which is no later than: (a) where the Acquisition proceeds by way of a Scheme, the date that is six weeks after the date first set forth above; or (b) where the Acquisition proceeds by way of an Offer, the date that is eight weeks after the date first set forth above.
“Mandatory Cancellation Event” means the occurrence of any of the following conditions or events:
(a) where the Acquisition proceeds by way of a Scheme:
(i) a Court Meeting is held (and not adjourned or otherwise postponed) to approve the Scheme at which a vote is held to approve the Scheme, but the Scheme is not so approved by the requisite majority of the Scheme Shareholders at such Court Meeting;
(ii) a General Meeting is held (and not adjourned or otherwise postponed) to pass the Scheme Resolutions at which a vote is held on the Scheme Resolutions, but the Scheme Resolutions are not passed by the requisite majority of the shareholders of the Target at such General Meeting;
(iii) applications for the issuance of the Court Order are made to the Court (and not adjourned or otherwise postponed) but the Court (in its final judgment) refuses to grant the Court Order;
(iv) the Scheme lapses or is withdrawn with the consent of the Panel or by order of the Court;
(v) a Court Order is issued but not filed with the Registrar within ten Business Days of (x) its issuance or (y), if first required by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom and the Registrar, its stamping;
(vi) the date which is 15 days after the Scheme Effective Date (or, if later, the date immediately following any extension of the period for settlement of consideration provided by the Panel pursuant to the Takeover Code); or
(vii) the Long-Stop Date, unless the Scheme Effective Date has occurred on or prior thereto,
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unless, in respect of clauses (i) to (vi) inclusive above, for the purpose of switching from a Scheme to an Offer, within five Business Days of such event the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent it intends to issue, and then within 10 Business Days (or such later period as the Lead Arranger may agree in its sole discretion) after delivery of such notice does issue, an Offer Press Release (in which case no Mandatory Cancellation Event shall have occurred pursuant to clauses (i) to (vi)) and provided that the postponement or adjournment of any Court Meeting, General Meeting or application referred to in this paragraph (a) shall not constitute a Mandatory Cancellation Event if such Court Meeting, General Meeting or application is capable of being re-convened, re-submitted or granted on a future date;
(b) where the Acquisition proceeds by way of an Offer:
(i) such Offer lapses, terminates or is withdrawn with the consent of the Panel unless, for the purpose of switching from an Offer to a Scheme, within five Business Days of such event the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent it intends to issue, and then within 10 Business Days (or such later period as the Lead Arranger may agree in its sole discretion) after delivery of such notice does issue, a Scheme Press Release (in which case no Mandatory Cancellation Event shall have occurred);
(ii) the date upon which all payments made or to be made for Certain Funds Purposes have been paid in full in cleared funds;
(iii) the date falling 90 days after the Offer Unconditional Date; or
(iv) the Long-Stop Date, unless the Offer Unconditional Date has occurred on or prior thereto.
“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X of the Board.
“Material Adverse Effect” or “Material Adverse Change” means a material adverse effect on or a material adverse change in (a) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance or Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to perform any of their obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to which they are parties, or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
“Material Indebtedness” means (a) Indebtedness (other than the Loans hereunder) and (b) obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (whether or not drawn) exceeding $50,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of any Person in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that such Person would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Materially Adverse Amendment” means a modification, amendment or waiver to or of the terms or conditions (including the treatment of a condition as having been satisfied) of the Acquisition Documents compared to the terms and conditions that are included in the draft of the Press Release delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 5.01(b) that is
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materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (taken as a whole) under the Loan Documents; it being acknowledged (except (x) to the extent paid in the form of common stock of the Borrower or (y) as otherwise agreed in writing by the Lead Arranger) that an increase to the purchase price for the Target Shares would be materially adverse to the Lenders; provided, that any modification, amendment or waiver (including the treatment of a condition as having been satisfied) (i) that is required pursuant to (or reasonably determined by the Borrower as being necessary or desirable to comply with the requirements or requests of) the Takeover Code or by a court of competent jurisdiction, any other applicable law, regulation or regulatory body or the Panel (including any refusal by the Panel to allow the invocation of a condition) or (ii) reducing the Acceptance Condition to not less than the Minimum Acceptance Level in accordance with Section 6.11(a)(ii), or (iii) waiving any condition that the Panel has not given the Borrower its consent to invoke, (iv) in the case of an Offer, that is an extension of the period in which holders of the Target Shares may accept the Offer or (v) necessary to effect the switch from a Scheme to an Offer (or vice versa), in each case, shall not be a Materially Adverse Amendment. In the case of an Offer, if the Borrower or any person acting in concert with the Borrower (within the meaning of the Takeover Code) makes an acceleration statement (within the meaning of the Takeover Code) which includes a statement that the Borrower has waived any conditions to the Offer, such waiver shall be considered to be a voluntary waiver for the purposes of this definition and not a requirement of the Takeover Code or the Panel.
“Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a) the date that is 364 days after the Closing Date (or if such date is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately preceding such date) and (b) the date on which the maturity of the Loans is accelerated in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c).
“Minimum Acceptance Level” has the meaning specified in Section 6.11(a).
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Xxxxx’x Rating” means, at any time, the then current rating by Moody’s (including the failure to rate) of the Borrower’s senior, unsecured, non-credit-enhanced long-term indebtedness for money borrowed.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means
(a) in connection with any issuance or sale of Equity Interests or incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds received (including into an escrow account established by the Borrower for the purposes of funding the Acquisition) from such issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith; or
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(b) with respect to any Disposition, the cash proceeds (including any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment or otherwise, but only as and when received) actually received in respect of such Disposition, net of (i) all attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, brokerage, consultant and other customary fees and commissions, title and recording tax expenses and other reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith, (ii) all Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (including taxes resulting from the repatriation of such cash proceeds from a Subsidiary organized outside of the United States), (iii) all payments made, and all installment payments required to be made, with respect to any obligation (A) that is secured by any assets subject to such Disposition in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets or (B) that must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Disposition, or by applicable laws, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Disposition, (iv) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Disposition, or to any other Person (other than to any Group Member) owning a beneficial interest in the assets disposed of in such Disposition, (v) the amount of any reserves established by any Group Member in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to fund purchase price or similar adjustments, indemnities or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, reasonably estimated to be payable in connection with such Disposition (provided, that to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds), (vi) any funded escrow established pursuant to the documents evidencing any such Disposition to secure any indemnification obligations or adjustments to the purchase price associated with any such Disposition (provided, that to the extent that any amounts are released from such escrow to the Borrower or a Subsidiary, such amounts net of any related expenses shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds), (vii) the cash proceeds of any Disposition to the extent such proceeds are required to be used in another manner pursuant to contractual or other obligations entered into in connection with financing the acquisition, construction or development of such property and (viii) any cash proceeds arising from an Disposition by a Subsidiary organized outside of the United States to the extent that (x) the repatriation thereof would be unlawful, as reasonably determined by the Borrower or (y) material adverse tax consequences would result from the repatriation thereof, as reasonably determined by the Borrower; provided, further, that such Net Cash Proceeds of Dispositions shall not include proceeds of any Disposition received to the extent reinvested in other assets used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 9 months of receipt of such proceeds (or in the case of a casualty or condemnation event, such longer period as may be reasonably required to reinstate or repaid the affected asset).
“Note” means a Note, in the form of the attached Exhibit B executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof.
“Offer” means a contractual takeover offer within the meaning of Section 974 of the Companies Act made by the Borrower for all of the Target Shares other than any Target Shares that at the date of the offer are already held by the Borrower (as that offer may be amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) which, for the avoidance of doubt, is not effected by way of a Scheme.
“Offer Documents” means the Offer Press Release, the offer document to be sent by the Borrower to the holders of Target Shares and any other material document sent by the Borrower to Target Shareholders in relation to the terms and conditions of an Offer.
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“Offer Press Release” means the press release announcing, in compliance with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code, a firm intention to make an offer for the Target which is to be implemented by way of an Offer or, as the case may be, a conversion from a Scheme to an Offer in accordance with Section 8 of Appendix 7 to the Takeover Code.
