U.S. $900,000,000 SENIOR UNSECURED SUSTAINABILITY-LINKED REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
Exhibit 99.1
Execution Version
SENIOR UNSECURED SUSTAINABILITY-LINKED REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Among
ENERPLUS CORPORATION
as Borrower
- and -
THOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE OR
HEREAFTER BECOME LENDERS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
- and -
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
as Administrative Agent and Sustainability Structuring Agent
April 29, 2021
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner
- and -
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA AND BANK OF MONTREAL
as Co-Syndication Agents
- and -
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
as Documentation Agent
Norton Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Canada LLP
Blake, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
CAN_DMS: \138651211\13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ii
iii
iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made effective April 29, 2021,
BETWEEN:
ENERPLUS CORPORATION,
as Borrower
- and -
THOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH
ARE OR HEREAFTER BECOME LENDERS
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, as Lenders
- and -
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
as Administrative Agent
PREAMBLE:
The Borrower has requested and the Lenders have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement and CIBC has agreed to continue to act as Agent for the Lenders, all on the terms and conditions and for the purposes set out in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT:
In consideration of the covenants and agreements between the Parties contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
Capitalized words and phrases used in the Documents, the Schedules hereto and in all notices and communications expressed to be made pursuant to this Agreement will have the meanings set out in this Section 1.1, unless otherwise defined in any of the Documents.
2
(a) | a material change in GAAP; |
(b) | the adoption by the Borrower of a material change in an accounting policy required or permitted by GAAP in order to more appropriately present events or transactions in its financial statements; and |
(c) | the conversion by the Borrower from Canadian generally accepted accounting principles to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or the conversion by the Borrower from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, |
(a) | except for Bankers' Acceptances and Letters of Credit, the disbursement or credit of funds to, or to the credit of, the Borrower; |
(b) | in respect of Bankers' Acceptances, the acceptance by the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender, if applicable) of drafts issued under the Agreement by the Borrower or a BA Equivalent Advance, as applicable; or |
(c) | in respect of Letters of Credit, the issuance by the LC Issuer of a Letter of Credit, |
and in each case shall include each Drawdown, Rollover or Conversion thereof.
3
(a) | where the context requires, the aggregate of the principal amounts outstanding from time to time under the Credit Facility, including the face amount of all unmatured Bankers' Acceptances and the undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit, and |
(b) | where the context requires, the aggregate of the principal amount of all Swing Line Loans outstanding from time to time, including the face amount of all unmatured Bankers' Acceptances and the undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit issued thereunder. |
SPT Metric | SPT Metric Level | Adjustments in Applicable Margin | |||
Margin on LIBOR Based Loans and Acceptance Fees for Bankers' Acceptances | Standby Fee on Credit Facility | ||||
GHG Intensity | 2021 | L1 | ≤32.9 | Decrease of 2.5 bps | Decrease of 0.5 bps |
L2 | >32.9 and <40.3 | No change | No change |
4
| | L3 | ≥40.3 | Increase of 2.5 bps | Increase of 0.5 bps |
2022 | L1 | ≤31.3 | Decrease of 2.5 bps | Decrease of 0.5 bps | |
L2 | >31.3 and <38.3 | No change | No change | ||
L3 | ≥38.3 | Increase of 2.5 bps | Increase of 0.5 bps | ||
2023 | L1 | ≤31.1 | Decrease of 2.5 bps | Decrease of 0.5 bps | |
L2 | >31.1 and <38.0 | No change | No change | ||
L3 | ≥38.0 | Increase of 2.5 bps | Increase of 0.5 bps | ||
2024 | L1 | ≤30.8 | Decrease of 2.5 bps | Decrease of 0.5 bps | |
L2 | >30.8 and <37.6 | No change | No change | ||
L3 | ≥37.6 | Increase of 2.5 bps | Increase of 0.5 bps | ||
Average Reduction of Freshwater Use | L1 | ≥45% | Decrease of 1.25 bps | Decrease of 0.25 | |
L2 | >35% and <45% | Decrease of 0.625 bps | Decrease of 0.125 | ||
L3 | ≥15% and ≤35% | No change | No change | ||
L4 | >10% and <15% | Increase of 0.625 bps | Increase of 0.125 bps | ||
L5 | ≤10% | Increase of 1.25 bps | Increase of 0.25 bps | ||
Average 3-year LTIF | L1 | ≤0.18 | Decrease of 1.25 bps | Decrease of 0.25 | |
L2 | >0.18 and <0.24 | No change | No change | ||
L3 | ≥0.24 | Increase of 1.25 bps | Increase of 0.25 bps |
(a) | issued by the Government of Canada or the United States of America or an instrumentality or agency thereof and guaranteed fully as to principal, premium, if any, and interest by the Government of Canada or the United States of America; |
(b) | issued by a province of Canada or a state of the United States of America, or an instrumentality or agency thereof, which has a long term debt rating of at least A by S&P, A2 by Xxxxx'x, or A by DBRS; or |
(c) | term deposits, guaranteed investment certificates, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances or bearer deposit notes, in each case, of any Canadian chartered bank or other Canadian financial institution or any bank or other financial institution incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof which has a long term debt rating of at least A+ by S&P, A1 by Xxxxx'x, or A (high) by DBRS. |
(a) | cash in Canadian Dollars or U.S. Dollars (and excluding, for certainty, any such cash which is held in or under any escrow arrangements pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) |
maintained by the Loan Parties on deposit in accounts located in Canada or the United States; plus |
(b) | Approved Securities (and excluding, for certainty, any Approved Securities which are held in or under any escrow arrangements pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) maintained by the Loan Parties on deposit in accounts located in Canada or the United States |
6
7
8
(a) | plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of such net income, the sum of: |
(i) | depletion, amortization, accretion and depreciation (excluding any depreciation, depletion or amortization expense attributable to leases which are excluded from the determination of Consolidated Senior Debt and Consolidated Senior Net Debt); |
(ii) | interest expense (excluding any interest expense attributable to leases which are excluded from the determination of Consolidated Senior Debt and Consolidated Senior Net Debt); |
(iii) | the all-in costs of funds of any accounts receivable securitization program; |
(iv) | all provisions for any taxes; |
(v) | all non-cash amounts; |
(vi) | any losses resulting from extraordinary or nonrecurring items; and |
(vii) | net losses attributable to minority interests; and |
(b) | minus, to the extent added in the determination of such net income, the sum of: |
(i) | all non-cash amounts; |
(ii) | gains resulting from any extraordinary or nonrecurring items; |
(iii) | all amounts attributable to any Non-Recourse Assets except to the extent distributed to any Enerplus Party free and clear of any claim from the lender of the associated Non-Recourse Debt; and |
(iv) | net income attributable to minority interests. |
(b) | proceeds from any accounts receivable securitization program; |
(c) | Purchase Money Obligations; |
(d) | Capital Lease Obligations; |
(e) | obligations in respect of Sale-Leasebacks; |
(g) | guarantees in respect of obligations of another Person included in the types of obligations described in (a) through (f) above, |
10
(a) | the obligations under, pursuant or relating to such debentures or notes and the indenture or agreement governing such debentures or notes shall be unsecured obligations of the Borrower, and no Subsidiary thereof shall have provided a guarantee or any financial assistance in respect of any such obligations; |
(b) | an initial final maturity or due date in respect of repayment of principal extending beyond the latest Maturity Date of any Lender under this Agreement in effect at the time such debentures or notes are created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed; |
(c) | no scheduled or mandatory payment or repurchase of principal thereunder (other than acceleration following an event of default in regard thereto or payments which can be satisfied by the delivery of securities of the Borrower as contemplated in (f) below and other than on a change of control of the Borrower where a Change of Control also occurs by reason of the definition thereof in this Agreement) prior to the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time such debentures or notes are created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed; |
(d) | upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default or acceleration of the time for repayment of any of the Indebtedness under this Agreement or Cash Management Obligations or any Hedge Obligations which has not been rescinded, |
(i) | all amounts payable in respect of principal, premium (if any) or interest under such debentures or notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all such Indebtedness, Cash Management Obligations and Hedge Obligations and |
(ii) | no enforcement steps or enforcement proceedings may be commenced in respect of such debentures or notes; |
(e) | upon distribution of the assets of the Borrower on any dissolution, winding up, total liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Borrower, or otherwise), all Indebtedness under this Agreement and all Cash Management Obligations and Hedge Obligations shall first be paid in full, or provisions made for such payment, before any payment is made on account of principal, premium (if any) or interest payable in regard to such debentures or notes; |
(i) | cause a default or event of default (with the passage of time or otherwise) under such debentures or notes or the indenture governing the same; or |
(ii) | cause or permit the obligations under such debentures or notes to be due and payable prior to the stated maturity thereof; |
provided however that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph (f), (but, for certainty, without limiting or affecting in any manner whatsoever the provisions of this definition), such debentures or notes and the indenture or agreement governing the
11
same may provide that an event of default under another indenture, agreement or instrument evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower or a Material Restricted Subsidiary which has resulted in:
(A) | indebtedness for borrowed money thereunder in excess of U.S. $15,000,000 (or the Equivalent Amount in any other currency) being accelerated; and |
(B) | the holders of such indebtedness being entitled to commence, and such holders having commenced, the enforcement of the security they hold for such indebtedness (if any) or the exercise of any other creditors' remedies to collect such indebtedness, |
may constitute an "event of default" under and as defined in such debentures or notes and indenture or agreement governing the same; and
(g) | except during an "event of default" under and as defined in such debentures or notes and the indenture or agreement governing same, payments of interest or principal due and payable under such debentures or notes can be satisfied, at the option of the Borrower, by delivering Voting Securities of the Borrower in accordance with the indenture or agreement governing such debentures or notes (whether such Voting Securities of the Borrower are received by the holders of such debentures or notes as payment or are sold by a trustee or representative under such indenture or agreement to provide cash for payment to holders of such debentures or notes). |
(a) | that has failed to fund any payment or its portion of any Advances required to be made by it hereunder or to purchase any participation required to be purchased by it hereunder and under the other Documents where such failure is not remedied within one (1) Banking Day of the date such payment or purchase was required; |
(b) | that has notified the Borrower, the Agent or any Lender (verbally or in writing) that it does not intend to or is unable to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to that effect or to the effect that it does not intend to or is unable to fund advances generally under credit arrangements to which it is a party; |
(c) | that has failed, within three (3) Banking Days after written request by the Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Advances; |
(d) | that has otherwise failed to pay over to the Borrower, the Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Banking Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute; |
(e) | in respect of which a Lender Insolvency Event or a Lender Distress Event has occurred in respect of such Lender or its Lender Parent; |
(f) | that is generally in default of its obligations under other existing credit or loan documentation under which it has commitments to extend credit; or |
(g) | that becomes the subject of a Bail-In Action. |
Face Amount x Price
1 |
1 + (Rate x Term) |
(a) | for purposes of Section 10.2(e) where the Borrower has elected to make its own arrangements for the sale of Bankers' Acceptances in the market place, but, as part of the same issue, there are Bankers' Acceptances being purchased by a Lender for its own account or a BA Equivalent Advance is being made by a Non-BA Lender in conjunction therewith, the arithmetic average of the rates established for Lenders listed in Schedule I to the Bank Act (Canada) for the Bankers' Acceptances of such Lenders sold in the market as part of such issue of Bankers' Acceptances, plus 10 Basis Points; and |
(b) | for purposes of Section 10.2(d), with respect to Bankers' Acceptances being accepted by a Lender on any date or a BA Equivalent Advance made by a Non-BA Lender pursuant to Section 10.4 made in conjunction therewith, (i) for a Lender that is listed in Schedule I to the Bank Act (Canada), the CDOR Rate and (ii) for any other Lender, the CDOR Rate plus either 10 Basis Points or such other lesser amount as such other Lender and the Borrower may agree provided that the Agent receives written notice thereof. |
(a) | the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution on or in respect of any shares in the capital of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary (including any return of capital); |
(b) | the redemption, retraction, purchase, retirement or other acquisition, in whole or in part, of any shares in the capital of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary or any securities, instruments or contractual rights capable of being converted into, exchanged or exercised for shares in the capital thereof, including options, warrants, conversion or exchange privileges and similar rights, but excluding equity compensation plans for directors, officers and employees and related equity xxxxxx; |
(c) | the making of any loan or advance or any other provision of credit to any shareholder of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; |
(d) | the payment of any principal, interest, fees or other amounts on or in respect of any loans, advances or other debt for borrowed money owing at any time by the Borrower to any shareholder of the Borrower, Affiliates of the Borrower or shareholders of Affiliates of the Borrower, other than to a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; or |
(ii) | the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any property or assets; or |
(iii) | any granting or creation of any rights or interests, at any time, |
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to or in favour of any Affiliate of the Borrower or any other shareholder of the Borrower, other than to or in favour of the Borrower or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary and excluding:
(A) | payments made by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business to a shareholder of the Borrower in such shareholder's capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; and |
(B) | transactions entered into with an Affiliate of the Borrower or any other shareholder of the Borrower which are in compliance with Section 14.3(f). |
14
15
"GHG Intensity" means, as at any date of determination, the Absolute GHG Emissions per barrel of equivalent oil as reported by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the most recently completed fiscal year and which shall be (i) reported in the applicable Annual ESG Report, measured in metric tonnes/MBOE and verified by the applicable SPT Metric Auditor on a limited assurance basis and (ii) certified by the Borrower in the applicable Sustainability Certificate; provided that the GHG Intensity for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 shall not be verified by such SPT Metric Auditor.
16
(a) | a Lender, or an Affiliate of a Lender, who is party to a Hedging Agreement with an Enerplus Party; or |
(b) | a former Lender or an Affiliate thereof who entered into a Hedging Agreement while a Lender (or an Affiliate a Lender) hereunder. |
(a) | any contract for a rate swap, rate cap, rate floor, rate collar, forward rate agreement, futures or other rate protection agreement or option with respect to any such transaction, designed to hedge against fluctuations in interest rates; |
(b) | any contract for the sale or future delivery of commodities (whether or not the subject commodities are to be delivered), hedging contract, forward contract, swap agreement, futures contract or other commodity pricing protection agreement or option with respect to any such transaction, designed to hedge against fluctuations in prices of the subject commodities (which for certainty includes physically and financially settled xxxxxx); |
(c) | any contract for the sale, purchase, or exchange or for future delivery of foreign currency (whether or not the subject currency is to be delivered or exchanged), hedging contract, forward contract, swap agreement, futures contract, or other foreign exchange protection agreement or option with respect to any such transaction, designed to hedge against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; and |
(d) | any other derivative agreement or other similar agreement or arrangements including any total return swap or other equity based derivative. |
17
(a) | if such successor entity is rated by both S&P and Xxxxx'x, then BBB- by S&P and Baa3 by Xxxxx'x; or |
(b) | if such successor entity is rated by only one of S&P or Xxxxx'x, then BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Xxxxx'x, as applicable. |
(a) | the Swing Line Lender in respect of Swing Line Letters of Credit, or |
(b) | the applicable Fronting Lender in respect of Fronted Letters of Credit, as applicable, and, with respect to a given Letter of Credit and unless the context otherwise requires, the Lender which issued such Letter of Credit. |
(a) | such Lender or its Lender Parent is subject to a liquidation, merger, sale or other change of control, in each case, forced or supported in whole or in part by guarantees or other support (including the nationalization or assumption of ownership or operating control by the Government of the United States, Canada or any other governmental authority); or |
(b) | such Lender or its Lender Parent is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined to be, insolvent or bankrupt, in each case, by any governmental authority having regulatory authority over such Lender or Lender Parent or their respective assets; |
(a) | such Lender or its Lender Parent is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
(b) | such Lender or its Lender Parent becomes insolvent, is deemed insolvent by applicable Law or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; |
(c) | such Lender or its Lender Parent makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; |
(A) | a proceeding pursuant to which such governmental authority takes control of such Lender's or Lender Parent's assets; |
(B) | a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up law or other similar law affecting creditors' rights; or |
(C) | a petition is presented for its winding up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar governmental authority; or |
(ii) | such Lender or its Lender Parent has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up law or other similar law affecting creditors' rights, or a petition is presented for its winding up or liquidation, and such proceeding or |
petition is instituted or presented by a Person or entity not described in clause (i) above and either: |
(A) | results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding up or liquidation; or |
(B) | is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within fifteen (15) days of the institution or presentation thereof; |
(e) | such Lender or its Lender Parent has a resolution passed for its winding up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
(f) | such Lender or its Lender Parent seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or a substantial portion of its assets; |
(g) | such Lender or its Lender Parent has a secured party take possession of all or a substantial portion of its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or a substantial portion of its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case, within fifteen (15) days thereafter; |
(h) | such Lender or its Lender Parent causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable law of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (g) above, inclusive; or |
(i) | such Lender or its Lender Parent takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing. |
20
(a) | which is completed in the immediately preceding twelve months; and |
(b) | which is in respect of equity interests or properties that the applicable Enerplus Party continues to own at such time, |
(a) | Restricted Subsidiary which, on a consolidated basis, owns at least 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets; |
(b) | Restricted Subsidiary which, on a consolidated basis, has gross sales (other than any attributable to Non-Recourse Assets) equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross sales of the Borrower (other than any gross sales attributable to Non-Recourse Assets); |
(c) | Subsidiary which is a partner of a Partnership Party which is a Material Restricted Subsidiary; and |
(d) | Subsidiary that provides a guarantee of any of Senior Other Indebtedness; |
22
(a) | undetermined or inchoate Security Interests arising in the ordinary course of and incidental to construction or current operations which have not been filed pursuant to Law against any of the Enerplus Parties in respect of which no steps or proceedings to enforce such Security Interests have been initiated or which relate to obligations which are not due or delinquent or if due or delinquent, any Security Interest which such Enerplus Party is in good faith contesting if such contest involves no risk of loss of any material part of the property of the Enerplus Parties taken as a whole; |
(b) | Security Interests incurred or created in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with sound industry practice in respect of the joint operation of oil and gas properties or related production or processing facilities as security in favour of any other Person conducting the development or operation of the property to which such Security Interests relate, for any of the Enerplus Parties' portion of the costs and expenses of such development or operation, provided such costs or expenses are not due or delinquent or if due or delinquent, any Security Interest which such Enerplus Party is in good faith |
contesting if such contest involves no risk of loss of any material part of the property of the Enerplus Parties taken as a whole; |
(c) | a sale or disposition of oil and gas properties resulting from any pooling or unit agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business when, in any of the Enerplus Parties' reasonable judgment, it is necessary to do so in order to facilitate the orderly exploration, development or operation of such properties, provided that, such Enerplus Party's resulting pooled or unitized interest is proportional (either on an acreage or reserve basis) to the interest contributed by it and is not materially less than such Enerplus Party's interest in such oil and gas properties prior to such pooling or unitization and its obligations in respect thereof are not greater than its proportional share based on the interest acquired by it; |
(d) | to the extent a Security Interest is created or constituted thereby, farmout interests or overriding royalty interests, net profit interests, reversionary interests and carried interests in respect of any of the Enerplus Parties' oil and gas properties that are or were entered into with or granted to arm's length third parties in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with sound industry practice; |
(e) | Security Interests for penalties arising under non-participation provisions of operating agreements in respect of any of the Enerplus Parties' oil and gas properties, if such Security Interests do not materially detract from the value of any material part of the property of the Enerplus Parties taken as a whole; |
(f) | easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, zoning or other similar rights or restrictions in respect of land held by any of the Enerplus Parties' (including rights-of-way and servitudes for railways, sewers, drains, pipe lines, gas and water mains, electric light and power and telephone or telegraph or cable television conduits, poles, wires and cables) which, either alone or in the aggregate, do not materially detract from the value of such land or materially impair its use in the operation of the business of the Enerplus Parties taken as a whole; |
(g) | any Security Interest or trust arising in connection with worker's compensation, employment insurance, pension and employment Laws; |
(h) | the right reserved to or vested in any municipality or governmental or other public authority by the terms of any lease, license, franchise grant or permit acquired by any of the Enerplus Parties, or by any statutory provision to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit or to require annual or other periodic payments as a condition of the continuance thereof; |
(i) | all reservations in the original grant from the Crown of any lands and premises or any interests therein and all statutory exceptions, qualifications and reservations in respect of title; |
(j) | any right of first refusal in favour of any Person granted in the ordinary course of business with respect to all or any of the oil and gas properties of the Enerplus Parties; |
(k) | any claim or Security Interest from time to time disclosed by the Enerplus Parties to the Agent and which is consented to by the Lenders; |
(l) | public and statutory Security Interests not yet due and similar Security Interests arising by operation of Law; |
(m) | any Security Interest in favour of a landlord of leased real property in respect of the leasehold improvements made to, and other personal property of the tenant located on, such leased real property; and |
(n) | any other Security Interest not referred to in paragraphs (a) through (m), inclusive, provided that such Security Interests (i) which secure Purchase Money Obligations, comply with the definition thereof and (ii) do not attach generally to all or substantially all of the property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, (except for any special purpose Restricted Subsidiary which incurs Non-Recourse Debt where all of the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary are Non-Recourse Assets) and provided further that the aggregate of the principal amounts secured by all of the Security Interests permitted under this paragraph (n) and the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Consolidated Total Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted by Section 14.3(i) does not at any time exceed, in the aggregate, 5% of the Consolidated Tangible Assets as at the end of the Borrower's previous fiscal quarter. |
25
(a) | in relation to a LIBOR Based Loan, the continuation of all or any portion of such LIBOR Based Loan for an additional LIBOR Period subsequent to the initial or any subsequent LIBOR Period applicable thereto; and |
(b) | in relation to maturing Bankers' Acceptances, the issuance of new Bankers' Acceptances in respect of all or any portion of such Bankers' Acceptances at their Interest Period Maturity Date, |
(a) | a Person that is designated under, listed on, or owned or controlled by a Person designated under or listed on, or acting on behalf of a Person designated under or listed on, any Sanctions List; |
(b) | a Person that is located in, incorporated under the laws of, or owned or (directly or indirectly) controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a Person located in or organized under the laws of a country or territory that is the target of countrywide or territory-wide Sanctions; |
(c) | a Person that is otherwise a target of Sanctions ("target of Sanctions" signifying a Person with whom a Person or other national of a Sanctions Authority would be prohibited or restricted by law from engaging in trade, business or other activities); or |
(d) | any other Person to which one or more Lenders would not be permitted to make a loan, or provide funding, in accordance with Sanctions, or otherwise deal with pursuant to Sanctions. |
26
"Scope 1 Emissions" means, for any period, the gross direct greenhouse gas emissions or equivalent CO2 emissions occurring from sources that are owned and operated by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the operation of their business, measured in metric tonnes.