“Offer Unconditional Date” means the date on which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in the Loans or in any Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.12).
“Panel” means the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers in the United Kingdom.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(e).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(e).
“Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.12.
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning specified in Section 9.08(a).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes, employment insurance, pension obligations, other social security obligations, and vacation pay that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;
(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;
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(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) cash deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under subpart (k) of Section 8.01; and
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real Property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected Property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Press Release” means an Offer Press Release or a Scheme Press Release.
“Property” means any right or interest in or to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts, revenues and contract rights.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Qualifying Loan Facility” has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(c).
“Rating Level Period” means a Rating Level I Period, Rating Level II Period, Rating Level III Period, Rating Level IV Period or Rating Level V Period, as applicable.
“Rating Level I Period” means any period during which the S&P Rating is A- or better, the Xxxxx’x Rating is A3 or better or the Fitch Rating is A- or better.
“Rating Level II Period” means any period during which the S&P Rating is BBB+, the Xxxxx’x Rating is Baa1 or the Fitch Rating is BBB+.
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“Rating Level III Period” means any period during which the S&P Rating is BBB, the Xxxxx’x Rating is Baa2 or the Fitch Rating is BBB.
“Rating Level IV Period” means any period during which the S&P Rating is BBB-, the Xxxxx’x Rating is Baa3 or the Fitch Rating is BBB-.
“Rating Level V Period” means any period that is not a Rating Level I Period, Rating Level II Period, Rating Level III Period or Rating Level IV Period, and shall include a period during which two or more of S&P, Xxxxx’x and Fitch shall not have a Debt Rating in effect.
“Receiving Agent” means the receiving agent appointed by the Borrower in connection with the acquisition of the Target Shares.
“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, or (b) any Lender, as applicable.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c).
“Registrar” means the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment, including the movement of Hazardous Materials through ambient air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata.
“Replacement Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(b).
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of (a) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans plus (b) the aggregate amount of Commitments then in effect.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Revolving Credit Facility” means the credit facility under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2019, by and among the Borrower and certain subsidiaries of the Borrower, as borrowers, the lenders party thereto from time to time and KeyBank National Association, as administrative agent.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings or any successor thereto.
“S&P Rating” means, at any time, the then current rating by S&P (including the failure to rate) of the Borrower’s senior, unsecured, non-credit-enhanced long-term indebtedness for money borrowed.
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“Sanctions” means any sanctions enacted, administered, imposed or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or other relevant sanctions authorities.
“Scheme” means a scheme of arrangement made pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act between the Target and the holders of Target Shares in relation to the transfer of the Scheme Shares to the Borrower as contemplated by the Scheme Circular (as such Scheme Circular may be amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement).
“Scheme Circular” means the circular (including any supplemental circular) to the shareholders of the Target to be issued by the Target setting out the proposals for the Scheme and containing the notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting.
“Scheme Documents” means the Scheme Press Release, the Scheme Circular and any other material document sent to the holders of Target Shares in relation to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
“Scheme Effective Date” means the date on which a copy of the court order sanctioning the Scheme is duly filed on behalf of the Target with the Registrar and the Scheme becomes effective in accordance with section 899 of the Companies Act.
“Scheme Press Release” means each press release made by or on behalf of the Borrower announcing, in compliance with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code, a firm intention to make an offer which is to be implemented by means of the Scheme or, as the case may be, a conversion from an Offer to a Scheme in accordance with Section 8 of Appendix 7 to the Takeover Code.
“Scheme Resolutions” means the resolutions to be set out in the Scheme Circular to be considered and, if thought fit, approved at the General Meeting.
“Scheme Shareholders” means the registered holders of Scheme Shares at the relevant time.
“Scheme Shares” means the Target Shares which are subject to the Scheme in accordance with its terms.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any governmental body or agency succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Solvent” when used with respect to any Person, together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, means that, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay
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the liability of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, on their debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (i) “debt” means liability on a “claim”, and (ii) “claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.
“XXXXX” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average for such Business Day published by the XXXXX Administrator on the XXXXX Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
“XXXXX Administrator” means the Bank of England (or any successor administrator of the Sterling Overnight Index Average).
“XXXXX Administrator’s Website” means the Bank of England’s website, currently at xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx, or any successor source for the Sterling Overnight Index Average identified as such by the XXXXX Administrator from time to time.
“XXXXX Conforming Changes” means, with respect to Daily Simple XXXXX, any conforming changes to the definition of Derived Rate, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of Daily Simple XXXXX and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of Daily Simple XXXXX exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent may determines).
“Squeeze-Out” means, if the Borrower becomes entitled to give notice under section 979 of the Companies Act, the procedure to be implemented following the date on which the Offer is declared or becomes unconditional under section 979 of the Companies Act to squeeze out all of the outstanding shares in the Target which the Borrower has not acquired, contracted to acquire or in respect of which it has not received valid acceptances.
“Squeeze-Out Notice” means a notice issued to a holder of Target Shares by the Borrower in accordance with section 979 of the Companies Act.
“Squeeze-Out Rights” means the rights of the Borrower pursuant to sections 979 to 982 of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act to acquire any remaining Target Shares which are the subject of the Offer.
“Sterling” or “£” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
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“Sterling Equivalent” means, on any date, (a) with respect to any amount in Sterling, such amount and (b) with respect to any amount in any currency other than Sterling, the equivalent in Sterling of such amount determined by the Administrative Agent using the Exchange Rate in effect at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) three Business Days prior to the applicable date of determination (unless the Sterling Equivalent is being determined pursuant to clause (ii) of the proviso in the definition of “Exchange Rate”, in which case, the Sterling Equivalent shall be determined using the applicable Exchange Rate as of the date of determination).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, at any date, any other Person a majority of the Voting Stock of which is owned by such first Person, or by such first Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, or by one or more Subsidiaries thereof. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Successor Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Derived Rate, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrower).
“Takeover Code” means the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers in the United Kingdom issued by the Panel from time to time.
“Target” means Meggitt PLC.
“Target Existing Debt” means indebtedness and other obligations of the Target and its Subsidiaries under their existing credit facilities.
“Target Refinancing” means, as applicable, (a) the repayment in full of all or certain of the Target Existing Debt, together with any fees, costs, expenses and premia in relation thereto and (b) the release of any guarantees or liens in respect thereof.
“Target Shares” means all of the issued and unconditionally allotted ordinary shares in the Target and any further such shares which may be issued or unconditionally allotted pursuant to the exercise of any subscription or conversion rights, options or otherwise.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Ticking Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).
“Total Capitalization” means, at any time, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for or in respect of borrowed money at such time; plus (b) total shareholders’ equity as set forth in the Borrower’s then most recent financial statements delivered hereunder.
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“Total Debt” means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; provided that, there shall be excluded from Total Debt the amount of any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries under any offering of notes to the extent the proceeds thereof are (a) intended to be used to finance one or more acquisitions permitted hereunder and (b) held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in a segregated account pending such application (or pending the redemption of such notes in the event any such acquisition is not consummated), until such time as such proceeds are released from such segregated account.
“Transactions” means (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) the borrowing of the Loans, (iii) the consummation of the Acquisition, (iv) the Target Refinancing, if applicable, and (iv) the payment of fees and expenses related thereto.
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.10(g).
“Voting Stock” means, at any time, the outstanding securities or other ownership interests of a Person entitled to vote generally in an election of directors or other Persons performing similar functions of such Person.
“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
“Withholding Agent” means the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary one hundred percent (100%) of the Voting Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower.
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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods; Terms Generally.
(a) In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” mean “to but excluding”.
(b) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise, any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein); any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns; the words “herein”, “hereof’ and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof; and all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement.
(c) Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).
SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change
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occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. If the Borrower adopts the International Financial Reporting Standards, and such change or adoption results in a change in the calculation of any component (or components in the aggregate) of the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.04 hereof or the related financial definitions, at the option of the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders or the Borrower, the parties hereto will enter into good faith negotiations to amend such financial covenant and financial definitions in such manner as the parties shall agree, each acting reasonably, in order to reflect fairly such change or adoption so that the criteria for evaluating the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be the same in commercial effect after, as well as before, such change or adoption is made (in which case the method and calculating such financial covenants and definitions hereunder shall be determined in the manner so agreed); provided that, until so amended, such calculations shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP as in effect prior to such change or adoption. For clarification purposes, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that in no event will any lease that would have been categorized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018 be considered a capital lease for any purpose of this Agreement.
SECTION 1.04. Daily Simple XXXXX Disclaimer. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to Daily Simple XXXXX, any component definition thereof or rates referenced in the definition thereof or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Successor Rate), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Successor Rate) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, Daily Simple XXXXX prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Successor Rate Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of Daily Simple XXXXX, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Successor Rate) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain Daily Simple XXXXX, any component definition thereof or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
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ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE LOANS
SECTION 2.01. Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans to the Borrower in Sterling, (x) from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period for any Certain Funds Purpose other than the Target Refinancing and (y) on the Closing Date, to fund the Target Refinancing, if any, in each case, in an aggregate amount not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Amounts prepaid or repaid in respect of the Loans may not be re-borrowed.
SECTION 2.02. Evidence of Indebtedness. Upon the request of a Lender, to evidence the obligation of the Borrower to repay the portion of the Loan made by such Lender and to pay interest thereon, the Borrower shall execute a Note, payable to such Lender and its registered assigns in the principal amount of its Commitment; provided that the failure of such Lender to request a Note shall in no way detract from the Borrower’s obligations to such Lender hereunder.
SECTION 2.03. Interest.
(a) Generally. The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan made to it and owing to each Lender from the date of such Loan is funded by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.05(d) until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at a rate per annum equal to the Derived Rate, payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.
(b) Default Rate. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, upon the election of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the Borrower shall pay interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and on the unpaid amount of all interest, fees and other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder, such interest to be payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to two percent (2%) per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid pursuant to subsection (a) above.
(c) Limitation on Interest. In no event shall the rate of interest hereunder exceed the maximum rate allowable by law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, apply any excess to the payment of outstanding principal, expenses, fees, or premiums rather than interest.
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SECTION 2.04. Voluntary Commitment Reductions and Prepayments.
(a) Commitment Reductions. The Borrower may at any time, upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, which shall be irrevocable, terminate in whole or in part the Commitments, provided that any notice of termination may state that it is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of proceeds from another transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent) if such condition is not satisfied. Each termination of Commitments hereunder shall be permanent.
(b) Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any time or from time to time to prepay, on a pro rata basis for all of the Lenders, all or any part of the principal amount of the Loans. Such payment shall include interest accrued on the amount so prepaid to the date of such prepayment and shall be without any premium or penalty. Each prepayment of the Loans shall be applied as directed by the Borrower.
The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice of prepayment of Loans by no later than 1:00 P.M. (Eastern time) three Business Days before the Business Day on which such prepayment is to be made; provided that any notice of prepayment may state that it is conditioned upon the incurrence of other Indebtedness or the receipt of proceeds from another transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent) if such condition is not satisfied.
Each partial reduction of Commitments or prepayment of Loans shall be in the principal amount of not less than Ten Million Sterling (£10,000,000), increased by increments of One Million Sterling (£1,000,000), or, in each case, the entire amount then outstanding.
SECTION 2.05. Notice of Credit Events; Funding of Loans.
(a) Notice of Credit Events. The Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Loan borrowing, in the form of Exhibit C hereto, prior to 11:00 A.M. (Eastern Time) three Business Days prior to the proposed date of borrowing of any Loans.
(b) [Reserved].
(c) Minimum Amount. Each request for a borrowing of Loans shall be in an amount of not less than Ten Million Sterling (£10,000,000), increased by increments of One Million Sterling (£1,000,000), or, in each case, the entire amount then outstanding.
(d) Funding by Lenders. Each Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the date that is one Business Day prior to the requested date of borrowing by the Borrower, make available for the account of its lending office to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of the requested Loan. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article V, the Administrative Agent will wire or deposit the proceeds of the Loan, in same day funds, to such account as the Borrower may direct on the date of the requested borrowing.
(e) Obligations Several. The failure of any Lender to make its portion of any Loan shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its portion of any Loan, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make their portion of the Loan.
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SECTION 2.06. Payment on the Loans and Other Obligations.
(a) Payments Generally. Each payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document by the Borrower shall be made without any offset, abatement, recoupment, counterclaim, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(b) Payments in Sterling. All payments, including but not limited to principal, interest, fees or any other amount owed by the Borrower under this Agreement, shall be made in Sterling. All payments described in this subsection (b) shall be remitted to the Administrative Agent, at the address of the Administrative Agent for notices referred to in Section 10.01 hereof for the account of the Lenders not later than 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the due date thereof in immediately available funds. Any such payments received by the Administrative Agent after 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) shall be deemed to have been made and received on the next Business Day.
(c) Payments to Lenders. Upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of payments hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall immediately distribute to each Lender its ratable share of the amount of principal, interest, and facility and other fees received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender. Payments received by the Administrative Agent shall be delivered to the Lenders in immediately available funds. Each Lender shall record any principal, interest or other payments, the principal amounts, all prepayments and the applicable dates, with respect to its portion of any Loan made, and payments received by such Lender, by such method as such Lender may generally employ; provided that failure to make any such entry shall in no way detract from the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement or any Note. The aggregate unpaid amount of the Loans and other information with respect to the Loans set forth in the records of the Administrative Agent shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence with respect to such information, including the amounts of principal, interest and fees owing to each Lender.
(d) Timing of Payments. Subject to the limitations in the definition of “Interest Payment Date”, whenever any payment to be made hereunder, including, without limitation, any payment to be made on the Loans, shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next Business Day and such extension of time shall in each case be included in the computation of the interest payable on the Loans.
(e) Computations. All computations (i) of interest shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable, and (ii) of fees (including Ticking Fees) and other amounts hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(f) Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to any Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to
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each such Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
SECTION 2.07. Mandatory Commitment Reductions and Repayments.
(a) Commitment Termination Date. Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall automatically terminate upon the termination of the Certain Funds Period.
(b) Maturity Date. The Borrower promises to repay all outstanding Loans on the Maturity Date or such earlier date as required herein.
(c) Debt Issuances, Equity Issuances and Dispositions. In the event that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receives any Net Cash Proceeds from:
(1) the issuance of any Equity Interests by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than an Excluded Equity Issuance;
(2) the incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Excluded Debt; or
(3) from any Disposition, other than an Excluded Disposition,
then first, the undrawn Commitments shall be automatically reduced in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof) on the date of receipt by the Borrower or such Subsidiary thereof until the undrawn Commitments equal zero, and thereafter, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof) to the extent remaining following the reduction of the Commitments to zero, not later than five (5) Business Days following the receipt by the Borrower thereof.
In addition, if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall enter in to a term loan or other credit agreement (including an amendment to any existing agreement, including the Revolving Credit Facility) for the stated purpose of financing the Acquisition which has conditions to availability thereunder that are no more restrictive to the borrower thereunder than the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.02 (a “Qualifying Loan Facility”) then the Commitments shall be automatically reduced in an amount equal to the commitments thereunder (or the Sterling Equivalent thereof) on the date of the execution of such Qualifying Loan Facility.
The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any such Net Cash Proceeds or upon the execution of any Qualifying Loan Facility, as the case may be, and the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice.
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Any termination or reduction of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.07 shall be permanent. Each prepayment or reduction of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.07 shall be applied to the Loans or Commitments, as applicable, of the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective portions of the Loans or Commitments, as applicable.
SECTION 2.08. Payment of Fees.
(a) Ticking Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders, as a consideration for the Commitments, a ticking fee (the “Ticking Fee”) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate multiplied by the average daily outstanding aggregate amount of the Commitments, which will accrue beginning on October 1, 2021 through the date of termination or expiration of the Commitments (including upon the borrowing of the Loans). The accrued Ticking Fees shall be payable in Sterling on each date of borrowing of the Loans and on the date of termination or expiration of the Commitments.