(a) | 7.97% Senior Notes, Series C, due June 18, 2021; |
(ii)4.40% Senior Notes, Series C, due May 15, 2024;
(c) | 3.79% Senior Notes, due September 3, 2026; and |
(d) | any additional senior notes of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Consolidated Senior Debt of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, which individually or in the aggregate exceeds the Threshold Amount. |
27
"SPT Metric Auditor" means an independent public accountant or environmental consultant (applicable only for GHG Intensity) of recognized national standing designated from time to time by the Borrower, in each case, acting in its capacity as an independent auditor of the Borrower for the purposes of determining any of the SPT Metrics.
(a) | an initial final maturity in respect of repayment of principal extending beyond the latest Maturity Date of any Lender under this Agreement at the time such Subordinated Debt is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, except to the extent that the Subordinated Debt is incurred to fund all or a portion of the cost of a Material Acquisition; |
(b) | no scheduled cash principal payments thereunder prior to the latest Maturity Date of any Lender under this Agreement at the time such Subordinated Debt is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, except to the extent that the Subordinated Debt is incurred to fund all or a portion of the cost of a Material Acquisition; |
(c) | such indebtedness shall be unsecured; |
(d) | upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default or the commencement of any proceedings in relation to dissolution, winding up, liquidation, receivership, insolvency or bankruptcy of the applicable Enerplus Party, such indebtedness shall be postponed, subordinate and junior in right of payment to all payment obligations under this Agreement and in respect of Hedge Obligations and Cash Management Obligations or any guarantee of any thereof; |
(e) | upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, such indebtedness shall have a standstill period of not less than six months; and |
(f) | such indebtedness shall not have any covenants, events of default or other terms and conditions (except for pricing) which are more restrictive than those contained in this Agreement, |
28
"Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date" has the meaning set out in Section 3.10(a)(i).
(a) | U.S. $60,000,000; and |
(b) | 1.5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets. |
(a) | variable rate of interest quoted by the Agent from time to time as the reference rate of interest which it employs to determine the interest rate it will charge for demand loans in U.S. Dollars to its customers in Canada and which it designates as its "U.S. Base Rate", and |
(b) | the Federal Funds Rate plus 100 Basis Points per annum. |
Headings, subheadings and the table of contents contained in any of the Documents are inserted for convenience of reference only and will not affect the construction or interpretation of any of the Documents.
Unless otherwise stated, reference herein to a Schedule or to an Article, Section, paragraph or other subdivision is a reference to such Schedule to this Agreement or such Article, Section, paragraph or other subdivision of this Agreement. Reference in Section 1.1 to a Schedule or to an Article, Section, paragraph or other subdivision of "this Agreement" is a reference to such Schedule or Article, Section, paragraph or other subdivision of this Agreement.
30
Wherever the context in any of the Documents so requires, a term used herein importing the singular will also include the plural and vice versa.
Any reference in any of the Documents to all or any Section or paragraph or any other subdivision of any Law will, unless otherwise expressly stated, be a reference to that Law or the relevant Section or paragraph or other subdivision thereof, as amended, substituted, replaced or re-enacted from time to time.
Whenever an amount of money is referred to in any of the Documents, such amount will, unless otherwise expressly stated, be in U.S. Dollars.
Time will be of the essence of the Documents.
The Documents will be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws in force in the Province of Alberta from time to time.
The Documents will be binding upon and will enure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
No Document may be amended orally and, subject to Sections 1.11(a) and 21.16, any amendment may only be made by way of an instrument in writing signed by the Parties.
(b) | The failure of a Party to take any steps in exercising any right in respect of the breach or non-fulfilment of any provision of any of the Documents will not operate as a waiver of that right, breach or provision, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right preclude any other or future exercise of that right or the exercise of any other right, whether in Law or otherwise. |
31
If the whole or any portion of the Documents or the application thereof to any circumstance is found to be invalid or unenforceable to an extent that does not affect the operation of the Document in question in a fundamental way, the remainder of the provision in question, or its application to any circumstance other than that to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, and the remainder of the Document in question, will not be affected thereby and will be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law.
To the extent that there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the provisions of this Agreement and any other Document, the provisions of this Agreement will govern to the extent necessary to eliminate such inconsistency or ambiguity.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, all accounting terms, principles and calculations applicable to the Credit Facility will be interpreted, applied and calculated, as the case may be, in accordance with GAAP. The basis of accounting and all calculations set out in this Agreement will be applied and made on a consistent basis and will not be changed for the purposes of this Agreement unless agreed to by the Agent in writing, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) | Upon receipt of an Accounting Change Notice the Agent or Majority Lenders, as applicable, will notify the Borrower within 30 days after receipt of the Accounting Change Notice whether or not they agree or disagree with the Borrower's request. |
(c) | Should the Agent or Majority Lenders disagree with the Borrower's request per the Accounting Change Notice, the Borrower and the Lenders shall in good faith attempt to agree on a revised method of calculating such Financial Calculations, provided that until such time as any such agreement has been reached, such method of calculation shall not be revised and all amounts to be determined thereunder shall be determined without giving effect to the Accounting Change. |
(d) | If a Compliance Certificate is delivered in respect of a fiscal quarter or fiscal year in which an Accounting Change is implemented without giving effect to any revised method of calculating any of the Financial Calculations, and subsequently, as provided above, the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Calculations is revised in response to such Accounting Change, or the amounts to be determined pursuant to any of the Financial Calculations are to be determined without giving effect to such Accounting Change, the Borrower shall, as soon as reasonably possible, deliver a revised Compliance Certificate. Any Event of Default which arises as a result of |
32
the Accounting Change and which is cured by this Section 1.15 shall be deemed to have never occurred. |
The following are the Schedules which form part of this Agreement:
Schedule A: | List and Commitment of Lenders |
Schedule B: | Form of Notice of Borrowing |
Schedule C: | Form of Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion |
Schedule D: | Form of Assignment |
Schedule E | List of Subsidiaries |
Schedule F: | Form of Compliance Certificate |
Schedule G: | Form of Designation of Enerplus Parties |
Schedule H: | Form of Guarantee Agreement |
Schedule I: | Sustainability Certificate |
The Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders agree that this Agreement is an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement and not a novation of the Existing Credit Agreement. As a consequence, the obligations, indebtedness and liabilities outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall constitute obligations, indebtedness and liabilities hereunder governed by the terms hereof. Such obligations, indebtedness and liabilities shall be continuing in all respects, and this Agreement shall not be deemed to evidence or result in a novation of such obligations, indebtedness and liabilities or a repayment and reborrowing of such obligations, indebtedness and liabilities. The Existing Credit Agreement has been amended and restated solely for the purposes of reflecting amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement which the Lenders, the Agent and the Borrower have agreed upon. All references to the "Credit Agreement" contained in any Documents delivered prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement shall be references to this Agreement without further amendment to those Documents. All deliverables made under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered under this Agreement. Each Lender authorizes the Agent to take all actions and make such adjustments as are reasonably necessary to give effect to the foregoing.
This Agreement, and the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement effected hereby, will become effective upon the following conditions being met (unless waived in writing by all Lenders) including the receipt by the Agent, for and on behalf of the Lenders, of the following:
(a) | a duly executed copy of this Agreement; |
(b) | a certificate of status, good standing certificate or other similar type evidence from its jurisdiction of formation for each Loan Party; |
(c) | a duly executed copy of a Closing Certificate from each Loan Party; |
(d) | a duly executed confirmation of their respective Guarantee Agreement from each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, acting reasonably; |
(e) | a duly executed copy of the Closing Opinion; |
33
(f) | any information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, requested by any Lender or the Agent pursuant to Section 22.11; and |
(g) | the payment of all fees and expenses which are payable by the Borrower to the Agent or Lenders on or prior to the Amendment Date. |
The conditions precedent set out in Section 2.1 are inserted for the sole benefit of the Lenders and may be waived only by all Lenders in whole or in part and with or without terms or conditions, in respect of any Drawdown without affecting the right of the Lenders to assert such terms and conditions in respect of any other matter contemplated by this Agreement.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and effective on the Amendment Date, the Lenders, on a several basis, hereby establish the senior unsecured sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") in favour of the Borrower in the Commitment Amount set forth in Schedule A, which may be drawn by the Borrower in U.S. Dollars or the Equivalent Amount thereof in Canadian Dollars, or any combination thereof, and the Swing Line Loan Limit will be made available thereunder by way of Swing Line Loans by the Swing Line Lender, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
The Borrower may at any time and from time to time add additional financial institutions hereunder, as Lenders or, with the consent of the applicable Lender, increase the Individual Commitment Amount of a Lender, and, in each case, thereby increase the Commitment Amount provided that at the time of any such addition:
(a) | no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing: |
(b) | the Commitment Amount (as increased) does not at any time exceed U.S. $1,000,000,000; |
(c) | the Agent, the Swing Line Lender and each Fronting Lender have each consented to such financial institution becoming a Lender or, in the case of an existing Lender, increasing its Individual Commitment Amount, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; |
(d) | the Individual Commitment Amount of a new financial institution being added as a Lender pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be no less than U.S. $15,000,000; |
(e) | concurrently with the addition of a financial institution as an additional Lender or the increase of a Lender's Individual Commitment Amount, such financial institution or Lender, as the case may be, shall purchase from each Lender, such portion of the Aggregate Principal Amount owed to each Lender as is necessary to ensure that the Aggregate Principal Amount owed to all Lenders and including therein such additional financial institution and the increased Individual Commitment Amount of any Lender, are in accordance with the Lender's Rateable Portions of all such Lenders (including the new financial institution and the increased Individual Commitment Amount of any Lender) and such financial institution shall execute such documentation as is required by the Agent, acting reasonably, to novate such financial institution as a Lender hereunder; provided that with respect to any portion of such Aggregate Principal Amount which is outstanding by way of Bankers' Acceptance, the new financial institution or such Lender shall provide an indemnity to the other Lenders (provided that no such indemnity may exceed two months in duration unless agreed to by |
34
all of the affected Lenders) in order to ensure such Bankers' Acceptances are outstanding in accordance with the new Rateable Portions; and |
(f) | the Borrower has provided to the Agent a certified copy of a directors' resolution of the Borrower authorizing any such increase in the Commitment Amount (which may be the original directors' resolution authorizing the Credit Facility hereunder) together with a legal opinion with respect thereto in substantially the same form as the Closing Opinion. |
(c) | No Extension. No Extension shall occur unless those Lenders who wish to grant an Extension pursuant to an Extension Request represent at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate Individual Commitment Amount of all Lenders who are not Non-Electing Lenders at the time of such Extension Request. If no Extension occurs, the then current Maturity Date of the Lenders who are not already Non-Electing Lenders will, subject to Section 3.3(e), continue for each such Lender and each such Lender's Individual Commitment Amount will remain available for Drawdown in accordance with Section 6.6 until the Maturity Date; provided that the Borrower may again make an Extension Request during the Request Period in the next calendar year in accordance with Section 3.3(a). |
35
(i) | so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may repay in full the Principal Amount under the Credit Facility owing to such Non-Electing Lender, together with all accrued but unpaid interest and fees thereon and any expenses and breakage and other costs determined in accordance with Section 9.2 and including cash collateralization in full of any contingent obligations in respect of any outstanding Letters of Credit for which the Non-Electing Lender is the LC Issuer, provided that a Bankers' Acceptance will not be paid prior to its Interest Period Maturity Date (but provided that the Borrower may provide Escrow Funds in respect thereof to the Agent on behalf of such Lender in accordance with Section 10.6), and upon such payment such Lender's Individual Commitment Amount will be permanently cancelled (subject to Section 3.9(i)); or |
(ii) | the Borrower may replace the Non-Electing Lender with one or more financial institutions with the consent of the Agent, the Swing Line Lender and each Fronting Lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, who purchase such Lender's entire Individual Commitment Amount in accordance with Section 20.2. |
The Borrower will not be entitled to request an Advance under the Credit Facility from a Lender which has an Interest Period Maturity Date after the Maturity Date applicable to such Lender. If, at any time, there are Lenders with different Maturity Dates, all applicable Lenders will share in Advances on the basis of their Rateable Portions under the Credit Facility except to the extent the particular Advance requested has an Interest Period Maturity Date after the Maturity Date of a Lender, in which case the Borrower shall request a similar Advance to the extent permitted hereunder from such other Lenders with an Interest Period Maturity Date occurring on or before the Maturity Date of such other Lenders. Each such determination by the Agent shall be prima facie evidence of such Rateable Portion or share.
The Principal Amount owing to a Lender under the Credit Facility, if any, on the Maturity Date applicable to such Lender will be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of such Lender in full, together with all accrued but unpaid interest and fees thereon and all other amounts owing to such Lender in respect thereof, if any, on such date.
(a) | Revolving Nature. The Borrower may borrow, repay and re-borrow any amount of the Individual Commitment Amount of each Lender based on the Rateable Portion of such Lender's Individual Commitment Amount until the Maturity Date applicable to such Lender. |
36
Other than as expressly provided herein, all payments of amounts owing by the Borrower to the Lenders under the Documents will be made by the Borrower to the Agent for the account of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Rateable Portions.
The Borrower will be entitled, subject to Section 7.2, to use Advances for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.
(a) | Availability. Notwithstanding Sections 6.2, 6.4, 6.6 and 21.2(a), the Borrower may obtain Swing Line Loans in the following manner: |
(i) | in the case of Canadian Prime Rate Loans and U.S. Base Rate Loans, on an overdraft basis or by delivering a duly executed Notice of Borrowing to the Swing Line Lender not later than noon (Toronto time) on the proposed Drawdown Date; |
(ii) | in the case of Bankers' Acceptances, by delivering a duly executed Notice of Borrowing to the Swing Line Lender not later than noon (Toronto time) on the proposed Drawdown Date; and |
(iii) | in the case of Swing Line Letters of Credit and subject to Section 3.9(j), by delivering a duly executed Notice of Borrowing to the Swing Line Lender at least 3 Banking Days prior to the proposed Drawdown Date (or such shorter or longer period as may be determined by the Swing Line Lender, acting reasonably). |
Swing Line Loans shall be made solely by the Swing Line Lender, without assignment to or participation by other Lenders (except as provided in this Section 3.9 and Section 18.4). The making of each Swing Line Loan shall constitute a Drawdown hereunder and shall reduce the availability of the Credit Facility by the Principal Amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) | Individual Limits. Subject to Section 6.7, at no time shall (i) the Aggregate Principal Amount of all Swing Line Loans owing to the Swing Line Lender exceed the Swing Line Loan Limit or (ii) the Aggregate Principal Amount of all Swing Line Loans owing to the Swing Line Lender plus such Lender's Rateable Portion of the Aggregate Principal Amount of all Syndicated Advances exceed such Lender's Individual Commitment Amount; provided that the Agent may, in its discretion, acting reasonably, adjust each Lender's (including the Swing Line Lender's) Rateable Portion of Syndicated Advances in accordance with its customary practice if and to the extent required to ensure that, subject to Section 3.9(c), any undrawn availability of Swing Line Loans or Syndicated Advances, as applicable, is capable of being fully drawn, including deeming all or any portion of the Swing Line Loan Limit to be drawn for purposes of determining the Rateable Portion of the Swing Line Lender for each Syndicated Advance. If at any time for whatever reason the Aggregate Principal Amount of all Swing Line Loans owing to the Swing Line Lender exceeds the Swing Line Loan Limit, the amount of such excess shall be immediately repaid by the Borrower to the Swing Line Lender either directly or by way of a conversion of such excess amount into a Syndicated Advance in accordance with Section 3.9(h). |
37
(e) | Mandatory Repayment. If the Borrower requests a Syndicated Advance and the Swing Line Lender's Rateable Portion of such Syndicated Advance would cause its Rateable Portion of all Syndicated Advances then outstanding together with the Aggregate Principal Amount of all Swing Line Loans to exceed the Swing Line Lender's Individual Commitment Amount, then the Borrower shall be required to repay such Swing Line Loans (or to Convert some into a Syndicated Advance in accordance with Section 3.9(h)) to the extent of such excess on or before the requested date of such Syndicated Advance. |
(f) | Prepayments. The Borrower may make prepayments of Swing Line Loans at any time and from time to time without notice or penalty; provided that: (i) any Swing Line Loan by way of Bankers' Acceptances cannot be prepaid prior to its Interest Period Maturity Date, and (ii) any Swing Line Letter of Credit may only be prepaid if the original of such Letter of Credit is returned to the Swing Line Lender for cancellation or collateralized in accordance with Section 11.1(e), subject to the consent of the Swing Line Lender and the Agent. |
(g) | Sole Account. All interest payments, acceptance fees, standby fees and principal repayments of or in respect of Swing Line Loans and the Swing Line Loan Limit shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender. Subject to Section 3.9(h), all costs and expenses relating to the Swing Line Loans shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender. |
38
(i) | whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred or is then continuing or whether any other condition in Section 7.1 is met; |
(ii) | whether or not the Borrower has, in fact, actually requested such conversion (by delivery of a Notice of Conversion or otherwise); and |
(iii) | whether or not a Person was a Lender at the time the applicable Swing Line Loan was made. |
(k) | Swing Line Loan Limit. The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Agent from time to time but no more than once per calendar month, change the Swing Line Loan Limit (in multiples of U.S. $1,000,000), provided that the maximum amount of the Swing Line Loan Limit shall at no time exceed U.S. $90,000,000. |
(a) | The Applicable Margin will be increased or decreased (if applicable) by the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment as in effect from time to time. For the purposes of the foregoing, commencing with the Sustainability Certificate to be delivered for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021: |
(ii) | the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be based upon the SPT Metrics set forth in the Sustainability Certificate and the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment calculations therein; and |
(iii) | each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a Sustainability Certificate shall be effective during the period commencing on, and including, the applicable Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date and ending on the date immediately preceding the next such Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date. |
(i) | SPT Metric Level L3 of the applicable year for the GHG Intensity SPT Metric; |
(ii) | SPT Metric Level L5 for the Average Reduction of Freshwater Use SPT Metric; and |
(iii) | SPT Metric Level L3 for the Average 3-year LTIF SPT Metric, |
39
until the delivery of such Sustainability Certificate; provided that if the Borrower determines, in good faith, that it is not possible to calculate an SPT Metric for any fiscal year for whatever reason (the "Specified SPT Metric"), the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent will negotiate to agree on the selection of an alternative SPT Metric that is customarily applied by persons carrying out similar businesses or being subject to similar incentives in lieu of the Specified SPT Metric (the "Alternative SPT Metric") and if, within twenty (20) Banking Days after the day on which the Borrower was originally due to deliver a Sustainability Certificate in accordance with Section 14.1(i) (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Agent):
(x) | the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent (with the consent of the Majority Lenders) agree on the selection of an Alternative SPT Metric, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on such Alternative SPT Metric and the other SPT Metrics, excluding the Specified SPT Metric; or |
(y) | the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent do not agree on the selection of an Alternative SPT Metric or the Majority Lenders do not consent to the Alternative SPT Metric, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on the SPT Metrics, excluding the Specified SPT Metric, |
and the Borrower shall deliver a Sustainability Certificate containing the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment calculated on the basis of either (x) or (y) above.
(i) | the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent (with the consent of the Majority Lenders) agree on the selection of each such alternative SPT Metric, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on such alternative SPT Metric(s) and the unaffected SPT Metric(s); or |
(ii) | the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent do not agree on the selection of any such alternative SPT Metric or the Majority Lenders do not consent to any such alternative SPT Metric, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on the SPT Metrics (including any alternative SPT Metric agreed in paragraph (i) above), excluding the SPT Metric upon which no agreement for an alternative SPT Metric was reached. |
For certainty, each of the Bruin Acquisition and the Xxxx Acquisition shall be deemed to constitute an acquisition for the purposes of calculating the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment in accordance with this Section 3.10(c).
40
(d) | If the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (x) disposes of shares, units or other equity interests in any Subsidiary such that such Person is no longer a Subsidiary or (y) disposes of property or assets (other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary), in each case with a gross sale price of at least US$37,500,000 (in one or a series of related transactions), then the Borrower shall provide prompt written notice to the Sustainability Structuring Agent of such disposition. Thereafter, within the twelve (12) month period following the closing of such disposition (the "Disposition Period"), the Borrower or the Sustainability Structuring Agent may notify the other party that it wishes to negotiate an alternative GHG Intensity SPT Metric or an alternative Average Reduction of Freshwater Use SPT Metric. If the Borrower or the Sustainability Structuring Agent so notifies the other party, then, within the Disposition Period, the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent shall negotiate to agree on the selection of an alternative GHG Intensity SPT Metric or Average Reduction of Freshwater Use SPT Metric (as applicable) which shall reflect such disposition and the resulting new business circumstances of the Enerplus Parties. If within the Disposition Period: |
(i) | the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent (with the consent of the Majority Lenders) agree on the selection of each such alternative SPT Metric, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on such alternative SPT Metric(s) and the unaffected SPT Metric(s); or |
(ii) | the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent do not agree on the selection of any such alternative SPT Metric, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on the SPT Metrics (including any alternative SPT Metric agreed in paragraph (i) above), excluding the SPT Metric upon which no agreement for an alternative SPT Metric was reached. |
(e) | If (i) the Borrower or the Agent become aware of any material inaccuracy in the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment or the SPT Metrics as reported on the applicable Sustainability Certificate, or (ii) the Borrower and the Agent agree that the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment or SPT Metrics as calculated by the Borrower at the time of delivery of the relevant Sustainability Certificate was inaccurate and, in each case, (x) a proper calculation of the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment or the SPT Metrics would have resulted in an increase in the Applicable Margin for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period, or (y) a proper calculation of the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment or the SPT Metrics would have resulted in a decrease in the Applicable Margin for such period, the Borrower shall receive a credit against subsequent interest payable on Loans or fees payable pursuant to Section 8.5, or Section 4.2, as the case may be, in an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period. |
(f) | If any SPT Metric for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 or thereafter is not verified on a limited assurance basis by the applicable SPT Metric Auditor, then the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment shall be calculated based on: |
(i) | SPT Metric Level L3 of the applicable year, in the case of a failure to have the GHG Intensity SPT Metric verified; |
(ii) | SPT Metric Level L5, in the case of a failure to have the Average Reduction of Freshwater Use SPT Metric verified; and |
(iii) | SPT Metric Level L3, in the case of a failure to have the Average 3-year LTIF SPT Metric, |
until such SPT Metric has been so verified.
41
The Borrower may from time to time obtain under the Credit Facility all or one or more of the following types of Advances:
(a) | Canadian Dollar Advances. For Advances in Canadian Dollars: |
(i) | Canadian Prime Rate Loans in minimum amounts of not less than Cdn. $5,000,000 and in multiples of Cdn. $100,000 (except no such minimum shall apply to Swing Line Cdn. $ Loans or when Swing Line Cdn. $ Loans are converted into Syndicated Advances); |
(ii) | Bankers' Acceptances; |
(iii) | Fronted Letters of Credit, subject to Section 11.1(a)(i); and |
(iv) | Swing Line Letters of Credit, subject to Section 11.1(a)(ii). |
(b) | U.S. Dollar Advances. For Advances in U.S. Dollars: |
(i) | U.S. Base Rate Loans in minimum amounts of not less than U.S. $5,000,000 and in multiples of U.S. $100,000 (except no such minimum shall apply to Swing Line U.S. $ Loans or when Swing Line U.S. $ Loans are converted into Syndicated Advances); |
(ii) | LIBOR Based Loans; |
(iii) | Fronted Letters of Credit, subject to Section 11.1(a)(i); and |
(iv) | Swing Line Letters of Credit, subject to Section 11.1(a)(ii). |
(a) | Canadian Prime Rate Loans. Each Canadian Prime Rate Loan will bear interest at a variable rate of interest per annum equal to the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Margin. |
(b) | U.S. Base Rate Loans. Each U.S. Base Rate Loan will bear interest at a variable rate per annum equal to the U.S. Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. |
(c) | LIBOR Based Loans. Each LIBOR Based Loan will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin. |
42
administrative charges in respect of such Letter of Credit, and each drawing made under such Letter of Credit. |
(h) | Agency Fee. The Borrower will pay to the Agent on an annual basis commencing on October 11, 2012 and on each anniversary thereof, the agency fee agreed upon between the Borrower and the Agent. |
(i) | Applicable Margins. (in Basis Points per annum) |
Level | Consolidated Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio | Canadian Prime Rate / U.S. Base Rate Margin | LIBOR / BA Stamping Fee / Financial LC Issuance Fee | Standby Fee |
1 | <0.5 | 25 | 125 | 25 |
2 | >0.5 <1.0 | 50 | 150 | 30 |
3 | >1.0 <1.75 | 70 | 170 | 34 |
4 | >1.75 <2.25 | 105 | 205 | 41 |
5 | >2.25 <3.0 | 140 | 240 | 48 |
6 | >3.0 | 215 | 315 | 63 |
* | Non-Financial LCs will be issued at 66⅔% of the applicable issuance fees stated in the pricing table above applicable to Financial LCs. |
(j) | Change in Rates Due to Change in Ratio. The effective date on which any change in interest rates on Canadian Prime Rate Loans, U.S. Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Based Loans, standby fees, stamping fees or Issuance Fees occurs will be the earlier of: (i) the third Banking Day following the receipt by the Agent of the Compliance Certificate which evidences a change in the Consolidated Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio: and (ii) the date such Compliance Certificate is due in accordance with Section 14.1(g). If the Borrower fails to deliver a Compliance Certificate in accordance with Section 14.1(g), then the Applicable Margin shall be deemed to be at level 6 in such table until such time as the applicable Compliance Certificate is delivered (and notwithstanding the Event of Default which arises from such failure to so deliver such Compliance Certificate). Any increase or decrease in the interest rates on LIBOR Based Loans or Issuance Fees on Letters of Credit outstanding on the effective date of a change in such ratio will apply proportionately to each such LIBOR Based Loan or Letter of Credit outstanding on the basis of the |
43
number of days remaining in the term to maturity thereof. The stamping fees already paid by the Borrower in respect of any Bankers' Acceptance will not be adjusted. |
(k) | Event of Default. Effective immediately following receipt by the Borrower of a notice of an Event of Default (the "Effective Date"), the interest rates then applicable to Canadian Prime Rate Loans, LIBOR Based Loans and U.S. Base Rate Loans, Issuance Fees on outstanding Letters of Credit and stamping fees on Bankers' Acceptances hereunder will each increase by 1.0% per annum and such increase will remain in effect for as long as such Event of Default subsists. An increase in stamping fees on Bankers' Acceptances hereunder and in interest rates on LIBOR Based Loans hereunder as aforesaid arising from an Event of Default will on the Effective Date apply proportionately to each such Advance outstanding on the basis of the number of days remaining in the term to maturity of each such Advance. The Borrower will pay to the Agent for the benefit of the applicable Lenders any resulting increase in stamping fees with respect to outstanding Bankers' Acceptances and Issuance Fees on outstanding Letters of Credit on or prior to the third Banking Day following the Effective Date. In the event that the Event of Default no longer subsists and the Borrower has paid in advance the increased rate for the term to maturity of a particular Advance, the Lenders will provide a credit to the Borrower for the amount of the increase for the remaining term to maturity of such Advance. |
(l) | Restatement of Ratio. If the Borrower has delivered a Compliance Certificate certifying financial results that are subsequently found to be inaccurate in any way as a result of the Borrower's financial results having to be restated or if the Borrower's financial results were inaccurately reflected in the original financial results on which such Compliance Certificate was based or for any other reason and the result thereof is that the reported Consolidated Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio was lower than it otherwise would have been in the absence of such inaccuracy or prior to such restatement, then the Borrower will, immediately upon the correction of such inaccuracy or upon such restatement, pay to the Agent for the benefit of the applicable Lenders an amount equal to the interest, stamping fees, Issuance Fees and standby fees that the Lenders should have received, but did not receive, over the applicable period had the originally reported Consolidated Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio, and the underlying components thereof, been reported correctly in the first instance. |
On the Amendment Date, the Consolidated Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio will be determined by reference to the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 14.1(g) of the Existing Credit Agreement for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
The Credit Facility and Guarantee Agreements will be unsecured and all present and future Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Facility and under its Guarantee Agreement and of the other Loan Parties under the applicable Guarantee Agreements will constitute at all times senior, unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, as applicable, ranking pari passu with all other senior, unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, as applicable and which, for certainty, will include unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, as applicable, under Hedging Agreements and under Cash Management Agreements.
44
Subject to Section 6.2 and Article 9 and Article 10, all Advances (other than Letters of Credit) will be made available by deposit of the applicable funds (which in the case of Bankers' Acceptances will be the Net Proceeds) into the appropriate Borrower's Account for value on the Banking Day or the LIBOR Banking Day, as the case may be, on which the Advance is to take place.
Subject to Section 3.9, Drawdowns will be made available to the Borrower and the Borrower will be entitled to Rollover or Convert Advances under the Credit Facility where permitted hereunder, provided a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion, as applicable, is received from the Borrower by the Agent, as follows:
(a) | with respect to Advances, other than by way of LIBOR Based Loans or Letters of Credit, at least 1 Banking Day prior to such Advance provided notice is received by the Agent no later than 10:00 a.m. Calgary, Alberta time on the Banking Day immediately preceding the requested Drawdown Date or the date of Rollover or Conversion, as applicable; |
(b) | with respect to a Drawdown, Rollover or Conversion of or into a LIBOR Based Loan, at least 3 LIBOR Banking Days prior to such Advance, provided notice is received by the Agent no later than 10:00 a.m. Calgary, Alberta time on the third LIBOR Banking Day immediately preceding the Drawdown Date or the date of Rollover or Conversion, as applicable; and |
(c) | with respect to Letters of Credit, at least 3 Banking Days prior to such Advance (or such shorter or longer period as may be determined by the LC Issuer, acting reasonably). |
Any of the notices referred to in the foregoing paragraphs may, subject to Section 22.1(a), be given by the Borrower, at its sole risk, to the Agent by telephone and in such case will be followed by the Borrower delivering to the Agent on the same day the notice required hereunder confirming such instructions.
A Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion when given by the Borrower will be irrevocable and will oblige the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Facility to take the action contemplated herein and therein on the date specified therein, provided that any such notice will not be binding on any Lender who makes a determination under Section 12.2.
(a) | Subject to Sections 3.9(d) and 6.2, Article 9 and Article 10, the Borrower will be entitled to Rollover one type of Advance (other than Letters of Credit) into the same type of Advance or Convert one type of Advance into another type of Advance on the terms herein provided. |
45
(c) | No Conversion of a Bankers' Acceptance will be made prior to the Interest Period Maturity Date thereof and no Rollover of a Bankers Acceptance or a LIBOR Based Loan may be made if a Default or Event of Default exists on the Interest Period Maturity Date thereof. |
(d) | Subject to Section 9.2, the Borrower may elect to Convert a LIBOR Based Loan prior to the Interest Period Maturity Date thereof into another type of Advance. |
(e) | For certainty, except as provided in Section 11.1(d) and Section 18.4(d), the Borrower may not effect a Conversion of any Letter of Credit. |
Upon receipt of a Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion with respect to a proposed Advance (other than by way of Bankers' Acceptances), the Agent will forthwith notify the Lenders of the proposed date on which such Advance is to take place, of each Lender's Rateable Portion of such Advance and if applicable, of the account of the Agent to which each Lender's Rateable Portion thereof is to be credited.
Each Lender will, prior to 10:00 a.m. Calgary, Alberta time on the proposed date on which an Advance is to take place (other than by way of Bankers' Acceptances), credit the account of the Agent specified in the Agent's notice given pursuant to Section 6.5 with such Lender's Rateable Portion of such Advance, and by 11:00 a.m. Calgary, Alberta time on the same date, the Agent will make available to the Borrower the amount so credited.
If as a result of currency fluctuations the Equivalent Amount in U.S. Dollars of the Aggregate Principal Amount exceeds the Commitment Amount (the "Excess"), the Borrower will pay the Excess to the Agent as a principal repayment for the benefit of the Lenders. If the amount of the Excess is equal to or greater than 3% of the Commitment Amount, then the repayment of the Excess to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders will be made by the Borrower within 5 Banking Days after demand therefore by the Agent. If the amount of the Excess is less than 3% of the Commitment Amount, then the repayment of the Excess will be made on the earliest of the next Drawdown Date, date of Rollover or date of Conversion. The Agent will request repayment of any Excess forthwith upon request therefore by any Lender, provided that the Agent will not otherwise be required to monitor the Excess or to request repayment thereof.
If to pay an Excess, it is necessary to repay a LIBOR Based Loan or an Advance by way of Bankers' Acceptances or a Letter of Credit prior to the Interest Period Maturity Date thereof, the Borrower will not be required to repay such Advances until the Interest Period Maturity Date thereof, provided, however, that at the request of the Agent, the Borrower will forthwith pay to the Agent for deposit into a cash collateral account maintained by and in the name of the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders the Excess, to be held by the Agent for set-off against future amounts owing by the Borrower to the Lenders under the Credit Facility in respect of such Excess and, pending such application, will bear interest for the Borrower's account at the rate declared by the Agent from time to time as that payable by it in respect of deposits for such amount and for the period from the date of deposit to the Interest Period Maturity Date of such Advance. The Agent shall have exclusive control over all amounts at any time on deposit in such cash collateral account. The deposit of the Excess by the Borrower with the Agent as herein provided will not operate as a repayment of the Aggregate Principal Amount until such time as the Excess is actually paid to the Lenders as a principal repayment.