(b) Lender Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders, all fees payable for the account of the Lenders, in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee and Syndication Letter.
(c) Agent Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, all fees payable for the Administrative Agent’s own account, in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee and Syndication Letter.
(d) Duration Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders, duration fees (the “Duration Fees”) in amounts equal to the percentage, as determined in accordance with the grid below, of the aggregate amount of the Loans and Commitments outstanding at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on each date set forth in the grid below, in each case payable on each such applicable date:
90th day after the Closing Date |
180th day after the Closing Date |
270th day after the Closing Date |
||||||
0.50% |
0.75 | % | 1.00 | % |
SECTION 2.09. Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.
(a) Change in Law. If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation or application (to the extent any such introduction or change occurs after the date hereof) of any law or regulation, or (ii) compliance with any direction, guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority adopted or made after the date hereof (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to, or reduction in the amount receivable by, any Lender in connection with agreeing to make or making, continuing, converting to, funding or maintaining its Commitments or its Loans (other than Indemnified Taxes and Excluded Taxes), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted the
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Borrower by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. For purposes of this Section 2.09, the Xxxx-Xxxxx Act, any requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, or the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) under Basel III, and any rules, regulations, orders, requests, guidelines and directives adopted, promulgated or implemented in connection with any of the foregoing, regardless of the date adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented, are deemed to have been introduced and adopted after the Effective Date.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines in good faith that compliance with any law or regulation enacted or introduced after the date hereof or any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority adopted or made after the date hereof (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect liquidity requirements or the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender, and that the amount of such capital or liquidity requirement is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender’s Commitment or the Loans, then, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender therefor to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in capital or liquidity requirement to be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s Commitment, or to the making or maintenance of Loans. A certificate as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) by such Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(c) Rates Unavailable. If the Administrative Agent determines that no reasonable basis exists for determining Daily Simple XXXXX (including pursuant to the second sentence in the definition thereof), the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon the Derived Rate shall automatically be amended, without any action by any other party to this Agreement, to refer to the sum of the Central Bank Rate plus the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment plus the Applicable Rate. If the circumstances in the immediately preceding sentence apply but the Central Bank Rate is unavailable for any day, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon the Derived Rate shall then automatically be amended, without any action by any other party to this Agreement, to refer to the sum of the most recent Central Bank Rate for a day which is no more than five Business Days before such date of determination plus the Central Bank Rate Adjustment plus the Applicable Rate.
(d) Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of (to the extent any such introduction or change occurs after the date hereof) any law or regulation shall make it unlawful, or any central bank or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction shall assert in writing after the date hereof that it is unlawful, for any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder to make or continue to maintain its Loans or Commitments, then, on notice thereof and demand therefor by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, whereupon the obligation of such Lender to make Loans shall be suspended shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower that such Lender has determined that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist; provided that, before making any such demand, such Lender agrees to use reasonable
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efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different lending office if the making of such a designation would allow such Lender or its lending office to continue to perform its obligations to make or continue to maintain its Loans or Commitments and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
(e) Replacement of Daily Simple XXXXX. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) that the Required Lenders have determined, that: (i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining Daily Simple XXXXX, including, without limitation, because XXXXX is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or (ii) the XXXXX Administrator or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which Daily Simple XXXXX or XXXXX shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans, then, after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace Daily Simple XXXXX with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein) that has been broadly accepted by the syndicated loan market in the United States in lieu of Daily Simple XXXXX (any such proposed rate, a “Successor Rate”), together with any proposed Successor Rate Conforming Changes and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.02, any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment; provided that if at any time any Successor Rate is less than zero, such Successor Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement. If no Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist, then the Derived Rate shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.09(c) above.
SECTION 2.10. Taxes.
(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.10, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.
(b) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.10) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
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(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.10) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.04 relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative
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Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (ii)(A), (ii)(B), (ii)(D) and (ii)(E) of this Section 2.10) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(i) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W 8BEN-E; or
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(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made;
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement; and
(E) on or before the date on which the Administrative Agent (including any successor or replacement Administrative Agent) becomes the Administrative Agent hereunder, it shall deliver to the Borrower two executed copies of either (a) IRS Form W-9 or (b) with respect to amounts received on its own account, IRS Form W-8ECI and with respect to amounts received on account of any Lender, IRS Form W-8IMY certifying that it is a U.S. branch that has agreed to be treated as a U.S. Person for U.S. federal tax purposes or a qualified intermediary that has agreed to assume primary withholding obligations for Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 of the Code with respect to payments received by it from the Borrower in its capacity as Administrative Agent, as applicable.
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Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(h) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.10 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(i) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.10 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 2.11. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) of any amount owing to it hereunder (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.09, 2.10 or 10.03) in excess of its ratable share thereof such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the amounts owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided that, if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (a) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment, to (b) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.11 may exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
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SECTION 2.12. Mitigation; Replacement of Lender.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.09 or 2.10, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking the Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10, as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment. In addition, each Lender may, at its option, make its portion of any Loan available to or for the account of the Borrower by causing any foreign or domestic branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make the Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Election to Replace by the Borrower. Subject to subsection (c) below, in the event that any Lender requests compensation pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10, then, so long as such condition exists, the Borrower may at its sole expense and effort require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse to or representation or warranty by such Lender, all of such Lender’s Commitment and/or outstanding Loans to an assignee (any such assignee being herein called a “Replacement Lender”) acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided that such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law. The purchase price of any such assignment shall be equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans held by such Lender plus all accrued but unpaid interest and accrued but unpaid fees owing to such Lender (and upon such delegation and assignment, and subject to the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent by the Replacement Lender of documentation prepared by and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and compliance with the requirements of Section 10.04(b), the Replacement Lender shall thereupon be deemed to be a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement and shall succeed to the rights and obligations of the Lender being replaced hereunder); provided that the Borrower shall also arrange for payment to the Administrative Agent of the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 10.04(b)(iv) with respect to such assignment. In the event that the Borrower exercises its rights under this subsection (b), the Lender being replaced shall no longer be a party hereto or have any rights or obligations hereunder; provided that the obligations of the Borrower to such Lender under Sections 2.09, 2.10 and 10.03 with respect to events occurring or obligations arising before or as a result of such replacement shall survive such exercise. The Borrower may not exercise its rights under this Section 2.12(b) with respect to any Lender if a Default has occurred and is then continuing.
(c) Replacement of Affected Lenders. Each Lender agrees that, during the time in which a Lender is an Affected Lender, the Administrative Agent shall have the right (and the Administrative Agent shall, if requested by the Borrower), at the sole expense of the Borrower, upon notice to such Affected Lender and the Borrower and receipt of the Borrower’s written consent thereto, to require that such Affected Lender assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with the restrictions contained in Section 10.04 hereof), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee, approved by the Borrower (unless an Event of
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Default shall exist) and the Administrative Agent, that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that such Affected Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its portion of the Loan, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from such assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts).
SECTION 2.13. Interest Rate Determination.
(a) [Reserved].
(b) [Reserved].
(c) [Reserved].
(d) Changes in Ratings Systems. If the rating system of Xxxxx’x, S&P or Fitch shall change, or if any such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) shall negotiate in good faith to amend the references to specific ratings in this Agreement to reflect such changed rating system or the non-availability of ratings from such rating agency (provided, that no such amendment to such specific ratings shall in any event be effective without the approval of the Required Lenders).
ARTICLE III
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as of the Effective Date, the Closing Date and upon each borrowing of Loans that:
SECTION 4.01. Organization; Powers. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is (a) duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and (to the extent applicable) in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, (b) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and (c) except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every other jurisdiction where such qualification is required. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an EEA Financial Institution.