46
The Lenders' obligation to provide Advances under the Credit Facility will be subject to the following conditions precedent being met, unless waived in writing by the Lenders:
(a) | the appropriate Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion will have been delivered in accordance with the notice provisions provided in Section 6.2, but subject to Section 3.9; |
(b) | no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing and no Default or Event of Default shall occur as a result of the making of the applicable Advance; |
(c) | subject to Section 13.2, each of the representations and warranties set out in Article 13 will be true and correct with the same effect as if such representations and warranties had been made on the date of such Advance; and |
(d) | the notice with respect to a Hostile Acquisition if required to be given pursuant to Section 7.2 will have been provided by the Borrower and the other provisions of Section 7.2, if applicable, will have been complied with. |
If the Borrower wishes to utilize, whether directly or indirectly, Drawdowns to facilitate, assist or participate in a Hostile Acquisition by one or more of the Enerplus Parties or any Affiliate thereof:
(a) | at least 5 Banking Days prior to the delivery to the Agent of a Notice of Borrowing made in connection with a Hostile Acquisition, the chairman, chief executive officer, president or a senior financial officer of the Borrower will notify the Agent (who will then notify the Lenders) of the particulars of the Hostile Acquisition in sufficient detail to enable each Lender to determine, in each Lender's sole discretion, whether it will participate in a Drawdown to be utilized for such Hostile Acquisition; |
(b) | if a Lender decides not to fund an Advance to be utilized for such Hostile Acquisition, then upon such Lender so notifying the Agent and the Borrower, such Lender will have no obligation to fund such Advance notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary; and |
(c) | each Lender will use reasonable commercial efforts to notify the Agent as soon as practicable (and in any event within 3 Banking Days of receipt of the particulars thereof from the Agent) of its decision whether or not to fund a proposed Hostile Acquisition. |
If a Lender elects not to participate in a Drawdown for a Hostile Acquisition (a "Non-Participating Lender"), such Drawdown will be reduced by the Non-Participating Lenders' Rateable Portion thereof and the allocation among all Lenders of interest and other fees payable by the Borrower hereunder, including standby fees, will be adjusted so as to reflect the reduction in such Drawdown, and thereafter the Rateable Portion of each Lender, for such purposes only, will reflect the Aggregate Principal Amount then funded by each Lender based on the Aggregate Principal Amount of all Lenders after taking into account the amount of the requested Drawdown not funded by the Non-Participating Lender. Notwithstanding the adjustment of the Rateable Portion pursuant to this Section 7.3, there will be no reduction in the Individual Commitment Amount of each Lender.
47
If a Lender becomes a Non-Participating Lender, subsequent Drawdowns will be funded first by the Non-Participating Lender rateably based on each Non-Participating Lender's Individual Commitment Amount, until the Principal Amounts owed to the Lenders are again in proportion to their respective Rateable Portions prior to the Hostile Acquisition.
As an alternative to the provisions of Section 7.4, the Borrower will also be entitled, subject to the prepayment provisions herein contained but without obligation to make prepayments to all Lenders, to reduce the Principal Amount owing to the Lenders who are not Non-Participating Lenders so that the Principal Amounts of the Lenders are again in proportion to their respective Rateable Portions prior to the Hostile Acquisition.
The Agent will maintain records, in written or electronic form, evidencing all Advances and all other Indebtedness owing by the Borrower to the Agent and each Lender under this Agreement. The Agent will enter in such records details of all amounts from time to time owing, paid or prepaid by the Borrower to it hereunder. In addition, each Lender will maintain records, in written and electronic form, evidencing all Advances and other Indebtedness owing by the Borrower to such Lender under this Agreement. The information entered in such records will constitute prima facie evidence of the Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Agent and each Lender under this Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the records of the Agent and a Lender maintained pursuant to this Section 8.1, the records of the Agent will prevail, absent manifest error.
(a) | Interest. Except as expressly stated otherwise herein, all Canadian Prime Rate Loans, U.S. Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Based Loans from time to time outstanding under the Credit Facility will bear interest, as well after as before maturity, default and judgment, with interest on overdue interest, at the applicable rates as prescribed under Sections 4.2 and 22.9, as applicable. Interest payable at a variable rate will be adjusted automatically without notice to the Borrower whenever there is a variation in such rate. |
(b) | Calculation of Interest. Interest under the Credit Facility on Canadian Prime Rate Loans and U.S. Base Rate Loans will accrue and be calculated daily and be payable monthly in arrears on the first Banking Day of each month for the immediately preceding month, or, after notice to the Borrower, on such other Banking Day as is customary for the Agent having regard to its then existing practice. Interest under the Credit Facility on Canadian Prime Rate Loans and U.S. Base Rate Loans, stamping fees under the Credit Facility on Bankers' Acceptances and Issuance Fees and Fronting Fees will be calculated on the basis of a 365 day year. |
(c) | Interest Act (Canada). For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) and all other applicable Laws which may hereafter regulate the calculation or computation of interest on borrowed funds, the annual rates of interest and fees applicable under the Credit Facility to Canadian Prime Rate Loans, U.S. Base Rate Loans, Bankers' Acceptances and Letters of Credit, respectively, are the rates as determined hereunder multiplied by the actual number of days in a period of one year commencing on the first day of the period for which such interest or such fee is payable and divided by 365. |
(d) | LIBOR Based Loans. Interest on LIBOR Based Loans under the Credit Facility will accrue and be calculated daily and be payable at the end of each applicable LIBOR Period, provided that, where |
48
the LIBOR Period exceeds three (3) months, interest will be calculated and payable every three (3) months during the term of the LIBOR Period and on the last day of the applicable LIBOR Period. Interest on LIBOR Based Loans will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in each LIBOR Period divided by 360. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) and other applicable Laws which may hereafter regulate the calculation or computation of interest on borrowed funds, the annual rates of interest applicable to LIBOR Based Loans under the Credit Facility are the rates as determined hereunder multiplied by the actual number of days in a period of one year commencing on the first day of the period for which such interest is payable and divided by 360. |
(e) | Prepayments of LIBOR Based Loans. A repayment or prepayment of a LIBOR Based Loan may occur only on the last day of the relevant LIBOR Period for such LIBOR Based Loan (unless the Borrower pays LIBOR breakage costs to the Lenders in accordance with Section 9.2). |
The Borrower will pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders the applicable stamping fee under Section 4.2(d) with respect to Bankers' Acceptances on the date of acceptance thereof by the applicable Lenders. Subject to Section 8.5, payment of the stamping fee may be made by way of set-off as provided in Section 10.3.
Issuance Fees and Fronting Fees will be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days and for such period of time as the applicable Letter of Credit remains outstanding. The Issuance Fees and Fronting Fees will accrue and be calculated daily on the face amount of the applicable Letter of Credit and be payable quarterly in arrears on the first Banking Day of each calendar quarter for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, or, after notice to the Borrower, on such other Banking Day following any such preceding fiscal quarter as is customary for the Agent or the Fronting Lender having regard to its then existing practice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum Issuance Fee shall be not less than the minimum flat rate issuance fee set by the LC Issuer from time to time in accordance with its customary practice for letters of credit issued on behalf of comparable borrowers and, if the minimum issuance fee applies, the Issuance Fee shall be payable in advance at the time of issuance of the applicable Letter of Credit.
The standby fees payable in accordance with Section 4.2(g) will be calculated daily and will be payable in U.S. Dollars quarterly in arrears on the first Banking Day of each calendar quarter for the previous quarter and otherwise in the same manner as interest on U.S. Base Rate Loans.
The Borrower authorizes and directs the Agent and the Swing Line Lender, in its discretion, to automatically debit, by mechanical, electronic or manual means, the bank accounts of the Borrower maintained by it for any amounts (including principal, interest or fees) that are due and payable under this Agreement.
A Conversion of an Advance from one currency to another currency may be made only by the repayment of an existing Advance in the same currency as the existing Advance and the request of a new Advance in another currency.
49
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event will the aggregate "interest" (as defined in Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada)) payable under this Agreement exceed the maximum effective annual rate of interest on the "credit advanced" (as defined in that section) permitted under that Section and, if any payment, collection or demand pursuant to this Agreement in respect of "interest" (as defined in that section) is determined to be contrary to the provisions of that section, such payment, collection or demand will be deemed to have been made by mutual mistake of the Borrower and the applicable Lenders and the amount of such payment or collection will be refunded to the Borrower. For purposes of this Agreement, the effective annual rate of interest will be determined in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles over the term of the Credit Facility on the basis of annual compounding of the lawfully permitted rate of interest and, in the event of dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Agent will be prima facie evidence, for the purposes of such determination.
To the extent permitted by applicable Law, the provisions of the Judgment Interest Act (Alberta) will not apply to the Documents and are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest will not apply to any interest calculation under the Documents, and the rates of interest stipulated in this Agreement are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.
The Borrower:
(a) | acknowledges and confirms that: (A) this Agreement, including Section 4.2 and Article 8 hereof and the constituent definitions herein and under the other Documents relating to interest and other amounts payable hereunder and thereunder, satisfies the requirements of section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) to the extent that section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) applies to the expression, statement or calculation of any rate of interest or other rate per annum hereunder or under any other Document; and (B) the Borrower and each other Loan Party are each able to calculate the yearly rate or percentage of interest payable under any Document based on the methodology set out herein and under the other Documents, including Section 4.2 and Article 8 and the constituent definitions herein and under the other Documents relating to interest and other amounts payable hereunder and thereunder; and |
(b) | irrevocably agrees not to, and agrees to cause each other Loan Party not to, plead or assert, whether by way of defence or otherwise, in any proceeding relating to the Documents, that the interest payable under the Documents and the calculation thereof has not been adequately disclosed to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, whether pursuant to section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) or any other applicable law or legal principle. |
(a) | The aggregate amount of each Advance by way of a LIBOR Based Loan will be at least U.S. $5,000,000 and in multiples of U.S. $100,000 for any amount in excess thereof. |
50
(b) | If the Borrower requests a Drawdown by way of a LIBOR Based Loan, to Rollover a LIBOR Based Loan or to Convert an Advance into a LIBOR Based Loan, the Borrower will specify in its Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion, as applicable, the LIBOR Period (which will begin and end on a LIBOR Banking Day) applicable to such LIBOR Based Loan. Subject to Section 6.4(b), if the Borrower fails, as required hereunder, to select a LIBOR Period for any proposed LIBOR Based Loan, then the LIBOR Based Loan will be deemed to have converted into a U.S. Base Rate Loan. |
(c) | Any amounts owing by the Borrower in respect of any LIBOR Based Loan which is not paid at its Interest Period Maturity Date in accordance with this Agreement will, as and from its Interest Period Maturity Date, be deemed to be outstanding as a U.S. Base Rate Loan. |
If the Borrower requests, as herein permitted, that a Lender arrange for early termination of any LIBOR Based Loan, the Borrower will pay to the affected Lenders all expenses and out-of-pocket costs incurred by such Lenders as a result of the early termination of the LIBOR Based Loan, including expenses and out-of-pocket costs incurred due to early redemption of offsetting deposits. If in the sole discretion of such Lenders, acting reasonably, any such early termination cannot be effected, the LIBOR Based Loan will not be terminated and the Borrower will continue to pay interest to such Lenders, at the rate per annum applicable to such LIBOR Based Loan for the remainder of the applicable LIBOR Period. A written statement of the Agent as to the amount and nature of such expenses and out-of-pocket costs will be prima facie evidence of the amount thereof.
If:
(a) | the Agent (acting reasonably) makes a determination, which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower, and notifies the Borrower, that: |
(i) | by reason of circumstances affecting the London Interbank Eurodollar Market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the rate of interest with respect to, or deposits of U.S. Dollars are not available in sufficient amounts in the ordinary course of business at the rate determined hereunder to fund, a requested LIBOR Based Loan during the ensuing LIBOR Period selected; or |
(ii) | the making or continuing of a LIBOR Based Loan by the Lenders has been made impracticable by the occurrence of an event which materially adversely affects the London Interbank Eurodollar Market generally; or |
then:
(i) | the right of the Borrower to request LIBOR Based Loans from any Lender shall be suspended until the Agent determines that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and so notifies the Borrower and the Lenders; |
51
(ii) | any outstanding Notice of Borrowing requesting an Advance by way of a LIBOR Based Loan shall be deemed to be a Notice of Borrowing requesting an Advance by way of a U.S. Base Rate Loan in the amount specified in the original Notice of Borrowing; |
(iii) | any outstanding Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of an Advance by way of a LIBOR Based Loan shall be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of such Advance into an Advance by way of a U.S. Base Rate Loan; and |
(iv) | any outstanding Notice of Rollover requesting a Rollover of an Advance by way of a LIBOR Based Loan, shall be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of such Advances into an Advance by way of a U.S. Base Rate Loan. |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any suspension of the Borrower's right to request Advances by way of LIBOR Based Loans and of any termination of any such suspension. A Lender LIBOR Suspension Notice shall be effective upon receipt of the same by the Agent if received prior to 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on a Banking Day and if not, then on the next following Banking Day, except in connection with an outstanding Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover, in which case the applicable Lender LIBOR Suspension Notice shall only be effective with respect to such outstanding Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover if received by the Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time) two (2) Banking Days prior to the proposed date of Advance, date of Conversion or date of Rollover (as applicable) applicable to such outstanding Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover, as applicable.
(a) | Benchmark Replacement. |
(i) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) or (b) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement" for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any other Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (c) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement" for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any other Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Banking Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Document so long as the Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from the Majority Lenders. |
52
(b) | Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event), the Agent with the agreement of the Borrower (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld) will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Document. |
(c) | Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 9.4(d) and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 9.4, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 9.4. |
(e) | Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower's receipt of the notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion requesting a Drawdown or Rollover of or Conversion to LIBOR Based Loans to be made, rolled over or converted into during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such notice into a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion requesting a Drawdown of or Conversion into a U.S. Base Rate Loan. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of U.S. Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of U.S. Base Rate. |
(f) | No Liability. The Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of "LIBOR" or with respect to any rate that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or the effect of any of the foregoing or of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. |
53
(g) | Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Section 9.4: |
"Available Tenor" means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of a LIBOR Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of "LIBOR Period" pursuant to Section 9.4(d).
(a) | the sum of: (i) Term SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; |
(b) | the sum of: (i) Daily Simple SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or |
(c) | the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; |
(a) | for purposes of clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement", the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Agent: |
(i) | the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such LIBOR Period |
that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and |
(ii) | the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such LIBOR Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and |
(b) | for purposes of clause (c) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement", the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; provided that, in the case of clause (a) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Agent in its reasonable discretion. |
(a) | in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of "Benchmark Transition Event", the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); |
(b) | in the case of clause (c) of the definition of "Benchmark Transition Event", the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; |
(c) | in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is ten (10) Banking Days after the Agent has provided a Term SOFR Notice to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.4; or |
(d) | in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Banking Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Banking Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders. |
(a) | a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Benchmark Transition Event for purposes of LIBOR and this Agreement shall be deemed to have occurred on and as of March 5, 2021 insofar as the ICE Benchmark Administration (the "IBA"), the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the Financial Conduct Authority, the regulatory supervisor of the IBA, announced in public statements (the "Announcements") that the final publication or representativeness date for (i) 1-week and 2-month London interbank offered rate tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (ii) overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month London interbank offered rate tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for the IBA was identified in such Announcements; |
(b) | a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or |
(c) | a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative. |
56
"Benchmark Unavailability Period" means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any other Document in accordance with this Section 9.4 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any other Document in accordance with this Section 9.4.
"Early Opt-in Election" means, if the then-current Benchmark is LIBOR, the occurrence of:
(a) | a notification by the Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding U.S. Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a Term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review); and |
(b) | the joint election by the Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from LIBOR and the provision by the Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders. |
57
"Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement" means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Each bankers' acceptance draft tendered by the Borrower under the Credit Facility for acceptance by a Lender will be a form acceptable to the accepting Lender and the Advance in respect thereof will be in a principal amount of not less than Cdn. $5,000,000 or, in the case of a bankers' acceptance which is a Swing Line Loan, not less than Cdn. $1,000,000 and, in each case, in multiples of Cdn. $100,000 for any amounts in excess thereof and will, in each case, have a term, subject to market availability, of not less than one month and not more than three months, unless otherwise agreed to by all of the accepting Lenders, except in the case of Swing Line Loans where the term thereof will not exceed one month.
(b) | Payment. The Borrower will provide for payment to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of each Bankers' Acceptance issued on its behalf at its maturity, either by payment of the face amount thereof or, subject to Section 8.5, through the utilization of an Advance in accordance with this Agreement, or through a combination thereof. The Borrower waives presentment for payment of Bankers' Acceptances by the Lenders and will not claim from the applicable Lenders any days of grace for the payment at maturity of Bankers' Acceptances. Any amount owing by the Borrower in |
58
respect of any Bankers' Acceptance issued which is not paid at maturity in accordance with this Agreement, will, as and from its maturity date, be deemed to be outstanding as a Canadian Prime Rate Loan. |
(f) | Depository Bills. It is the intention of the Parties that pursuant to the DBNA, all Bankers' Acceptances accepted by the Lenders under this Agreement will be issued in the form of a "depository xxxx" (as defined in the DBNA), deposited with a "clearing house" (as defined in the DBNA), including The Canadian Depository for Securities Ltd. or its nominee CDS & Co. In order to give effect to the foregoing, the Agent will, subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Lenders, establish and notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any additional procedures, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, as are reasonably necessary to accomplish such intention, including: |
(i) | any instrument held by the Agent for purposes of Bankers' Acceptances will have marked prominently and legibly on its face and within its text, at or before the time of issue, the words "This is a depository xxxx subject to the Depository Bills and Notes Act (Canada)"; |
(ii) | any reference to the authentication of the Bankers' Acceptance will be removed; and |
(iii) | any reference to the "bearer" will be removed and such Bankers' Acceptances will not be marked with any words prohibiting negotiation, transfer or assignment of it or of an interest in it. |
(a) | Notice. The Borrower may in the Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion requesting an Advance by way of Bankers' Acceptances or by subsequent notice to the Agent, provide the Agent with information as to the Discount Proceeds payable by the purchasers of the Bankers' Acceptances and the party to whom delivery of the Bankers' Acceptances is to be made against delivery of such Discount Proceeds to the Agent for the credit of the Borrower subject to Section 10.3(c), but if it does not do so, the Borrower will initiate a telephone call to the Agent by 11:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on the Drawdown Date or the date of the Rollover or Conversion, as applicable, and provide such information to the Agent. Any such telephone advice will be at the risk of the Borrower pursuant to Section 22.2 and will be confirmed by a notice of the Borrower to the Agent prior to 3:00 p.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on the same day. |
(b) | Rollovers. In the case of a Rollover of maturing Bankers' Acceptances, each Lender, in order to satisfy the continuing liability of the Borrower to the Lender for the face amount of the maturing |
59
Bankers' Acceptances, will retain for its own account the Net Proceeds of each new Bankers' Acceptance issued by it in connection with such Rollover and the Borrower will, on the Interest Period Maturity Date of the maturing Bankers' Acceptances, pay to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders an amount equal to the difference between the face amount of the maturing Bankers' Acceptances and the aggregate Net Proceeds of the new Bankers' Acceptances. |
(d) | Conversion to Canadian Dollar Advance. In the case of a Conversion of an Advance by way of Bankers' Acceptances into a Canadian Prime Rate Loan, in order to satisfy the liability of the Borrower to each Lender for the face amount of the maturing Bankers' Acceptances, the Agent and each applicable Lender will record the obligation of the Borrower to it as a Canadian Prime Rate Loan unless the Borrower provides for payment to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of the face amount of the maturing Bankers' Acceptance in some other manner acceptable to the Lenders. |
(e) | Authorization. The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender under the Credit Facility to complete, stamp, hold, sell, rediscount or otherwise dispose of all Bankers' Acceptances accepted by it pursuant to this Section 10.3 in accordance with the instructions provided by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 6.4, as applicable. |
(f) | Rounding. In the case of an issue of Bankers' Acceptances, the Agent may round allocations amongst the Lenders to ensure that each Bankers' Acceptance issued has a face amount which is a whole number multiple of Cdn. $1,000 (and such rounded allocations shall constitute the Lenders' respective Rateable Portions for the purposes of this Agreement). |
Each Non-BA Lender, in lieu of accepting bankers' acceptance drafts on any Drawdown Date or date of any Conversion or Rollover, will make a BA Equivalent Advance. Any BA Equivalent Advance will be made on the relevant Drawdown Date, or any date of Rollover or Conversion, as applicable, and its Interest Period Maturity Date will be the Interest Period Maturity Date of the corresponding Bankers' Acceptances. The amount of each BA Equivalent Advance will be equal to the Discount Proceeds (with reference to the applicable Discount Rate) which would be realized from a hypothetical sale of those Bankers' Acceptances which, but for this Section 10.4, such Lender would otherwise be required to accept. Any BA Equivalent Advance will be made on the relevant Drawdown Date or date of any Conversion or Rollover, and will remain outstanding for the term of the corresponding Bankers' Acceptances. On its Interest Period Maturity Date, such BA Equivalent Advance will be repaid in an amount equal to the face amount of a Draft that would have been accepted by such Non-BA Lender if it was a BA Lender. All provisions of this Agreement with respect to Bankers' Acceptances will apply to BA Equivalent Advances provided that stamping fees with respect to a BA Equivalent Advances will be calculated on the basis of the amount with respect to such BA Equivalent Advances which the Borrower is required to pay on the applicable Interest Period Maturity Date.
Subject to Section 10.2(a), the signatures of any authorized signatory on Bankers' Acceptances may, at the option of the Borrower, be reproduced in facsimile and such Bankers' Acceptances bearing such facsimile signatures will be binding on the Borrower as if they had been manually signed by
60
such authorized signatory. Notwithstanding that any person whose signature appears on any Bankers' Acceptance as a signatory may no longer be an authorized signatory of the Borrower at the date of issuance of a Bankers' Acceptance, and notwithstanding that the signature affixed may be a reproduction only, such signature will nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes as if such authority had remained in force at the time of such issuance and as if such signature had been manually applied, and any such Bankers' Acceptance so signed will, subject to Section 10.2(c), be binding on and at the risk of the Borrower.
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Borrower will forthwith pay to the Agent for deposit into an escrow account maintained by and in the name of the Agent for the benefit of the applicable Lenders, an amount equal to such Lenders' maximum potential liability under then outstanding Bankers' Acceptances (the "Escrow Funds"). The Escrow Funds will be held by the Agent for set-off against future Indebtedness owing by the Borrower to the applicable Lenders in respect of such Bankers' Acceptances and pending such application will bear interest for the Borrower's account at the rate declared by the Agent from time to time as that payable by it in respect of deposits for similar amounts and for similar periods of time. If such Event of Default is either waived or cured in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, then the remaining Escrow Funds if any, together with any accrued interest to the date of release, will be released to the Borrower. The deposit of the Escrow Funds by the Borrower with the Agent as herein provided will not operate as a repayment of the Aggregate Principal Amount until such time as the Escrow Funds are actually paid to the Lenders as a principal repayment.
If:
(a) | the Agent (acting reasonably) makes a determination, which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower, and notifies the Borrower, that there no longer exists an active market for Bankers' Acceptances accepted by the Lenders; or |
(b) | the Agent is advised by Lenders holding at least 35% of the Commitment Amount of all Lenders hereunder by written notice (each, a "Lender BA Suspension Notice") that such Lenders have determined (acting reasonably and in good faith) that the Discount Rate will not or does not accurately reflect the cost of funds of such Lenders or the discount rate which would be applicable to a sale of Bankers' Acceptances accepted by such Lenders in the market; |
then:
(i) | the right of the Borrower to request Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Advances from any Lender shall be suspended until the Agent determines that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and so notifies the Borrower and the Lenders; |
(ii) | any outstanding Notice of Borrowing requesting an Advance by way of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Advances shall be deemed to be a Notice of Borrowing requesting an Advance by way of Canadian Prime Rate Loans in the amount specified in the original Notice of Borrowing; |
(iii) | any outstanding Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of an Advance by way of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Advances shall be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of such Advances into an Advance by way of Canadian Prime Rate Loans; and |
(iv) | any outstanding Notice of Rollover requesting a Rollover of an Advance by way of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Advances, shall be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion |
61
requesting a Conversion of such Advances into an Advance by way of Canadian Prime Rate Loans. |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any suspension of the Borrower's right to request Advances by way of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Advances and of any termination of any such suspension. A Lender BA Suspension Notice shall be effective upon receipt of the same by the Agent if received prior to 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on a Banking Day and if not, then on the next following Banking Day, except in connection with an outstanding Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover, in which case the applicable Lender BA Suspension Notice shall only be effective with respect to such outstanding Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover if received by the Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time) 2 Banking Days prior to the proposed date of Advance, date of Conversion or date of Rollover (as applicable) applicable to such outstanding Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover, as applicable.
(a) | If the Agent (acting reasonably) determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Majority Lenders notify the Agent that the Majority Lenders (as applicable) have determined that: |
(ii) | the administrator of the CDOR Rate or a governmental authority having jurisdiction has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which CDOR Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be made available or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of loans; |
(iii) | a governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which CDOR Rate shall no longer be permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of loans (each such specific date in clause (ii) above and in this clause (iii) a "CDOR Scheduled Unavailability Date"); or |
(iv) | syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 10.8, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace CDOR Rate, |
then reasonably promptly after such determination by the Agent or receipt by the Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Agent and the Borrower may mutually agree upon a successor rate to the CDOR Rate, and the Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the CDOR Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein ), giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Canadian Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks (any such proposed rate, a "CDOR Successor Rate"), together with any proposed CDOR Successor Rate conforming changes agreed to by the Agent and the Borrower and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the fifth (5th) Banking Day after the Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders have delivered to the Agent written notice that such Majority Lenders do not accept such amendment.
(b) | If no CDOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under Section 10.8(a)(i) above exist or a CDOR Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to accept Bankers' Acceptances and make BA Equivalent Advances, shall be suspended (to the |
62
extent of the affected Bankers' Acceptances, BA Equivalent Advances or applicable interest periods). Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for an Advance of, Conversion to or Rollover of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Advances (to the extent of the affected Bankers' Acceptances, BA Equivalent Advances, or applicable interest periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for an Advance of Canadian Prime Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. In addition, CDOR Rate shall not be included or referenced in the definition of Canadian Prime Rate. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of the CDOR Successor Rate (exclusive of any margin) shall provide that in no event shall such CDOR Successor Rate be less than zero for the purposes of this Agreement. |
(b) | Subject to Section 8.4, as a condition of the issuance or renewal of any Letter of Credit, the Borrower will pay to the Agent the Issuance Fee, and, if applicable, the Fronting Fee, indicated in Section 4.2. The Borrower will also pay to the LC Issuer, for its own account, its customary administrative charges in respect of the issue of such Letter of Credit, the amendment or transfer of such Letter of Credit, and each drawing made under such Letter of Credit. |
(c) | An LC Issuer shall only issue a Letter of Credit if the following conditions have been satisfied: |
(i) | the LC Issuer shall have received a Notice of Borrowing requesting that a Letter of Credit be issued, such Notice of Borrowing to be accompanied by an originally executed LC Application, satisfactory to the LC Issuer, acting reasonably, specifying: |
(A) | the proposed date of issuance (which shall be a Banking Day at least 3 Banking Days following the date of such request); |
63
(B) | the expiry date thereof; |
(C) | the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; |
(D) | whether the Letter of Credit is a Financial LC or a Non-Financial LC; provided that in the case of any dispute, the LC Issuer shall determine whether a Letter of Credit is a Financial LC or a Non-Financial LC in accordance with its usual and customary practices; |
(E) | the face amount and currency thereof; and |
(F) | the terms and conditions of the requested Letter of Credit and other relevant details; and |
(ii) | the LC Issuer shall have received such other customary administrative documents as it shall have reasonably requested as a condition to the issuance of such Letter of Credit. |
In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of an LC Application and such other documents and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail and any liability of the Borrower in respect of Letters of Credit shall be governed by this Agreement irrespective of the provisions of any LC Application or such other documents.
64
(f) | The Borrower agrees that neither the LC Issuers, the Agent, the Lenders nor their respective officers, directors, employees or agents will assume liability for, or be responsible for, and the Borrower hereby indemnifies and holds harmless any such Person from any losses or Claims resulting from, the following: the use which may be made of any Letter of Credit; any acts or omissions of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit including the application of any payment made to such beneficiary; the form, validity, sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or legal effect of any document or instrument relating to any Letter of Credit which on its face complies with requirements of the Letter of Credit, even if such document or instrument should in fact prove to be in any respect invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; the failure of any document or instrument to bear any reference or adequate reference to any Letter of Credit; any failure to note the amount of any draft on any Letter of Credit or on any related document or instrument; any failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit to meet the obligations of such beneficiary to the Borrower or any other Person other than the LC Issuer; any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, directions or correspondence by mail, facsimile or otherwise, whether or not they are in cipher; any inaccuracies in the translation of any messages, directions or correspondence or for errors in the interpretation of any technical terms; any failure by the LC Issuer to make payment under any Letter of Credit as a result of any Law, control or restriction rightfully or wrongfully exercised or imposed by any domestic or foreign court or government or government instrumentality; or as a result of any other cause beyond the control of the LC Issuer or its officers, directors or correspondents; or any action to compel payment by a LC Issuer under a Letter of Credit (but only to the extent that the LC Issuer was in fact not required to make such payment) or to restrain a LC Issuer from making payment under a Letter of Credit; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall exonerate an LC Issuer for its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
(g) | The obligations of the Borrower under this Article 11 with respect to any Letter of Credit will be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and will be performed strictly in accordance with the terms hereof under all circumstances including: any matter referred to in Section 11.1(e); any invalidity of any obligation secured by any Letter of Credit; any incapacity, disability or lack or limitation of status or of power of the Borrower or the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit; any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit; the existence of any claim, set-off, defence or other right which the Borrower may have at any time against any Lender or the LC Issuer, the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other Person (provided that the provisions hereof shall not be considered to be a waiver of such claim, set-off, defence or other right); or any breach of contract or other dispute between the Borrower and the Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer, the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other Person. |
(h) | The LC Issuer may accept as complying with the terms of any Letter of Credit any document or instrument required by such Letter of Credit to be completed, signed, presented or delivered by or on behalf of any beneficiary thereunder which has been completed, signed, presented or delivered by a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, assignee for the benefit of creditors, secured party or other like Person believed in good faith by the LC Issuer to be lawfully entitled to the property of such beneficiary, and the LC Issuer may make payments under such Letter of Credit to such Person. The provisions of this Article 11 are for the sole benefit of the LC Issuer and the other Parties and may not be relied on by any other Person. |
65
(j) | Each Fronting Lender will exercise and give the same care and attention to each Fronted Letter of Credit issued by it hereunder as it gives to its other letters of credit and similar obligations, and each Fronting Lender's sole liability to each Lender shall be to promptly return to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, each Lender's Rateable Portion of any payments made to such Fronting Lender by the Borrower hereunder where the Borrower has made a payment to such Fronting Lender hereunder. Each Lender agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Fronted Letter of Credit, a Fronting Lender shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than as expressly required by such Fronted Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of any Person delivering any such document. No Fronting Lender nor any of its representatives, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to any Lender for: |
(i) | any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Majority Lenders; |
(ii) | any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with any Fronted Letter of Credit in the absence of gross negligence or wilful misconduct; or |
(iii) | the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, or enforceability of any Fronted Letter of Credit, or any other document contemplated thereby. |
(ii) | If any amount required to be paid by any Lender to a Fronting Lender pursuant to clause (i) above in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any amount paid by a Fronting Lender under any Fronted Letter of Credit is paid to the applicable Fronting Lender within three Banking Days after the date such amount is due, such Lender will pay upon demand to the Agent, for the account of such Fronting Lender, an amount equal to the product of (A) such amount multiplied by (B) the rate of interest applicable to such amount incurred by such Fronting Lender during the period from and including the date such amount payable under any Fronted Letter of Credit should have been paid to but excluding the date it is paid by the Lender to the applicable Fronting Lender, multiplied by (C) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 365. If any such amount required to be paid by any Lender pursuant to clause (i) above |
66
is not in fact made available to the Agent, for the account of the applicable Fronting Lender, by such Lender within three Banking Days after the date such payment is due, the applicable Fronting Lender will be entitled to recover from such Lender, on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to Canadian Prime Rate Loans or U.S. Base Rate Loans hereunder, as the case may be, depending on the currency of such Fronted Letter of Credit. A certificate of a Fronting Lender submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under clause (i) above will be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. |
(iii) | Whenever, at any time after a Fronting Lender has paid an amount under any Fronted Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender that Lender's Rateable Portion of such payment in accordance with clause (i) above, such Fronting Lender receives any reimbursement on account of such unreimbursed portion, or any payment of interest on account thereof, such Fronting Lender will pay to the Agent, for the account of such Lender that Lender's Rateable Portion thereof; provided, however, that in the event that any such a payment received by a Fronting Lender is required to be returned by such Fronting Lender, such Lender will return to the Agent for the account of such Fronting Lender the portion thereof previously distributed to it. |
The foregoing provisions shall apply irrespective of whether any condition precedent to an Advance has been specified, whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or whether any acceleration or any enforcement action (including any termination of the Commitment Amount) has occurred or commenced under the Documents or otherwise or whether the Maturity Date has occurred. The Borrower and the Lenders acknowledge that the foregoing arrangements are to be settled by the Lenders among themselves, and the Borrower consents to the foregoing arrangements among such Lenders.
(l) | No LC Issuer shall incur any liability by acting in reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement or other writing (which may be a bank wire, telex or similar writing) appearing on its face to be in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit. |
(m) | Each Letter of Credit, except as specifically provided therein, and subject to any provision hereof to the contrary, will be subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits of the International Chamber of Commerce current at the time of issuance or renewal of such Letter of Credit. |
(n) | For the purpose of calculating the Aggregate Principal Amount and for any other relevant provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Advance constituted by any Letter of Credit at any time will be the maximum amount which the LC Issuer may in all circumstances be required to pay pursuant to the terms thereof at such time. |
The Agent and, in the case of a Fronted Letter of Credit, the applicable Fronting Lender shall maintain records showing the undrawn and unexpired amount of each Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder and each Lender's share of such amount and showing for each Letter of Credit issued hereunder:
(a) | the dates issuance and expiration thereof; |
(b) | the amount thereof; and |
(c) | the date and amount of all payments made thereunder. |
The Agent and, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, the applicable Fronting Lender, shall make copies of such records available to the Borrower or any Lender upon its request.
67
(a) | Each Notice of Borrowing in respect of a Letter of Credit shall be delivered in accordance with Section 6.2(c) and, in the case of a Fronted Letter of Credit, shall specify the Fronting Lender. |
(b) | If the Agent receives a Notice of Borrowing requesting the issuance of a Fronted Letter of Credit, the Agent shall forthwith forward such Notice of Borrowing to the applicable Fronting Lender. |
(c) | Each Fronting Lender (if other than the Agent) shall forthwith advise the Agent of any payment under, or cancellation of (whether full or partial), any Fronted Letter of Credit issued by such Fronting Lender pursuant hereto. |
(a) | If, after the date hereof, due to either: |
(ii) | the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other Administrative Body which a Lender, acting reasonably, determines that it is required to comply with, |
there will be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining the Credit Facility, or there will be any reduction in the effective return to such Lender thereunder, then, subject to Section 12.1(b), the Borrower will, within 5 Banking Days after being notified by such Lender of such event, pay to such Lender quarterly in arrears, that amount (the "Additional Compensation") which such Lender, acting reasonably, determines will compensate it, after taking into account all applicable Taxes, for any such increased costs or reduced returns incurred or suffered by such Lender.
(c) | Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 12.1, the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines and directives concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority or any United States, Canadian or foreign regulatory authority) (collectively, the "New Rules") shall, in each case, be deemed a "change in Law" under Section 12.1(a)(i) regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued but only to the extent (i) applicable to a Lender claiming Additional Compensation, (ii) materially different from that in effect on the date hereof, and (iii) such New Rules have general application to substantially all banks and their affiliates within the jurisdiction in which the Lender operates. |
68
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any of the other Documents, if on any date a Lender determines in good faith, which determination will be conclusive and binding on the Parties, and provided notice is given to the other Lenders and to the Borrower that its ability to maintain, or continue to offer any Advance has become unlawful or prohibited due to:
(a) | any change in applicable Laws, or in the interpretation or administration thereof by authorities having jurisdiction in the matter; or |
(b) | the imposition of any condition, restriction or limitation upon such Lender which is outside of its control, |
then in any such case, the Borrower will forthwith repay to such Lender all principal amounts affected thereby, together with all unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date of repayment and all other expenses incurred in connection with the termination of any such Advance, including any expenses resulting from the early termination of any LIBOR Period relating thereto in accordance with Section 9.2, without any obligation to make a corresponding prepayment to any other Lender. The Borrower may utilize other forms of Advances not so affected in order to make any required repayment and after any such repayment, the Borrower may elect to re-borrow the amount repaid by way of some other Advance upon complying with applicable requirements thereof.