SECTION 4.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within the Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and, if required, all necessary shareholder action, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party when executed and delivered by the Borrower will constitute, a legal, valid and binding
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obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
SECTION 4.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except for such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or otherwise in connection with the Acquisition, (b) do not violate any (i) applicable law or regulation or (ii) the charter, by laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any partnership agreement to which any of them is party or by which any of them is bound or (iii) any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) do not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Property, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any such Person and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 4.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) Financial Condition. The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated audited balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, as reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
(b) No Material Adverse Change. Since June 30, 2020, no Material Adverse Change has occurred.
SECTION 4.05. Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority now pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination, and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than Disclosed Matters).
SECTION 4.06. Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Default. The Borrower and each Subsidiary (a) is in compliance with all laws (including ERISA and all applicable Environmental Laws), regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its Property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) is in material compliance with all applicable Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws and regulations; and (c) is in compliance, in all material respects, with the Patriot Act (as defined in Section 10.12 hereof). The Borrower has ensured that no Person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower is (i) listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by the Office of
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Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), Department of the Treasury, or any other similar lists maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute, executive order or regulation, or (ii) a Person designated under Section 1(b), (c) or (d) of Executive Order No. 13224 (September 23, 2001), any related enabling legislation or any other similar executive orders. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any director or officer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are (i) the subject or target of any Sanctions, or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of Anti-Corruption Laws, anti-money laundering laws and Sanctions and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance therewith. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 4.07. Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 4.08. Taxes. The Borrower and each Subsidiary has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Person has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.09. Disclosure. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information (other than forward-looking information and projected financial information and information of a general economic nature and general information about the Borrower’s industry) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lenders in writing in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that such projected financial information is subject to uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower, that no assurances can be given that such projected financial information will be realized, and that actual results may differ in a material manner from such projected financial information).
SECTION 4.10. Margin Regulations. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any extension of credit hereunder will be used for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any Margin Stock.
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SECTION 4.11. Beneficial Ownership. As of the Effective Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification, if any, delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(f)(ii) is true and correct in all respects.
SECTION 4.12. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used solely for Certain Funds Purposes.
SECTION 4.13. Acquisition Documents. In the case of a Scheme, the Scheme Documents contain all the material terms of the Scheme; and in the case of an Offer, the Offer Documents contain all material terms of the Offer.
SECTION 4.14. Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are, and after giving effect to the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being incurred in connection herewith will be and will continue to be, Solvent.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS OF LENDING
SECTION 5.01. Conditions to Effective Date. The Commitments of each Lender hereunder shall become effective and the Effective Date shall occur subject to the satisfaction (with the Administrative Agent acting reasonably in assessing whether the conditions precedent are satisfied) or waiver in accordance with Section 10.02 of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Executed Counterparts. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each Lender listed on Schedule I hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party.
(b) Press Release. The Administrative Agent shall have received a draft Offer Press Release or Scheme Press Release (as applicable) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of counsel to the Borrower.
(d) Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (x) a certificate of the secretary, assistant secretary or other appropriate officer of the Borrower attaching, (i) the articles of incorporation of the Borrower, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, (ii) the bylaws of the Borrower, (iii) the resolutions, written consents or other applicable action of the Borrower authorizing, among other things, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including the borrowing of the Loans hereunder), and the Transactions and (iv) an incumbency certificate certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower entitled to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (y) a good standing certificate for the Borrower from its jurisdiction of its incorporation.
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(e) Fees and Expenses. The Lenders, Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall have received all fees required to be paid under this Agreement and the Fee and Syndication Letter (or arrangements with respect to the payment thereof which are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall have been made) on or prior to the Effective Date, and all expenses (or arrangements with respect to the payment thereof which are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall have been made) for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), at least one (1) Business Day before the Effective Date.
(f) KYC Information. The Borrower shall have provided to the Lenders (i) the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, and (ii) if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification, in form and substance satisfactory to Lenders.
The Administrative Agent and the Lenders irrevocably confirm that the Effective Date has occurred on the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 5.02. Conditions to Closing Date. Subject to Section 5.04, the obligation of each Lender to make a Loan hereunder shall be subject to all of the following conditions precedent having been satisfied (with the Administrative Agent acting reasonably in assessing whether the conditions precedent are satisfied) or waived in accordance with Section 10.02 on or prior to the Long-Stop Date:
(a) Effective Date. The Effective Date shall have occurred.
(b) Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received the Closing Date Officer’s Certificate.
(c) Scheme/Offer Sanctioned. If the Acquisition is pursuant to:
(i) a Scheme, then the Scheme Effective Date shall have occurred; or
(ii) an Offer, then the Offer Unconditional Date shall have occurred,
in each case without the Borrower having agreed to any Materially Adverse Amendment to the applicable Acquisition Documents except in accordance with Section 6.11(b).
(d) Absence of Certain Funds Event of Default and Accuracy of Certain Funds Representations. On the Closing Date, immediately before and after giving effect to the making of and application of proceeds of the applicable Borrowing, no Certain Funds Event of Default shall have occurred which is continuing.
(e) Fees. The Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall have received all fees required to be paid under this Agreement and the Fee and Syndication Letter (or arrangements for such fees to be deducted by the Administrative Agent from the proceeds of the Loans shall have been made) on or prior to the Closing Date (and for the avoidance of doubt, a direction by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to deduct the full amount of such fees from the proceeds of the Loans to be funded on the Closing Date in the applicable request for a borrowing of Loans on the Closing Date or a closing funds flow demonstrating to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent that such fees will be paid on the Closing Date shall each be sufficient to satisfy this condition).
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(f) Notice of Loan Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall have received a request for a borrowing of the Loans to be made in accordance with the requirements hereof.
SECTION 5.03. Each Subsequent Borrowing Date. Subject to Section 5.04, the obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on any date after the Closing Date shall be subject to all of the following conditions precedent having been satisfied (with the Administrative Agent acting reasonably in assessing whether the conditions precedent are satisfied) or waived in accordance with Section 10.02 on or prior to the last day of the Availability Period:
(a) Closing Date. The Closing Date shall have occurred.
(b) Absence of Certain Funds Event of Default and Accuracy of Certain Funds Representations. On such date, immediately before and after giving effect to the making of and application of proceeds of such Loans, no Certain Funds Event of Default shall have occurred which is continuing and the Certain Funds Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent qualified by materiality, all respects).
(c) Fees and Expenses. The Lenders, Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall have received all fees required to be paid under this Agreement and the Fee and Syndication Letter on or prior to such date, and all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), at least one (1) Business Day before such date.
(d) Notice of Loan Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall have received a request for a borrowing of the Loans to be made on such date in accordance with the requirements hereof.
SECTION 5.04. Actions during Certain Funds Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, during the Certain Funds Period no Lender shall (unless (i) in the case of a particular Lender, in respect of clause (c) below, it would be illegal for such Lender to participate in making the Loans; provided, that such Lender has used commercially reasonable efforts to make the Loan through an Affiliate of such Lender not subject to such legal restriction; provided, further, that the occurrence of such event in relation to one Lender shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder, (ii) a Certain Funds Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, in respect of clause (c) below, would result from making such Loans or (iii) in respect of clause (c) below, a Lender is not obligated pursuant to Section 5.02 or 5.03 to make a Loan) be entitled to:
(a) cancel or terminate any of its Commitments (subject to any commitment reductions made pursuant to Section 2.07);
(b) rescind, terminate or cancel this Agreement or any of the Loans or exercise any similar right or remedy or make or enforce any claim under this Agreement it may have to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of its Loans;
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(c) refuse to participate in the making of its Loans, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 or 5.03;
(d) exercise any right of set-off or counterclaim or similar right or remedy to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of its Loans; or
(e) cancel, accelerate or cause repayment or prepayment of any amounts owing under any Loan Document to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of its Loans,
provided, that immediately upon the expiration of the Certain Funds Period, all such rights, remedies and entitlements shall be available to the Lenders if applicable at such time notwithstanding that they may not have been used or been available for use during the Certain Funds Period.
SECTION 5.05. Determinations under Article V. For the purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Article V, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the applicable date referred to in this Article V specifying its objection thereto.