If a Lender exercises its discretion under either Section 12.1 or 12.2, then concurrently with a notice from such Lender to the Lenders and the Borrower requiring compliance with the applicable Section, such Lender will provide the Borrower (with a copy to the Lenders) with a certificate in reasonable detail outlining the particulars giving rise to such notice, confirming that its actions are consistent with actions concurrently taken by such Lender with respect to similar type provisions affecting other borrowers of such Lender in comparable circumstances and certifying (with reasonable supporting detail) the increased costs, if any, payable by the Borrower thereunder, which will be prima facie proof thereof and binding on the Parties.
Sections 12.1 and 12.2 will not apply to a Lender with respect to any event, circumstance or change of the nature and kind of which such Lender had actual knowledge on the Amendment Date. A Lender will not be entitled to Additional Compensation to the extent such increase in costs or reduction in return is reflected in or recovered by an increase in the interest or other amounts payable hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 12.1) or relates to any period which is more than three months prior to such Lender becoming aware such Additional Compensation was owing or if such Lender is not generally collecting amounts which are the equivalent to Additional Compensation from other borrowers in similar circumstances to the Borrower where it is contractually entitled to do so.
The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
(a) | Incorporation, Organization and Power. Each of the Enerplus Parties, other than the Partnership Parties, has been duly incorporated or amalgamated, as applicable, and is validly existing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or amalgamation and is duly registered to carry on business in each jurisdiction, as applicable, in which the nature of any material business carried on by it or the character of any property owned or leased by it makes such registration necessary, and |
69
it has full corporate power and capacity to enter into and perform its obligations under the Documents to which it is a party, and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Each of the Partnership Parties has been duly organized as a general partnership or a limited partnership, as applicable, and is validly existing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation and is duly registered to carry on business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of any material business carried on by it or the character of any property owned or leased by it make such registration necessary, and it has full power and capacity to enter into and perform its obligations under the Documents to which it is a party, and to carry on its business as currently conducted. |
(b) | Authorization and Status of Agreements. Each Document has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Loan Party that is a party thereto and the execution and delivery thereof and the performance of its obligations thereunder does not conflict with or contravene or constitute a default or create an encumbrance, other than a Permitted Encumbrance, under: |
(i) | the constating documents or by-laws of, or any resolution of the directors, the trustee or partners, as the case may be, of any Loan Party; |
(ii) | any material agreement or document to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any Loan Party's property is bound; or |
(iii) | any applicable Law. |
(c) | Enforceability. Each of the Documents to which a Loan Party is a party constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of such party and is enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar statutes affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity. |
(d) | Litigation. Other than as previously disclosed in writing to the Agent, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at Law or before or by any Administrative Body existing or pending, or to the Borrower's knowledge threatened, to which any of the Enerplus Parties is, or to the Borrower's knowledge is pending or threatened to be made, a party, the result of which would reasonably be expected, if successful against such party, to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(e) | Environmental Laws. Each of the Enerplus Parties has (i) obtained all permits, licenses and other authorizations which are required under Environmental Laws; and (ii) is in full compliance with Environmental Laws and with the terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses and authorizations, all except to the extent that failure to so obtain or so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(f) | Environmental Condition of Property. The property or any part thereof owned, operated or controlled by any of the Enerplus Parties: |
(B) | if subject to any such claim, charge or order, the Borrower is taking or causing to be taken, all such remedial, corrective or other action required under the claim, charge or order or is diligently and in good faith contesting or causing the Enerplus Parties, as applicable, to contest the validity thereof; and |
(ii) | complies, with respect to each of its use and operation, in all respects with Environmental Laws and with the terms and conditions of all permits, licenses and other authorizations |
70
which are required to be obtained by each of them under applicable Environmental Laws, except to the extent that failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(g) | Title to Properties. Subject to Permitted Encumbrances, each of the Enerplus Parties has good and valid title to its properties, except to the extent that failure to have such title would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(h) | Encumbrances. No Enerplus Party has created, incurred, assumed, suffered to exist, or entered into, any contract, instrument or undertaking pursuant to which, any Person may have or been entitled to any Security Interest on or in respect of its property or assets or any part thereof except for Permitted Encumbrances. |
(i) | Operation of Properties. To the best of the Borrower's knowledge, information and belief, after due enquiry, all of the oil, gas and other xxxxx of the Enerplus Parties have been drilled, completed, shut-in and abandoned (and they have abandoned such xxxxx if they were required by applicable Law to have been abandoned), and all property owned or operated by the Enerplus Parties has been and will continue to be owned, operated and maintained, as the case may be, in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance with sound industry practice and in accordance with all applicable Laws, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(j) | No Adverse Change. The audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for its most recent fiscal year end provided to the Lenders were prepared in accordance with GAAP and such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the Borrower's consolidated financial position as at the date thereof and since that date there has been no occurrence of any event or circumstance which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, other than as previously disclosed in writing to the Agent. |
(k) | Information. All factual information heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of the Enerplus Parties to the Agent in connection with the Credit Facility or the Enerplus Parties was, in the case of financial projections, prepared in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions at the date of preparation and, in all other cases, true and accurate in all material respects at the time given and the Borrower is not aware of any omission of any material fact which renders such factual information incomplete or misleading in any material way at the time given. |
(l) | No Breach of Orders, Licences or Statutes. None of the Enerplus Parties is in breach of: |
(i) | any order, approval or mandatory requirement or directive of any Administrative Body; |
(ii) | any governmental licence or permit; or |
(iii) | any applicable Law, |
the breach of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) | No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
(n) | Approvals. All regulatory authorizations, consents, approvals, permits and licenses necessary for each of the Enerplus Parties to carry on their respective business, as currently carried on, and all authorizations, consents and approvals necessary for each of them to enter into the Documents and perform their respective obligations thereunder have, in each case, been obtained and are in good standing, except to the extent that failure to so obtain would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
71
(p) | Pension Plans. Each Enerplus Party has in all respects complied with the contractual provisions and applicable Laws relating to each Pension Plan to which it is a party or by which it is otherwise bound, except to the extent failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All amounts due and owing under any such Pension Plan have been paid in full, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, no deficiency exists (whether or not waived) under any such Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(q) | Insurance. Each Enerplus Party has in full force and effect such policies of insurance in such amounts issued by such insurers of recognized standing covering the property of the Enerplus Parties in accordance with Section 14.1(n). |
(r) | Taxes. Except for circumstances which, individually or in the aggregate, do not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: |
(i) | all tax returns required to be filed by the Enerplus Parties in any jurisdiction have been filed; |
(ii) | all Taxes upon the Enerplus Parties or any of their property, which are due and payable, have been paid on a timely basis or within appropriate extension periods or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (and in respect of which adequate provision has been made on its books); |
(iii) | the Enerplus Parties have collected, deducted, withheld and remitted to the proper taxing authorities when due all Taxes, worker's compensation assessments, employment insurance assessments and other similar amounts required to be collected, deducted, withheld and remitted; and |
(s) | Pari Passu Ranking. The Indebtedness of the Loan Parties under this Agreement and each other Document and under any Hedging Agreements entered into with a Hedge Provider or any Cash Management Agreements ranks at least pari passu in right of payment with all of their other senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness which, for certainty, will include unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, as applicable, under Hedging Agreements with counterparties which are not Hedge Providers. |
(t) | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. |
(i) | The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have implemented and maintain in effect policies or codes of conduct intended to ensure compliance in all material respects by their respective directors, officers and employees with, in each case, Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions applicable to such Persons. |
(ii) | None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of their respective directors, officers and employees is a Sanctioned Person. |
72
(iii) | No part of the proceeds of any Drawdown nor drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used intentionally by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person known by the Borrower to be in violation in any material respect of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding (including payments made to) or financing any activities, investments, business or transaction of or with any Person known to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to be a Sanctioned Person, or in any country known to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to be a Sanctioned Country where such Sanctions relate to the business activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation in any material respect of any Sanctions applicable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. |
(u) | Interest Act (Canada). |
(i) | This Agreement, including Section 4.2 and Article 8 hereof and the constituent definitions herein and under the other Documents relating to interest and other amounts payable hereunder and thereunder, satisfies the requirements of section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) to the extent that section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) applies to the expression, statement or calculation of any rate of interest or other rate per annum hereunder or under any other Document; and |
(ii) | The Borrower and each other Loan Party are each able to calculate the yearly rate or percentage of interest payable under any Document based on the methodology set out herein and under the other Documents, including Section 4.2 and Article 8 hereof and the constituent definitions herein and under the other Documents relating to interest and other amounts payable hereunder and thereunder. |
The Borrower acknowledges that the Lenders are relying upon the representations and warranties in this Article 13 in making the Credit Facility available to the Borrower and that each such representation and warranty (other than that made in Sections 13.1(o) and 13.1(r)(iv)) will be deemed to be restated in every respect effective on the date each and every Advance is made under the Credit Facility except for Advances which are Rollovers or Conversions in which case only Section 13.1(m) will be deemed to be restated.
The representations and warranties in this Article 13 shall survive until all Indebtedness of the Borrower hereunder has been repaid and this Agreement has been terminated. All statements, representations and warranties contained in any Compliance Certificate and the other Documents shall constitute statements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement.
While any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility is outstanding or the Credit Facility remains available to the Borrower, the Borrower covenants with the Lenders that:
(a) | Punctual Payment. The Borrower will pay or cause to be paid all Indebtedness and other amounts payable under the Documents punctually when due. |
73
(b) | Legal Existence. Except as permitted by Section 17.1 and as otherwise permitted hereunder, the Borrower will do or will cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the Borrower's and each other Enerplus Parties' legal existence in good standing under the Laws of its governing jurisdiction. |
(d) | Notice of Legal Proceedings. The Borrower will promptly, and in any event within 5 Banking Days, upon becoming aware thereof, notify the Agent of the commencement of any legal or administrative proceedings against any Enerplus Party in respect of which there is a reasonable likelihood of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined against the applicable Enerplus Party, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(e) | Notice of Environmental Damage. The Borrower will promptly, and in any event within 5 Banking Days, upon becoming aware thereof, notify the Agent of the discovery of any Contaminant or of any Release of a Contaminant into the Environment from or upon the land or property owned, operated or controlled by any of the Enerplus Parties which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(f) | Compliance with Law. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, comply with all applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws, except to the extent that the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(j) | Performance. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, observe the terms of and perform its obligations under each of the Documents to which it is a party. |
(k) | Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, maintain books and records of account in accordance with GAAP and all applicable Laws; and permit representatives of the Agent no more than once a year while no Default or Event of Default exists (at the Lenders' risk and expense) and at any time while a |
74
Default or Event of Default exists (at the Borrower's expense), subject to the Borrower's health and safety requirements, to visit and inspect any property of any Enerplus Party, including with respect to environmental matters related thereto, and to examine and make abstracts from any books and records of any Enerplus Party at any reasonable time during normal business hours and upon reasonable request and notice and to discuss the business, property, condition (financial or otherwise) and prospects of any Enerplus Party with their senior officers. |
(l) | Operation of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, manage, maintain and operate their respective property, or, if it is not the operator, use reasonable efforts to ensure that such property is managed, maintained and operated, in accordance with (i) sound industry practice and (ii) all applicable Laws, except, in any case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(m) | Performance of Leases. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, perform or cause to be performed all obligations under all leases relating to its property, including payment of rentals, royalties, taxes or other charges in respect thereof which are necessary to maintain all such leases in good standing in all material respects, provided that this covenant will not restrict their right to surrender leases which are uneconomic to maintain. |
(o) | Pension Plans. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) to the extent required, maintain the registered status of each Pension Plan, (ii) pay or cause to be paid all material obligations of each Enerplus Party (including fiduciary, funding, investment and administration obligations) required to be performed in connection with each Pension Plan in a timely fashion, (iii) properly withhold all employee contributions to each Pension Plan by way of authorized payroll deduction or otherwise and pay into those plans in a timely manner, and (iv) cause all material reports and disclosures relating to each Pension Plan required by those plans and any applicable Laws to be filed or distributed in a timely manner. |
(p) | Information. The Borrower will promptly, and in any event within 10 Banking Days, provide (or provide access to) copies of all documents it provides generally to its shareholders and copies of all material change reports, prospectuses and annual information statements filed by the Borrower with any securities commission concurrently with or promptly following the provision of such documents to its shareholders or the making of any such filings and any other documentation and information relating to the Enerplus Parties and their respective properties as the Agent on behalf of the Lenders may reasonably request subject to any contractual restrictions regarding confidentiality, provided that the Borrower shall use reasonable commercial efforts to overcome such restrictions and the obligation to deliver any of the foregoing may be satisfied by posting any such documents and information on xxx.XXXXX.xxx or on a website, as applicable, within the time periods referred to above and promptly advising the Agent that such documents and information have been posted and the details of any website on which the same have been posted. |
(q) | Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, file all tax returns which are required to be filed and pay all Taxes (including interest and penalties) which are due and payable, unless such payment is being disputed in good faith and the applicable Enerplus Party has made all appropriate provision in respect thereof in accordance with GAAP, except, in either case, to the extent that a failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
75
(r) | Remittances. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Enerplus Party to, make all of the remittances required to be made by each Enerplus Party to the applicable federal, provincial, municipal or state governments and keep such remittances up to date, except to the extent that a failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(s) | Partnership. The Borrower will ensure that the partners in the Partnership Parties will consist only of the Borrower and/or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries. |
(t) | Wholly-Owned Status. The Borrower will ensure that the Restricted Subsidiaries will be direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower. |
(v) | Pari Passu Ranking. The Borrower will, and will cause each Enerplus Party to, ensure that all Indebtedness of the Loan Parties under the Documents and under any Hedging Agreements with Hedge Providers ranks at least pari passu with all other senior, unsecured Indebtedness of the Loan Parties including, for certainty, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Loan Parties with counterparties which are not Hedge Providers. |
(w) | Ownership of Assets. The Borrower will ensure at all times that the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries directly own not less than 85% of the Consolidated Tangible Assets. |
(x) | Reserve Reports. The Borrower will deliver to the Agent an independent engineering reserve report covering the oil and gas properties of the Enerplus Parties on or before April 30 of each year and dated not earlier than December 31 of the immediately preceding year; provided however, if the Enerplus Parties do not have an independent engineering reserve report covering all of their respective oil and gas properties, the Enerplus Parties may deliver an internally prepared reserve report to the Agent to the extent of the shortfall. |
(y) | Operating and Capital Budgets. The Borrower will deliver to the Agent an annual operating and capital budget on the later of the date the annual Compliance Certificate referred to in Section 14.1(g) is delivered to the Agent and within 5 Banking Days of the date of internal approval thereof by the management and directors of the Borrower. |
(z) | Further Notices. The Borrower will promptly, and in any event within 5 Banking Days, notify the Agent of (i) the incurrence by any Enerplus Party of any Subordinated Debt upon incurrence thereof; and (ii) any Material Adverse Effect. |
(aa) | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, conduct its business operations such that, and have policies and procedures in place to ensure that, the representations and warranties in Section 13.1(t) are true and correct at all times that this Agreement is in effect (and not just at, and as of, the times such representations and warranties are made or deemed to be made). |
76
While any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility is outstanding or the Credit Facility remains available to the Borrower, the Borrower covenants with the Lenders that:
(a) | the Consolidated Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio of the Borrower will not exceed 3.5:1; |
(b) | the Consolidated Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio of the Borrower will not exceed 4:1; and |
(c) | the Consolidated Senior Debt to Capitalization of the Borrower will not exceed 55%. |
While any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility is outstanding or the Credit Facility remains available to the Borrower, the Borrower covenants with the Lenders that:
(a) | Limitation on Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit the other Enerplus Parties to, provide or permit a Security Interest to exist over its property, except for Permitted Encumbrances. |
(b) | Limitation on Distributions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit the other Enerplus Parties to: |
(i) | make any Distribution which would or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would adversely affect or impair the capacity or the Borrower or any other Enerplus Party to fulfil any of its obligations hereunder or under any Hedge Obligations or if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, except that regularly scheduled monthly and/or quarterly cash distributions by the Borrower to the holders of Voting Securities of the Borrower may in each case be made while a Default is subsisting but prior to an Event of Default occurring, provided in any such case, that no new Default or Event of Default would reasonably be expected to occur as a result of making such Distribution or other payment; or |
(ii) | make any payment in respect of Subordinated Debt or Convertible Debentures during a Default or Event of Default or if such payment would reasonably be expected to cause a Default or Event of Default to occur. |
(c) | Limitation on Hedging Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit the other Enerplus Parties to, enter into or maintain Hedging Agreements unless the same are entered into in accordance with the then applicable hedging policies approved by the board of directors of the Borrower or that are otherwise approved by the board of directors of the Borrower, provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower and the other Enerplus Parties may not enter into or maintain Hedging Agreements for speculative purposes. |
(d) | Mergers, Amalgamations and Consolidations. The Borrower will not, and will not permit the other Enerplus Parties to, merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Person (other than the Borrower or wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower), except as otherwise permitted under Section 17.1. |
(e) | Financial Assistance. The Borrower will not, and will not permit the other Enerplus Parties to, provide any guarantee, loan or other financial assistance to or in favour of any Person in respect of the obligations, indebtedness or liabilities of such Person which, if incurred by the Borrower, would constitute obligations, indebtedness or liabilities of the types of obligations, indebtedness or liabilities described in paragraphs (a) through (g) of the definition of Consolidated Senior Debt, except to the extent the aggregate of all such guarantees, loans and other financial assistance does not exceed the Threshold Amount and except that the foregoing shall not apply to guarantees, |
77
loans or other financial assistance to or in favour of, or in respect of the obligations, indebtedness or liabilities of, another Enerplus Party. |
(g) | Change in Business. The Borrower will not, and will not permit the other Enerplus Parties to, make any material change in the nature of its business as carried on at the Amendment Date, provided that nothing herein shall restrict an Enerplus Party from carrying on any business related to the exploration, development, production, processing or transportation of Petroleum Substances in countries which are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. |
While any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility is outstanding or the Credit Facility remains available to the Borrower, the Borrower covenants with the Lenders that:
(a) | Ownership. The Borrower shall at all times beneficially own, directly or indirectly through wholly-owned Material Restricted Subsidiaries which are party to a Guarantee Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding share capital of Enerplus Group Financing LLC; |
(d) | Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not permit Enerplus Group Financing LLC to incur, assume or otherwise have outstanding any indebtedness and obligations in respect of amounts borrowed which would, if the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt was not done on a consolidated basis, form part of Consolidated Total Debt, except for any such indebtedness and obligations not |
78
exceeding, in the aggregate, of U.S. $3,750,000 and except for certain inter-company loans (the "Hungary Loans") which may be made from time to time in favour of Enerplus Resources (U.S.A.) Corporation ("Enerplus USA") but only for so long as Enerplus USA is a Restricted Subsidiary and is a party to a Guarantee Agreement and is, directly or indirectly through other wholly-owned Material Restricted Subsidiaries, wholly-owned by the Borrower; and |
(e) | Financial Assistance. The Borrower shall not permit Enerplus Group Financing LLC to provide any guarantee, loans or financial assistance to or in favour of any Person except for the Hungary Loans. |
Notwithstanding Sections 14.4(b) and 14.4(c) above, Enerplus Group Financing LLC shall be entitled to invest its cash on hand from time to time in short term (less than 1 year) money market investments where the issuer (or guarantor) of the securities comprising such money market investments is the Government of Canada or the Government of the United States or such money market investments are demand deposits at, or certificates of deposit, time deposits or bankers' acceptances issued by, a financial institution with a combined capital surplus of at least U.S. $1,000,000,000 or the Equivalent Amount in Canadian Dollars and whose long term unsecured non-credit enhanced debt is rated at least A- by S&P or at least A3 by Xxxxx'x.
(a) | The Borrower from time to time, by notice to the Agent in the form of Schedule G, shall be entitled to designate (and re-designate) that either: |
(i) | a Restricted Subsidiary will be a Non-Restricted Subsidiary; or |
(ii) | a Non-Restricted Subsidiary will be a Restricted Subsidiary and/or a Material Restricted Subsidiary, |
provided that, the Borrower will not be entitled to designate a Restricted Subsidiary to be a Non-Restricted Subsidiary if:
(iii) | a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unless the exercise of the Borrower's discretion under paragraph (i) or (ii) above would cause such Default or Event of Default to be cured; or |
(iv) | a Default or an Event of Default would result from or exist immediately after such a designation. |
(b) | If the Borrower designates a Material Restricted Subsidiary to either no longer be a Material Restricted Subsidiary or to be a Non-Restricted Subsidiary as set out in clause (a) above, such Material Restricted Subsidiary shall be released from its obligations under its Guarantee Agreement by the Agent upon written request by the Borrower if such request is accompanied by an officer's certificate of a senior officer of the Borrower certifying that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such designation or would result from such designation, including pursuant to Section 14.1(w). |
(c) | Unless otherwise designated in accordance with Section 15.1(a), all Subsidiaries of the Borrower will be deemed to be Restricted Subsidiaries. |
79
The Borrower hereby indemnifies and holds harmless each of the Agent, the Arranger, the Sustainability Structuring Agent and the Lenders, including their respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees, consultants and agents (collectively the "Indemnified Parties"), for any costs, losses, damages, expenses, judgments, suits, claims, awards, fines, sanctions and liabilities whatsoever (including any reasonable costs or expenses of defending or denying the same and including the reasonable costs or expenses of preparing any environmental assessment report or other such reports) suffered or incurred by an Indemnified Party (collectively a "Claim"), by reason of being a Lender or the Agent under this Agreement, as a result of or in connection with:
(a) | the Release of any Contaminant into the Environment; and |
(b) | the remedial action, if any, required to be taken by the Agent or the Lenders in respect of any such Release, |
except in such cases where and to the extent that any such Claim arises from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnified Party as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment. The provisions of this Section 16.1 shall survive repayment or cancellation of the Credit Facility or any part thereof, including any termination of the other provisions of this Agreement. Other than for costs and expenses incurred by the Indemnified Parties for investigating, defending or denying a Claim or preparing any necessary environmental assessment report or other reports in connection with any Claim (the reasonable costs thereof to be paid forthwith by the Borrower on demand therefore), the Indemnified Parties will not request indemnification from the Borrower unless an Indemnified Party is required by Law, based on the advice of such Indemnified Party's counsel, to honour a Claim or any part thereof. The Indemnified Parties will be entitled, but not obligated, to negotiate any settlement of a Claim in consultation with the Borrower, and any such settlement will be binding on the Parties.
In addition to any liability of the Borrower to the Lenders under any other provision hereof, the Borrower will and does hereby indemnify each of the Indemnified Parties and holds each of the Indemnified Parties harmless against any Claims (including reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable legal fees on a solicitor and his own client full indemnity basis) incurred by the same as a result of or in connection with the Credit Facility, the use of proceeds therefrom or the Documents including: (a) any cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or re-deployment in whole or in part of deposits or other funds required by any Lender to fund any Bankers' Acceptance or to fund or maintain any Advance as a result of the Borrower's failure to complete a Drawdown or to make any payment, repayment or prepayment on the date required hereunder or specified by it in any notice given hereunder; (b) subject to permitted or deemed Rollovers and Conversions, the Borrower's failure to provide for the payment to the Agent for the account of the Lenders of the full principal amount of each Bankers' Acceptance on its maturity date; (c) the Borrower's failure to pay any other amount, including any interest or fees, due hereunder on its due date after the expiration of any applicable grace or notice periods; (d) the prepayment of any outstanding Bankers' Acceptance before the maturity date of such Bankers' Acceptance; (e) the Borrower's repayment or prepayment of a LIBOR Based Loan otherwise than on the last day of its LIBOR Period; (f) the Borrower's failure to give any notice required to be given by it to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder; (g) the failure of the Borrower or any other Enerplus Party to make any other payment due hereunder or under any of the other Documents; (h) any inaccuracy of the Borrower's or any other Enerplus Party's representations and warranties contained in any Document; (i) any failure of the Borrower or any other Enerplus Party to observe or fulfil its covenants under any Document; (j) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default; or (k) the use of the proceeds of the Credit Facility; provided that this Section 16.2 will not apply to any losses, claims, costs, damages or liabilities that arise by reason of the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnified Party as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and
80
non-appealable judgment. The provisions of this Section 16.2 shall survive repayment or cancellation of the Credit Facility or any part thereof, including any termination of the other provisions of this Agreement.
The Borrower will have the right, through the appointment of counsel, to participate in and/or control any action, suit or proceeding for which it is liable as an indemnitor under Section 16.1 or 16.2; provided that:
(a) | the Borrower will not have the right to participate in or control such action, suit or proceeding if it involves potential imposition of criminal liability upon the Indemnified Party or a conflict of interest between the Borrower and the Indemnified Party; and |
(b) | the Indemnified Party, at the Borrower's expense, will have the right to retain its own counsel in the event of inconsistent defences, conflicts of interest, the Borrower not assuming the defence of the action within a reasonable period of time or there being defences available to the Indemnified Party which are different from or in addition to those available to the Borrower, and such participation by the Indemnified Party in defence will not release the Borrower from any liability that it may have to such Indemnified Party. |
The Borrower will not, and it will not permit any Material Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction whereby all or substantially all of the undertaking, property and assets of the Borrower or of any Material Restricted Subsidiary would become the property of any other Person (a "successor entity") whether by way of reconstruction, reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, transfer, sale or otherwise (other than any such transaction solely among the Enerplus Parties) unless:
(a) | such transaction takes place in accordance with the applicable Laws; |
(i) | the successor entity shall have assumed all the covenants and obligations of the Borrower or such Material Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, under the Documents to which it is a party; |
(iii) | the rights and benefits afforded or intended to be afforded the Agent and the Lenders under the Documents to which the Borrower or such Material Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is a party are not adversely affected in any material respect; and |
(iv) | legal opinions satisfactory to the Agent confirming the matters set forth in Sections 17.1(b)(i) and (b)(ii) above are provided by Borrower's Counsel; |
81
(c) | no Default or Event of Default is subsisting or would occur after giving effect to such transaction; and |
Each of the following events will constitute an Event of Default:
(a) | Failure to Pay. If the Borrower defaults in the due and punctual payment of any principal amounts owing under the Documents as and when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or otherwise; or if the Borrower defaults in the payment of any interest, fees or other amounts owing under the Documents as and when the same become due and payable and such default continues for a period of 3 Banking Days. |
(b) | Incorrect Representations. Except for any inaccuracy in any Sustainability Certificate or other Document delivered pursuant to Section 3.10 or Section 14.1(i), if any representation or warranty made by any Enerplus Party in any Document proves to have been incorrect when so made or deemed to have been repeated as herein provided and the underlying facts, if capable of being remedied such that the representation or warranty if made at such time would be correct, are not so remedied within 30 days after notice of such incorrectness is given to the Borrower by the Agent (but only if and for so long as the remedying thereof was and continues to be diligently and in good faith pursued and no Material Adverse Effect has occurred or is imminent as a result of such facts). |
(c) | Breach of Specific Covenants. If there is a breach in the performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements in Section 14.1(c), 14.2 or 14.3(h). |
(d) | Breach of Covenants. Except for (i) non-compliance with Section 3.10 or with the reporting covenant contained in Section 14.1(i) or (ii) an Event of Default set out elsewhere in this Section 18.1, if the Borrower or another Enerplus Party defaults in the performance or observance of any covenant, obligation or condition to be observed or performed by it pursuant to any of the Documents or any other agreement now or hereafter made by the Borrower or another Enerplus Party with the Agent and the Lenders and such default continues for a period of 30 days after notice thereof being given to the Borrower by the Agent. |
82
(g) | Other Indebtedness. If any default shall have occurred and is continuing in respect of any Indebtedness of one or more Enerplus Parties (other than Non-Recourse Debt or Indebtedness arising under the Credit Facility) which results in the acceleration of the payment of such Indebtedness or which permits the holder thereof to accelerate the payment of such Indebtedness and if there is a grace period applicable thereto arising under contract or otherwise, such default continues beyond the expiry of such grace period or if any lender shall demand repayment of any Indebtedness owed to it by any Enerplus Party which is repayable on demand, and the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness is at least the Threshold Amount. |
(h) | Final Judgments. If a final judgment or judgments or any order is entered against one or more Enerplus Parties (other than in respect of Non-Recourse Debt permitted hereunder) in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the Threshold Amount, which remains unsatisfied or undischarged for a period of 30 days during which such judgment shall not be an appeal or execution thereof will not be effectively stayed. |
(j) | Seizure of Property. If the property of any one or more of the Enerplus Parties (other than any such property which secures Non-Recourse Debt permitted hereunder) having a fair market value in excess of the Threshold Amount, in the aggregate, shall be seized (including by way of execution, attachment, garnishment or distraint) or any Security Interest thereon shall be enforced, or such property shall become subject to any charging order or equitable execution of a court, or any writ of enforcement, writ of execution or distress warrant with respect to obligations in excess of the Threshold Amount shall exist in respect of any one or more of the Enerplus Parties or such property, or any sheriff, civil enforcement agent or other Person shall become lawfully entitled to seize or distrain upon any such property under the Civil Enforcement Act (Alberta), the Workers' Compensation Act (Alberta), the Personal Property Security Act (Alberta) or any other applicable Laws whereunder similar remedies are provided, and in any case such seizure, execution, attachment, garnishment, distraint, charging order or equitable execution, or other seizure or right, shall continue in effect and not released or discharged for more than 30 days. |
(k) | Change of Control. If a Change of Control occurs which is not otherwise consented to by the Majority Lenders. |
(l) | Enforceability of Documents. If any material provision of any Document shall at any time cease to be in full force and effect, be declared to be void or voidable or shall be repudiated, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall at any time be contested by any Enerplus Party. |
(m) | Qualified Auditor Report. If the audited financial statements of the Borrower that are required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 14.1(h) contain a qualification that is not acceptable to the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably, and within a period of 30 days after the |
83
delivery of such financial statements by the Borrower hereunder either (i) such qualification is not rectified or otherwise dealt with to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders; or (ii) the Borrower has not delivered a plan to the Agent as to how the Borrower plans to rectify or otherwise deal with such qualification (such plan to include the time frame within which the Borrower proposes to rectify or otherwise deal with such qualification) and such plan is not satisfactory to the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably, and following delivery and acceptance of such plan, the Borrower fails to diligently pursue the same and rectify or otherwise deal with the qualification in accordance with the plan and within the proposed time frame. |
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Agent may forthwith (on the direction of the Majority Lenders, or in the case of an Event of Default under Section 18.1(e) or 18.1(f) automatically) terminate any further obligation to make Advances and may declare all Indebtedness owing under the Credit Facility together with unpaid accrued interest thereon and any other amounts owing under the Documents, contingent or otherwise, to be immediately due and payable, whereupon the Borrower will be obligated without any further grace period to forthwith pay such amounts and the Agent and the Lenders, may exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges afforded by applicable Law (including any rights of set-off) or under any and all other instruments, documents and agreements made to assure payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under the Documents.
(a) | Notwithstanding anything set out in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the failure to deliver a Sustainability Certificate pursuant to Section 14.1(i), the failure of the Borrower to comply with Section 3.10 or to meet or satisfy any SPT Metric set out in the "Applicable Sustainability Adjustment" definition nor any inaccuracy in any Sustainability Certificate or other Document delivered pursuant to Section 3.10 or 14.1(i) shall be, or deemed to be, a Default or an Event of Default. |
(b) | Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Applicable Margin shall remain unchanged; provided that, for certainty, the Applicable Margin may be increased by the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default. |
Upon the occurrence and any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, adjustments shall be made among the Lenders as set forth in this Section 18.4. The Lenders shall make such adjusting payments amongst themselves in any manner as may be required to ensure their respective participations in outstanding Advances reflect their respective Rateable Portion including the following:
84
(b) | If any Bankers' Acceptances are outstanding as a Swing Line Loan, each Lender agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Swing Line Lender, based on its Rateable Portion, from any liability the Swing Line Lender may incur or suffer with respect to the such outstanding Bankers' Acceptance. On the maturity date thereof, the Swing Line Lender may in its sole and absolute discretion give written notice to the Agent that, as of the date such notice is given, such Bankers' Acceptance will be converted into a Syndicated Advance in the form of a Canadian Prime Rate Loan. |
(c) | If any Swing Line Letters of Credit are outstanding, the Swing Line Lender may at any time in its sole and absolute discretion give written notice to the Agent that, as of the date such notice is given, the Swing Line Letters of Credit shall constitute Fronted Letters of Credit for all purposes of this Agreement, with the Swing Line Lender being the Fronting Lender with respect to the Fronted Letters of Credit which were previously Swing Line Letters of Credit. |
(e) | The obligations of each Lender under this Section 18.4 are unconditional, shall not be subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever and shall be performed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement under all circumstances including: |
(i) | any lack of validity or enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under Section 3.9; |
(ii) | the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default or the exercise of any rights by the Agent under Section 18.2; and |
(iii) | the absence of any demand for payment being made, any proof of claim being filed, any proceeding being commenced or any judgment being obtained by a Lender or the LC Issuer against the Borrower. |
(i) | such other Lender or the LC Issuer shall be entitled to receive any payment which the Non-Paying Lender would otherwise have been entitled to receive in respect of the Credit Facility or otherwise in respect of any Document; and |
(ii) | the overdue amount shall bear interest payable by the Non-Paying Lender to such other Lender or the LC Issuer at the rate payable by the Borrower in respect of the obligations which gave rise to such overdue amount. |
85
(g) | If for any reason an Advance may not be made pursuant to this Section 18.4 to reimburse the LC Issuer as contemplated thereby, then promptly upon receipt of notification of such fact from the Agent, each relevant Lender shall deliver to the Agent for the account of the LC Issuer in immediately available funds the purchase price for such Lender's participation interest in the relevant unreimbursed LC Payments (including interest then accrued thereon and unpaid by the Borrower). Without duplication, each Lender shall, upon demand by the LC Issuer made to the Agent, deliver to the Agent for the account of the LC Issuer interest on such Lender's Rateable Portion from the date of payment by the LC Issuer of such unreimbursed LC Payments until the date of delivery of such funds to the LC Issuer by such Lender at a rate per annum equal to the one month CDOR Rate for such period. Such payment shall only, however, be made by the Lenders in the event and to the extent the LC Issuer has not been reimbursed in full by the Borrower for interest on the amount of such unreimbursed LC Payments. |
(h) | Each LC Issuer shall, forthwith upon its receipt of any reimbursement (in whole or in part) by the Borrower for any unreimbursed LC Payments in relation to which other Lenders have purchased a participation interest pursuant to this Section 18.4, or of any other amount from the Borrower or any other Person in respect of such payment (other than pursuant to Section 3.9), transfer to such other Lender such other Lender's Rateable Portion of such reimbursement or other amount. In the event that any receipt by the LC Issuer of any reimbursement or other amount is found to have been a transfer in fraud of creditors or a preferential payment under any applicable insolvency legislation or is otherwise required to be returned, such Lender shall promptly return to the LC Issuer any portion thereof previously transferred to it by the LC Issuer, without interest to the extent that interest is not payable by the LC Issuer in connection therewith. |
An Event of Default may only be waived by the Majority Lenders, other than an Event of Default set forth in Sections 18.1(e), 18.1(f) or 18.1(i) (in the case of the Borrower only), which may only be waived by all of the Lenders.
The Borrower agrees that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, in addition to and without limitation of any right of set-off, bankers' lien, counterclaim or other right or remedy that the Agent and the Lenders may otherwise have, the Agent and each Lender will be entitled, at its option, to offset any and all balances and deposits held by it for the account of the Borrower at any of its offices or branches, in any currency, against any and all amounts owed by the Borrower to the Agent or such Lender hereunder (regardless of whether any such balances are then due or payable to the Borrower), including all claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected with this Agreement, including contingent obligations of the Lenders in respect of unmatured Bankers' Acceptances, in which case the Agent or such Lender will promptly notify the Borrower thereof after the occurrence thereof; provided that the Agent's or such Lender's failure to give any such notice will not affect the validity thereof. Nothing contained in the Documents will require the Agent or a Lender to exercise any right, or will affect the right of the Agent or a Lender to exercise and retain the benefits of exercising any right, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of the Borrower existing otherwise than pursuant to the Documents.
Except as otherwise agreed to by all Lenders in their sole discretion and as otherwise expressly provided hereunder, all payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower under the Documents, after acceleration pursuant to Section 18.2, will be applied by the Agent in the following order:
(a) | in payment of any amounts due and payable by way of recoverable expenses; |
86
(b) | in payment of any amounts by way of any fees (other than standby fees, stamping fees, Issuance Fees and Fronting Fees); |
(c) | in payment of any amounts due and payable as and by way of interest or standby fees, stamping fees, Issuance Fees and Fronting Fees, including any interest on overdue amounts; and |
(d) | in payment of the Aggregate Principal Amount under the Credit Facility and all other amounts under the Documents and the Cash Management Obligations and the Hedge Obligations to the extent crystallized at such time on a pro rata basis. |
All information received by the Agent and the Lenders from or in respect of any Enerplus Party the confidential nature of which is made known or ought to have been known to the Party receiving such information, including any information relating to a Hostile Acquisition, other than information that is required to be disclosed by applicable Law (including, for certainty, information required to be disclosed in connection with any legal proceedings, including proceedings relating to the Documents) or to any Administrative Body of competent jurisdiction, including any central bank or other banking regulatory authority and any official bank examiners or regulators, will be held by the Parties in the strictest confidence and will not be disclosed to any Person, except as provided in Sections 19.2 and 19.3.