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans and all fees and all other amounts whatsoever payable hereunder shall have been paid in full in cash, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the corresponding period or periods of the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
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(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under subpart (a) or (b) of this Section 6.01, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 7.04, and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.04(a) and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under subpart (a) of this Section 6.01, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with the SEC, or with any national securities exchange; and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(e) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents or notices, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website, or (ii) on which such documents or notices are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (x) upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents or notices to the Administrative Agent for any Lender that requests the Borrower deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (y) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents or notices and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.
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SECTION 6.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000;
(d) the assertion of any Environmental Claim by any Person against, or with respect to the activities of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any alleged violation of or non-compliance with any Environmental Laws or any permits, licenses or authorizations, other than any Environmental Claim or alleged violation that would not (either individually or in the aggregate) have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(e) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section 6.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (a) its legal existence and (b) the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.02.
SECTION 6.04. Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.05. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve all of its Property that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.06. Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain appropriate and adequate insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is customary in the industries in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.
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SECTION 6.07. Books and Records and Visitation Rights. The Borrower will keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account as are necessary to prepare Consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and Property and business of the Borrower and each such Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at any reasonable time during normal business hours and upon reasonable prior notice and from time to time, permit the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors and with their independent certified or chartered public accountants.
SECTION 6.08. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws and any the rules and regulations thereunder) applicable to it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.09. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used solely for Certain Funds Purposes. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any Margin Stock. The Borrower will not, directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, (a) (i) to fund activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject or target of Sanctions, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise); or (b) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of Anti-Corruption Laws or anti-money laundering laws; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of Certain Funds Covenant, payment of the proceeds of the Loans to (A) the Receiving Agent in consideration for the purchase of the Target Shares and the disbursement of those proceeds to the holders of the Target Shares in compliance with its customary procedures, (B) the agent or trustee, as applicable, for the holders of the Target Existing Debt and the disbursement of those proceeds to such holders pursuant to the Target Refinancing, in compliance with the customary procedures of such agent or trustee, and (C) pay (directly or indirectly) any United Kingdom stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax, or any fees, costs and expenses required to be paid under the terms of the Loan Documents to the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders, in each case, shall not constitute a breach of clause (a) or (b) of this sentence.
SECTION 6.10. Beneficial Ownership. Promptly following any request therefor, Borrower shall provide information and documentation reasonably requested by Administrative Agent for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and, to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
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SECTION 6.11. Scheme and Offer.
(a) The Borrower agrees that from and after the Effective Date, it shall:
(i) not issue any Press Release other than (x) pursuant to Section 6.11(a)(vi), or (y) unless, subject to such amendments as are not Materially Adverse Amendments, that Press Release is consistent in all material respects with the draft of the Press Release delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(b);
(ii) except as consented to by the Lead Arranger in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), ensure that the terms of the Offer or Scheme as set out in the Offer Documents or the Scheme Documents (as the case may be and, in each case, other than the Press Release) are consistent in all material respects with the form of the respective press release delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(b) subject to any variation required by the Takeover Code, the Court or the Panel and, in each case, to any variations which would not contravene Section 6.11(b). In the case of an Offer, the Acceptance Condition shall be not capable of being satisfied, unless acceptances have been received that would, when aggregated with all Target Shares (excluding shares held in treasury) directly or indirectly owned by the Borrower, result in the Borrower (directly or indirectly) holding shares representing, in any case, more than 50% of all Target Shares carrying voting rights on a fully diluted basis (excluding any shares held in treasury) as at the date on which the Offer is declared unconditional (the “Minimum Acceptance Level”);
(iii) comply in all material respects with the Takeover Code and all other applicable laws and regulations material in relation to any Offer or Scheme, subject to any consents, waivers or dispensations granted by the Panel or any other applicable regulator or the requirements of the Court;
(iv) promptly provide the Administrative Agent with such information as it may reasonably request in writing as to the status and progress of the Scheme or Offer (including, in the case of an Offer, the current level of acceptances, the implementation and exercise of the Squeeze-Out Rights and the dispatch of any Squeeze-Out Notices (if relevant) but excluding, in the case of a Scheme, the current level of proxies received and notified to the Target in respect of the Scheme and any other information not freely supplied by the Target), any regulatory and anti-trust clearances required in connection with the Acquisition and such other information as it may reasonably request regarding the status of the Acquisition subject to any confidentiality, regulatory or other restrictions relating to the supply of such information;
(v) deliver to the Administrative Agent copies of each Press Release, each Offer Document, any Scheme Document and all material legally binding agreements entered into by the Borrower in connection with an Offer or Scheme to the extent material to the interests of the Lenders (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), in each case, except to the extent it is prohibited by law or regulation from doing so;
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(vi) in the event that a Scheme is switched to an Offer or vice versa (which the Borrower shall be entitled to do on multiple occasions provided that it complies with the terms of this Agreement), except as consented to by the Lead Arranger in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), ensure that the terms and conditions contained in the Offer Documents or the Scheme Documents (whichever is applicable) are consistent in all material respects with those set out in the Press Release delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(b) other than (x) any changes permitted to be made in accordance with Section 6.11(b) or which are required to reflect the change in legal form to an Offer or a Scheme, (y) in the case of a Scheme, any variation required by the Court or (z) any amendments that are not Materially Adverse Amendments;
(vii) in the case of an Offer, following the Closing Date while any Commitments remain outstanding, should the Borrower become entitled to exercise its Squeeze-Out Rights, promptly ensure that Squeeze-Out Notices are delivered to the relevant holders of shares in Target and otherwise comply with all of the applicable provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act to enable it to exercise its Squeeze-Out Rights;
(viii) shall not take any action, and procure that none of its Affiliates nor any person acting in concert with the Borrower (within the meaning of the Takeover Code) takes any action, which would require the Borrower to make a mandatory offer for the Target Shares in accordance with Rule 9 of the Takeover Code or which would require a change to be made to the terms of the Scheme or the Offer (as the case may be), including pursuant to Rule 6 or Rule 11 of the Takeover Code which change, if made voluntarily, would be a Materially Adverse Amendment;
(ix) prior to the issuance of the relevant Press Release, not at any time (including following the Offer Unconditional Date or Scheme Effective Date) make any public announcement or public statement (other than in the relevant Press Release or Acquisition Document) concerning this Agreement or the parties to this Agreement (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) in connection with the financing of the Acquisition without the prior written consent of the Lead Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or unless required to do so by the Takeover Code or the Panel, the court, any regulation, any applicable stock exchange, any applicable governmental or other regulatory authority;
(x) in the case of an Offer, not declare the Offer unconditional unless the Minimum Acceptance Level is achieved;
(xi) subject always to the Companies Act and any applicable listing rules, in the case of a Scheme, within 30 days after the Scheme Effective Date and, in the case of an Offer, within 60 days after the date upon which the Borrower (directly or indirectly) owns Target Shares (excluding any shares held in treasury) which represent not less than 75% of all Target Shares (excluding any shares held in treasury), procure that such action as is necessary is taken to apply for the cancellation of trading in the Target Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and the listing of the Target Shares on the official list maintained by the Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to Part 6 of the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000 and to cause the Target to reregister as a private company under the Companies Act as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter; and
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(b) Except as consented to by the Lead Arranger in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that from the Effective Date it will not amend, treat as satisfied or waive (i) any term or condition of the Scheme Documents or the Offer Documents (other than the Acceptance Condition), as applicable, other than any such amendment, treatment or waiver which is not a Materially Adverse Amendment, or (ii) if the Acquisition is proceeding as an Offer, the Acceptance Condition if the effect of such amendment, treatment or waiver would be that the Acceptance Condition would be capable of being satisfied at a level less than the Minimum Acceptance Level.
ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans and all fees and all other amounts whatsoever payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
SECTION 7.01. Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any Property now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:
(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement and listed in Schedule III;
(b) any Lien existing on any Property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such event; provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover other Property;
(c) purchase money Liens upon or in any Property acquired or held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price thereof or to secure Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement thereof, or Liens existing on any such Property at the time of or within one year of its acquisition or the completion of the construction or improvement thereof, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Property other than Property being acquired, constructed or improved; provided that individual financings by any lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings provided by such lender or its affiliates;
(d) any Lien on any Property of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such event; provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover other Property;
(e) any Lien existing on any Property prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof and not created in contemplation of such acquisition; provided, that no such Lien shall extend to or cover other Property;
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(f) Permitted Encumbrances;
(g) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien otherwise permitted under this Section 7.01 upon or in the same Property theretofore subject thereto; provided that no such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend to or cover any Property not theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced; and
(h) precautionary filings of financing statements (under the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in any applicable jurisdiction and under any comparable foreign regime) in respect of (i) operating leases and (ii) accounts receivable of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries being sold to financial institutions in the ordinary course of business pursuant to receivables purchase agreements, in each case to the extent such precautionary filings cover only those accounts receivable that are the subject of the applicable receivables purchase agreement and the related assets and proceeds thereof.
SECTION 7.02. Fundamental Changes.
(a) Mergers, Consolidations, Disposal of Assets, Etc. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, (1) merge into or amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or amalgamate or consolidate with it, or (2) Dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the Property, or all or substantially all of the stock or other ownership interests of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries when taken as a whole, or (3) liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Person may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Person (other than the Borrower) may merge into any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary, (iii) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its Property to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary and (iv) the stock or Property of any Subsidiary may be sold, and any Subsidiary may be liquidated or dissolved, if the Borrower determines in good faith that such sale, liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the consummation of the Acquisition nor the consummation of any transaction in connection therewith as contemplated by the Acquisition Documents (as may be amended or modified in accordance with Section 6.11(b)) shall constitute a breach of this Section 7.02(a).
(b) Lines of Business. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business which is material to the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than businesses of the general type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto or technologically derived therefrom.
SECTION 7.03. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to Dispose of any Property to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any Property from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, as determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate.
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Section 7.04. Debt to Capitalization Ratio. Commencing on the last day of the second full fiscal quarter of the Borrower occurring after the Closing Date, at any time that the Borrower is not able to maintain a Xxxxx’x Rating, S&P Rating and Fitch Rating of A3, A- and A- (or better), respectively, the Borrower will not permit the Debt to Capitalization Ratio (as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower) to exceed 0.65 to 1.00.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 8.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur and be continuing:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof (other than with respect to a contingent notice of prepayment which has been revoked) or otherwise;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on the Loans or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in subpart (a) of this Section 8.01) payable under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three or more Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material (without duplication of materiality) respect when made or deemed made;
(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 6.02, 6.03(a), 6.09 or 6.11 or in Article VII;
(e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in subpart (a), (b) or (d) of this Article VIII), or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 or more days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrower;
(f) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;
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(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition or application shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a non-material Subsidiary) or its debts, or of a substantial part of its Property, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a non-material Subsidiary) or for a substantial part of its Property, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed or undischarged for a period of 60 or more days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a non-material Subsidiary) shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition or application seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii)(x) consent to the institution of or (y) fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in subpart (h) of this Section 8.01, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a non-material Subsidiary) or for a substantial part of its Property, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a non-material Subsidiary) shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to enforce any such judgment; provided, however, that any such judgment shall not be an Event of Default under this subpart (k) if and for so long as (i) the amount of such judgment is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer, and (ii) such insurer has been notified of, and has not disputed in writing, the claim (or the amount of the claim) made for payment of such judgment;
(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding (i) $10,000,000 in any year or (ii) $50,000,000 for all periods;
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(m) a Change in Control shall occur; or
(n) any of the Loan Documents shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall so assert other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder;
then, subject in all cases to Section 5.04, the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in subpart (h) or (i) of this Article VIII, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding (if any), together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall exercise the rights under this Article VIII and all other collection efforts on behalf of the Lenders and no Lender shall act independently with respect thereto, except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for a period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date falling 180 days after the Closing Date (the “Clean-up Date”), notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any breach of covenants, misrepresentation or other Default (other than a breach of or Default with respect to Section 7.04), which arises only with respect to the Target and its Subsidiaries will be deemed not to be a breach of representation or warranty, a breach of covenant or an Event of Default, as the case may be, if: (a) it is capable of remedy and reasonable steps are being taken to remedy it; (b) the circumstances giving rise to it have not knowingly been procured by or approved by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Target and its Subsidiaries); and (c) it has not had, and is not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE IX
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 9.01. Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all
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Lenders; provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Administrative Agent agrees to give each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Lead Arranger shall have no powers, duties, responsibilities or liabilities whatsoever under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and the inclusion of its title as “lead arranger” shall have no substantive effect.
SECTION 9.02. No Reliance. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with the Loan Documents, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (a) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (b) makes no representation or warranty to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any of them for any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Documents; (c) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any Loan Document on the part of the Borrower or to inspect Property (including the books and records) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (d) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any Loan Document or any instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (e) shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to it by the Borrower or a Lender; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of any Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by facsimile) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
SECTION 9.03. Capacity as Lender. With respect to its Commitment and the portion of the Loans made by it, Citibank shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Citibank in its individual capacity. Citibank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures for, accept investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any of their respective Affiliates and any Person who may do business with or own securities of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary or Affiliate, all as if Citibank were not Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
SECTION 9.04. Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.04 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.
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SECTION 9.05. Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent severally and ratably in accordance with the amount of Commitments and Loans held by them, for any amounts that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay under Section 10.03; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs and expenses payable by the Borrower under Section 10.03 of this Agreement, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Borrower.
SECTION 9.06. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders’ removal of the retiring Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000; provided, that, if no such successor is willing and able to function as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such resignation or removal shall nonetheless become effective and (a) the resigning or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder, and (b) the Required Lenders shall perform the duties of the Administrative Agent (and all payments and communications provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly) until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.
SECTION 9.07. ERISA Representations.
(a) Each Lender (i) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (ii) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
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(b) (i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, Commitments or this Agreement;
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, Commitments and this Agreement;
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, Commitments and this Agreement; or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(c) In addition, unless either (a) subpart (i) in subsection (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (b) such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in subsection (a) above, such Lender further (1) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (2) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Lead Arranger is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Commitments, the Loans and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
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SECTION 9.08. Erroneous Payments.
(a) If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender (any such Lender or other recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under immediately succeeding clause (b)) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(b) Without limiting immediately preceding clause (a), each Lender or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Lender or other such recipient, otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case:
(i) (A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and
(ii) such Lender shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.08(b).
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(c) Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding clause (a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.
(d) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (a), from any Lender that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (and/or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), upon the Administrative Agent’s notice to such Lender at any time, (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments), the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an approved electronic platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender shall deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall be deemed to acquire the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, (iii) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender shall cease to be a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender and (iv) the Administrative Agent may reflect in the Register its ownership interest in the Loans subject to the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, sell any Loans acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and upon receipt of the proceeds of such sale, the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by the applicable Lender shall be reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of such Loan (or portion thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall retain all other rights, remedies and claims against such Lender (and/or against any recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf). For the avoidance of doubt, no Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, each party hereto agrees that, except to the extent that the Administrative Agent has sold a Loan (or portion thereof) acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent may be equitably subrogated, the Administrative Agent shall be contractually subrogated to all the rights and interests of the applicable Lender under the Loan Documents with respect to each Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency.
(e) The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any amounts owed by the Borrower hereunder, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.
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(f) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.
(g) Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 9.08 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.01. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile communication) and mailed, telecopied or delivered:
(a) if to the Borrower, at its address at Treasury Department, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx, 00000-0000, Attention of Xxxxx X. Xxxxx (Fax No. 000-000-0000, Telephone No. [TELEPHONE]);
(b) if to the Administrative Agent, at its address at Xxx Xxxxx Xxx, Xxx XX, Xxxxx 0, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 00000, Attention of Bank Loan Syndications (Facsimile No. (000) 000-0000; E-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx, with a copy to Agency Operations, Email: XxxxxxXXXXXxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx; and
(c) if to any Lender, at the address for notices specified in the Administrative Questionnaire of such Lender or as otherwise specified in writing to the Administrative Agent.
Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (or, in the case of any such change by a Lender, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent). All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
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SECTION 10.02. Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No Deemed Waivers; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by subsection (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of any Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Amendments. Subject to Section 2.09(e), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall:
(i) increase the Commitments of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender;
(ii) reduce the principal amount of the Loans or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the default rate;
(iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of the Loans, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of the Commitments, without the written consent of each Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to a contingent notice of prepayment which has been revoked;
(iv) change Section 2.11 or the ratable treatment of the Lenders thereunder without the consent of each Lender; or
(v) change any of the provisions of this Section 10.02(b) or the percentage in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;
and provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect (x) the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or (y) the provisions of Article V, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, error, defect or inconsistency so long as, in each case, the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof (including a copy of such agreement) and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the terms of this Agreement are required to be modified as specified in the applicable provisions of the Fee and Syndication Letter, then this Agreement may be amended (to the extent not adverse to the interests of the Lenders) by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender; provided, that if the Borrower shall fail to execute any amendment that the Lead Arranger reasonably determines is necessary to effect the changes contemplated by the first paragraph of Section 5 of the Fee and Syndication Letter within three Business Days from the date of delivery to the Borrower of a draft thereof, then the Administrative Agent is and shall be authorized to execute such amendment on behalf of the Borrower and such amendment shall become effective without further action by any Person. In furtherance of the foregoing, each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree that it will enter into any amendment to this Agreement requested by any Lead Arranger in compliance with the terms of the Fee and Syndication Letter.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make XXXXX Conforming Changes from time to time and any amendments implementing such XXXXX Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing XXXXX Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
SECTION 10.03. Costs and Expenses and Indemnification.
(a) The Borrower agrees to pay and reimburse on demand all reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses, if any (including, without limitation, counsel fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders which shall be limited to one counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, of one additional counsel and one additional local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for such affected Persons)), incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, counsel fees and expenses in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 10.03(a). Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses shall be reimbursed by the Borrower upon presentation to the Borrower of a statement of account, regardless of whether this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.
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(b) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all direct claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, which shall be limited to one counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, of one additional counsel and one additional local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for such affected Persons)), joint or several, that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or relating to any investigation, litigation or proceeding or the preparation of any defense with respect thereto arising out of or in connection with or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any use made or proposed to be made with the proceeds of the Loans, whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, any of its shareholders or creditors, an Indemnified Party or any other Person, or an Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto, and whether or not any of the conditions precedent set forth in Article V are satisfied or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, except to the extent such direct claim, damage, loss, liability or expense resulted from such Indemnified Party’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 10.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim (including a value added tax or similar tax charged with respect to the supply of legal or other services).
(c) The Borrower hereby further agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to the Borrower for or in connection with or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any use made or proposed to be made with the proceeds of the Loans, except to the extent such liability resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) The Borrower agrees not to assert any claim against any Indemnified Party, and each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree not to assert any claim against the Borrower on any theory of liability, for consequential, indirect, special or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans.
SECTION 10.04. Assignments and Participations.
(a) Assignments Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
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(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Transferees all or a portion of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and/or the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that:
(i) (x) the Borrower shall give its prior written consent to such assignment (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that, during the Certain Funds Period, the Borrower may withhold such consent in its sole discretion unless a Certain Funds Event of Default is continuing), except in the case of any assignment (1) to a Lender, (2) following the Certain Funds Period, to an Affiliate of a Lender, (3) if an Event of Default (limited during the Certain Funds Period, to a Certain Funds Event of Default) has occurred and is continuing or (4) pursuant to the syndication provisions of the Fee and Syndication Letter and (y) the Administrative Agent must give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided further, that, following the Certain Funds Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof;
(ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loan of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than £10,000,000 or in an integral multiple of £1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(iii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations with respect to the Commitments and Loans under this Agreement;
(iv) the parties to each assignment (other than the Borrower) shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance prepared by the Administrative Agent, and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of £3,500; and
(v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
Upon acceptance and recording pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section 10.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.09, 2.10 and 10.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (e) of this Section 10.04.
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(c) Maintenance of Register by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of, and stated interest on, Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Effectiveness of Assignments. Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in subsection (b) of this Section 10.04 and any written consent to such assignment required by subsection (b) of this Section 10.04, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this subsection.
(e) Participations. Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 10.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (f) of this Section 10.04, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.09 and 2.10 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.04. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Commitments, Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”);
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provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(f) Limitations on Rights of Participants. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.09 or 2.10 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a change in Applicable Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.09 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant.
(g) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(h) No Assignments to the Borrower or Affiliates. Anything in this Section 10.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender may assign or participate any interest in the Commitments or the Loans held by it hereunder to the Borrower or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof without the prior consent of each Lender.
SECTION 10.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on the Loans, or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.09, 2.10 (to the extent provided therein), 10.03 and 10.11, Article IX and this Article X shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
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SECTION 10.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the Fee and Syndication Letter and the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract between and among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 5.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import herein shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, digital copies of a signatory’s manual signature, and deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
SECTION 10.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 10.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, each Lender (and any affiliate thereof) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender (or such affiliate) to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender (or such affiliate), irrespective of whether or not such Lender (or such affiliate) shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender (and its affiliates) under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender (or its affiliates) may have.
SECTION 10.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
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(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its Property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its Property in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Waiver of Venue. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in subsection (b) of this Section 10.09. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Service of Process. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process at the address provided for it in Section 10.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 10.10. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 10.11. Confidentiality.
(a) Treatment of Certain Information. The Borrower acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger or any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of the foregoing and the Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and each applicable Lender to share any information delivered to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger or such Lender by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the decision of such Person to enter into this Agreement, to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate, it being understood that any such Subsidiary or Affiliate receiving such information shall be bound by the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 10.11 as if it were a Lender hereunder. Such authorization shall survive the repayment of the Loans, the termination of the Commitments and the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
(b) Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed by any thereof (i) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory
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authority, (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party to this Agreement, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this paragraph and to the execution of a confidentiality and front running letter substantially in the form of Exhibit E (with only such changes thereto as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), to (a) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, or (b) any actual or prospective party (or its related parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder; (vii) on a confidential basis to any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the facilities or the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to this Agreement and the credit facility contemplated hereby, (viii) on a confidential basis to any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (ix) with the consent of the Borrower or (x) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this paragraph or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Loans and Commitments hereunder. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.11(b) shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
(c) Material Non-Public Information. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information, (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable laws, including United States federal and state securities laws, (d) that some or all of the Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including, the Takeover Code, any securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse, and accordingly, each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not use any Information for any unlawful purpose and (e) that it is aware of the terms and requirements of Practice Statement No.25 (Debt Syndication During Offer Periods) issued by the Panel.
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SECTION 10.12. USA PATRIOT ACT. Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”) and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and other applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations.
SECTION 10.13. NO FIDUCIARY DUTY. The Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, each Lender and their respective Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this Section 10.13, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates. The Borrower hereby agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create a fiduciary relationship or fiduciary duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and the Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates, on the other. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (a) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrower, on the other, and (b) in connection therewith, no Lender has assumed a fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise the Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates on other matters). The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. In addition, the parties hereto acknowledge that that Citigroup Global Markets Inc., has been retained by the Borrower as financial advisor (in such capacity, the “Financial Advisor”) to the Borrower in connection with the Acquisition. The parties hereto agree to such retention, and further agree not to assert any claim any party might allege based on any actual or potential conflicts of interest that might be asserted to arise or result from, on the one hand, the engagement of the Financial Advisor and, on the other hand, Citibank and its Affiliates’ relationships with the Borrower and the other parties hereto hereunder.
SECTION 10.14. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
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(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
SECTION 10.15. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.15.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
XXXXXX-XXXXXXXX CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: |
Executive Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer |
Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement
CITIBANK, N.A., | ||||
as the Administrative Agent and as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., | ||||
as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President |
Signature Page to Bridge Credit Agreement