Section 19.1 does not apply to confidential information:
(a) | of a Party where that Party consents to its disclosure; |
(b) | which becomes part of the public domain without breach of Section 19.1; |
(c) | received from a third party without restriction on further disclosure and without breach of Section 19.1; or |
(d) | developed independently without breach of Section 19.1. |
Confidential information received by the Agent or a Lender may be disclosed:
(a) | to the Agent or any other Lender, any Affiliate thereof (including a Hedge Provider or a Cash Management Lender), any Participant, any financial institution which desires to become a Lender hereunder or any actual or prospective counterparty to any securitization, swap or derivative transaction relating to the Enerplus Parties (provided that, in the case of any Participant, prospective lender or actual or prospective counterparty, such Person agrees in writing in favour of the Borrower to be under a like duty of confidentiality to that contained in this Article 19); and |
(b) | to their respective employees, auditors, accountants, legal counsel, geologists, engineers and other consultants and financial advisors retained by the Agent, such Lender, such Affiliate or such other Persons on a need to know basis, provided that the Agent or Lender, as applicable, remains liable for a breach by any such Person of its duty of confidentiality hereunder with respect to any such information. |
87
The obligations of the Parties under this Article 19 will survive the termination of this Agreement.
Except as expressly permitted under this Article 20 and subject to Article 17, this Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder will not be assignable, in whole or in part, by the Borrower without the prior consent of all of the Lenders.
Each Lender will have the right to assign, in minimum portions of U.S. $5,000,000, and increments of U.S. $1,000,000 in excess thereof, such Lender's Individual Commitment Amount to one or more financial institutions with the consent of the Agent, the Swing Line Lender and each Fronting Lender (other than for assignments to any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender) and, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower (other than for assignments to any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender or any Approved Fund), each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and further provided that at and after the time of the assignment, the Borrower will not be under any obligation to pay, by way of withholding tax or otherwise, any greater amount (other than the Discount Rate for Bankers' Acceptances) than it would have been obliged to pay if the Lender had not made an assignment and provided further, that each remaining Lender will at all times maintain an Individual Commitment Amount in an aggregate principal amount at least equal to U.S. $5,000,000, except to the extent the assignment is of a Lender's entire Individual Commitment Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Lender may sell or assign its Individual Commitment Amount to an Affiliate thereof without the consent of the Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the Fronting Lenders or the Borrower if (a) such Lender remains liable for its obligations under the Documents notwithstanding such assignment, and (b) the Borrower will not be under any obligation to pay, by way of withholding tax or otherwise, any greater amount than it would have been obliged to pay if the Lender had not made such assignment. An assignment fee of U.S. $3,500 for each such assignment (other than to an Affiliate) will be payable to the Agent by the assignor Lender, other than in respect of an assignment by the Agent. In the event of such assignment, the Borrower will execute and deliver all such agreements, documents and instruments as the Agent or Lender may reasonably request to effect and recognize such syndication, participation, assignment.
To the extent that any Lender assigns any portion of its Individual Commitment Amount pursuant to Section 20.2 and such new Lender or new Lenders, as the case may be, has executed and delivered to the Borrower and the Agent an Assignment, such Lender will be relieved and forever discharged of any and all of its covenants and obligations under the Documents in respect of that portion of its Individual Commitment Amount so sold or assigned from and after the effective date of the Assignment and the Borrower's recourse under the Documents in respect of such portion so sold or assigned from and after the effective date of the Assignment will be to such new Lender or new Lenders, as the case may be, only and their successors and permitted assigns.
Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more financial institutions or other Persons (each of such financial institutions and other Persons being herein called a "Participant") participating interests in any of the Advances, commitments, or other interests of such Lender hereunder, provided, however, that:
88
(a) | no participation contemplated in this Section 20.4 will relieve such Lender from its commitments or its other obligations hereunder or under any other Document; |
(b) | such Lender will remain solely responsible for the performance of its commitments and such other obligations as if such participation had not taken place; |
(c) | the Agent and the Borrower will continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Documents; |
(d) | no Participant will have any right (through a right of consent or approval or otherwise) to require such Lender to take or refrain from taking any action hereunder or under any other Document, except for any amendments, modifications or waivers which relate to any of the matters set forth in paragraph (i), (iii) or (vii) of Section 21.16(a); and |
(e) | the Borrower will not be required to pay any amount hereunder that is greater than the amount which it would have been required to pay had no participating interest been sold. |
(a) | Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to be its agent in its name and on its behalf and to exercise such rights or powers granted to the Agent or the Lenders under the Documents to the extent specifically provided therein and on the terms thereof, together with such powers and authority as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by the Documents, the Agent will not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but will be required to act or to refrain from acting (and will be fully indemnified and protected by the Lenders to the greatest extent permitted by applicable Law in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and such instructions will be binding upon all Lenders, provided however that the Agent will not be required to take any action which, in the opinion of the Agent, might expose the Agent to liability in such capacity, which could result in the Agent incurring any costs and expenses, or which is contrary to the spirit and intent of this Agreement. |
(b) | Lenders' Determination. Where the provisions of this Agreement provide that any waiver of or any amendment to any provision of the Documents may be made or any action, consent or other determination in connection with the Documents may be taken or given, with the consent or agreement of the Majority Lenders, then any such waiver, amendment, action, consent or determination so made, so taken or so given with the consent or agreement of the Majority Lenders will be binding on all of the Lenders and all of the Lenders will cooperate in all ways necessary or desirable to implement and effect such waiver, amendment, action, consent or determination. |
(c) | Deemed Non-Consent. If the Agent delivers a notice to a Lender requesting advice from such Lender as to whether it consents or objects to any matter in connection with the Documents, then, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, if such Lender does not deliver to the Agent its consent or objection to such matter within the time period referenced in such notice, or if no such period is referenced therein, within 10 Banking Days of the delivery of such notice by the Agent to such Lender, such Lender will be deemed not to have consented thereto upon the expiry of such period. |
89
shall determine all adjustments to the amounts required to be advanced by the Lenders to reflect as nearly as practicable the respective Rateable Portions of the Lenders under the Credit Facility. |
(b) | Instructions from Borrower. Subject to Article 10, the Lenders, through the Agent, will make Advances available to the Borrower as required hereunder by debiting the account of the Agent to which each Lender's Rateable Portion of such Advances have been credited in accordance with Section 6.6 (or causing such account to be debited) and, in the absence of other arrangements agreed to by the Agent and the Borrower in writing, by transferring (or causing to be transferred) like funds in accordance with the instructions of the Borrower as set forth in the Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Rollover or Notice of Conversion, as the case may be, in respect of each Advance under the Credit Facility, provided that the obligation of the Agent hereunder will be limited to taking such steps as are in keeping with its normal banking practice commercially reasonable in the circumstances to implement such instructions, and the Agent will not be liable for any damages, claims or costs which may be suffered by the Borrower or any of the Lenders and occasioned by the failure of such funds to reach their designated destination, unless such failure is due to the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Agent. |
(c) | Assumption Respecting Availability. Unless the Agent has been notified by a Lender within 2 Banking Days prior to an anticipated Advance that such Lender will not make available to the Agent its Rateable Portion of such Advance, the Agent may assume, without any enquiry required on its part, that such Lender has made or will make such portion of the Advance available to the Agent on the date such Advance is to take place, in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent such Lender will not have so made its Rateable Portion of an Advance available to the Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent, forthwith on demand, such Lender's Rateable Portion of the Advance and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection therewith together with interest thereon (at the rate payable thereunder by the Borrower in respect of such Advance) for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, provided however, that if such Lender fails to so pay, the Borrower covenants and agrees that without prejudice to any rights the Borrower may have against such Lender, it will repay the amount of such Lender's Rateable Portion of the Advance (without duplication) to the Agent for the account of the Agent after receipt of the certificate referred to below and forthwith after demand therefor by the Agent. The amount payable to the Agent pursuant hereto will be as set forth in a certificate delivered by the Agent to such non-paying Lender and the Borrower (which certificate will contain reasonable details of how the amount payable is calculated) and will be conclusive and binding, for all purposes, in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender makes the payment to the Agent as required herein, the amount so paid will constitute such Lender's Rateable Portion of the Advance for purposes of this Agreement. The failure of any Lender to make its Rateable Portion of the Advance will not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Rateable Portion of the Advance on the date that such Advance is to take place, but no Lender will be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to provide its Rateable Portion of any Advance under the Credit Facility. |
Forthwith after receipt of any payment by the Borrower hereunder, the Agent, if and to the extent a Lender is entitled thereto, will remit to such Lender its Rateable Portion of such payment, provided that, if the Agent, on the assumption that it will receive on any particular date a payment of principal, interest or fees hereunder, remits to a Lender its Rateable Portion of such payment and the Borrower fails to make such payment, each such Lender agrees to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such Lender's Rateable Portion of any such payment, together with all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection therewith and interest thereon at the rate and calculated in the manner customarily applicable to interbank payments for each day from the date such amount is remitted to such Lender. The exact amount of the repayment required to be made by a Lender pursuant hereto will be set forth in a certificate delivered by the Agent to such Lender, which certificate will be conclusive and binding for all purposes in the absence of manifest error.
90
Each Lender agrees that:
(a) | If it exercises any right of counter-claim, set off, bankers' lien or similar right with respect to any property of the Borrower or if under applicable Law it receives a secured claim, the security for which is a debt owed by it to the Borrower, it will apportion the amount thereof proportionately between: |
(i) | amounts outstanding at such time owed by the Borrower to such Lender under this Agreement, which amounts will be applied in accordance with this Section 21.4; and |
(ii) | amounts otherwise owed to it by the Borrower, provided that any cash collateral account held by such Lender as collateral for a letter of credit or bankers' acceptance (including a Bankers' Acceptance) issued or accepted by such Lender on behalf of the Borrower may be applied by such Lender to such amounts owed by the Borrower to such Lender pursuant to such letter of credit or in respect of any such bankers' acceptance without apportionment. |
(b) | If it receives, through the exercise of a right or the receipt of a secured claim described in paragraph (a) above or otherwise, payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal, interest and fees due to it hereunder which is greater than the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the aggregate amount of principal, interest and fees due in respect of the Credit Facility (having regard to the respective proportionate amounts advanced as Advances by each of the Lenders and the amount apportioned to the amounts under this agreement in accordance with Section 21.4(a)(i)), the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment will purchase a participation (which will be deemed to have been done simultaneously with receipt of such payment) in that portion of the Credit Facility of the other Lenders so that their respective receipts will be pro rata to their respective Rateable Portions, provided however that, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received by such purchasing Lender will be recovered, such purchase will be rescinded and the purchase price for such participation will be returned to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. Such Lender will exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section 21.4 to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claims. |
(c) | If it does any act or thing permitted by paragraphs (a) or (b) above, it will promptly provide full particulars thereof to the Agent. |
(d) | Except as permitted under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, no Lender will be entitled to exercise any right of counter-claim, set off, bankers' lien or similar right without the prior consent of the other Lenders. |
The Agent and any of its directors, officers, agents or employees (and, for purposes hereof, the Agent will be deemed to be contracting as agent for and on behalf of such Persons) will not be liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with the Documents, except for its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:
(a) | may assume that there has been no assignment or transfer by the Lenders of their rights under the Documents, unless and until the Agent receives a duly executed Assignment from such Lender; |
(b) | may consult with counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and will not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with or reliance upon the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; |
91
(c) | will incur no liability under or in respect of the Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the apparently proper Person or by acting upon any representation or warranty of any Enerplus Party made or deemed to be made hereunder; |
(d) | may assume that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unless it has actual knowledge to the contrary; and |
(e) | may rely, as to any matter of fact which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of any Person, upon a certificate signed by or on behalf of such Person. |
Further, the Agent (i) does not make any warranty or representation to any Lender nor will it be responsible to any Lender for the accuracy or completeness of the data made available to any of the Lenders in connection with the Credit Facility, or for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in connection with the Credit Facility, (ii) will not have any duty to ascertain or to enquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of the Documents on the part of the Borrower or to inspect the property (including books and records) of the Borrower, and (iii) will not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Agent agrees to provide to the Lenders, with copies where appropriate, all information, notices and reports required to be given to the Agent by the Borrower hereunder, promptly upon receipt of same, excepting therefrom information and notices relating solely to the role of the Agent hereunder.
With respect to its Rateable Portion of the Commitment Amount and the Advances made by it as a Lender under the Credit Facility, as applicable, the Agent will have the same rights and powers under the Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent. The Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with the Enerplus Parties, their shareholders or unitholders or any Person owned or controlled by any of them and any Person which may do business with any of them, all as if the Agent was not serving as Agent, and without any duty or obligation to account therefor to the Lenders.
It is understood and agreed by each Lender that it has itself been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of and investigations into the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status and nature of the Borrower. Accordingly, each Lender confirms with the Agent that it has not relied, and will not hereafter rely, on the Agent (a) to check or enquire on its behalf into the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Enerplus Parties or any other Person under or in connection with the Credit Facility or the Enerplus Parties (whether or not such information has been or is hereafter distributed to such Lender by the Agent) or (b) to assess or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of the Enerplus Parties. Each Lender acknowledges that copies of the Documents have been made available to it for review and each Lender acknowledges that it is satisfied with the form and substance of the Documents. A Lender will not make any independent arrangement with the Enerplus Parties for the satisfaction of any Indebtedness owing to it under the Documents without the consent of the other Lenders.
92
The Lenders hereby agree to indemnify the Agent and its directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) in accordance with their respective Rateable Portions, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent or its directors, officers, agents and employees in any way relating to or arising out of the Documents or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under or in respect of the Documents in its capacity as Agent, provided that no Lender will be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its Rateable Portion of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees, on a solicitor and his own client full indemnity basis) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preservation of any right of the Agent or the Lenders under, or the enforcement of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, the Documents, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. This indemnity will survive the termination of the other provisions of this Agreement as a separate and continuing covenant of the Lenders.
The Agent may, as hereinafter provided, resign at any time by giving 30 days' prior notice (the "Resignation Notice") thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. The Majority Lenders, with the consent of the Borrower, provided no Event of Default is subsisting, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, will forthwith upon receipt of the Resignation Notice appoint a successor agent (the "Successor Agent") to assume the duties hereunder of the resigning Agent. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as agent hereunder by a Successor Agent, such Successor Agent will thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties as agent under the Documents of the resigning Agent. Upon such acceptance, the resigning Agent will be discharged from its further duties and obligations as agent under the Documents, but any such resignation will not affect such resigning Agent's obligations hereunder as a Lender, including for its Rateable Portion of the Commitment Amount. After the resignation of the Agent as agent hereunder, the provisions of this Article 21 will continue to enure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the agent of the Lenders hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Majority Lenders fail to appoint a Successor Agent within 30 days of receipt of the Resignation Notice, the resigning Agent may appoint a Successor Agent from among the Lenders, with the consent of the Borrower, provided no Event of Default is subsisting, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
Except as otherwise provided herein, each Lender hereby acknowledges that, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, rights and remedies provided under the Documents to the Lenders are for the benefit of the Lenders collectively and not severally and further acknowledges that its rights and remedies thereunder are to be exercised not severally but collectively through the Agent upon the decision of the Lenders (with the required majority or unanimity as herein provided), regardless of whether acceleration of Indebtedness hereunder was made, and accordingly, notwithstanding any of the provisions contained herein, each of the Lenders hereby covenants and agrees that it will not be entitled to take any action with respect to the Credit Facility, including any acceleration of Indebtedness thereunder, but that any such action will be taken only by the Agent with the prior direction of the Lenders (with the required majority or unanimity as herein provided). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the absence of written instructions from the Lenders, and where in the sole opinion of the Agent the exigencies of the situation warrant such action, the Agent may without notice to or consent of the Lenders take such action on behalf of the Lenders as it deems appropriate or desirable in the circumstances. Each of the Lenders hereby covenants and agrees that it has not heretofore and will not seek, take, accept or receive any security for any of the Indebtedness of the Enerplus Parties under the Documents and will not enter into any agreement with any of the Parties
93
relating in any manner whatsoever to the Credit Facility, unless all of the Lenders will at the same time obtain the benefit of any such security or agreement, as the case may be.
The Borrower will be entitled to rely upon any certificate, notice or other document or other advice, statement or instruction provided to it by the Agent pursuant to the Documents, and the Borrower will be entitled to deal with the Agent with respect to matters under the Documents which the Agent is authorized hereunder to deal with, without any obligation whatsoever to satisfy itself as to the authority of the Agent to act on behalf of the Lenders and without any liability whatsoever to the Lenders for relying upon any certificate, notice or other document or other advice, statement or instruction provided to them by the Agent, notwithstanding any lack of authority of the Agent to provide the same.
If the Borrower fails to perform any covenant on its part herein contained, the Agent may give notice to the Borrower of such failure and if, within 10 days of such notice (or after the expiry of such other time or cure period as may be required in this Agreement), such covenant remains unperformed, the Agent on behalf of the Lenders may, in its sole discretion but need not, perform any such covenant capable of being performed by it and, if the covenant requires the payment or expenditure of money, the Agent may make such payment or expenditure and all sums so expended will be forthwith payable by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders and will bear interest at the Canadian Prime Rate plus 2%.
The Agent, in its capacity as agent of the Lenders under the Credit Facility, will have no responsibility or liability to the Borrower or the Lenders on account of the failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder, or to any Lender on account of the failure of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Documents.
(a) | Obligations Separate. The obligations of each Lender and the Agent under this Agreement are separate. The failure of any Lender to carry out its obligations hereunder will not relieve the other Lenders, the Agent or the Borrower of any of their respective obligations hereunder. |
(b) | No Liability for Failure by other Lenders. Neither the Agent nor any Lender will be liable or otherwise responsible for the obligations of any other Lender hereunder. |
(i) | the reduction or forgiveness of any Indebtedness payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under the Credit Facility or under any of the Documents pertaining to the Credit Facility; |
(ii) | any increase of the Commitment Amount (except as permitted by Section 3.2); |
(iii) | the postponement of any maturity date of any Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders under the Credit Facility or under any of the Documents pertaining to the Credit Facility; |
94
(iv) | subject to Article 17, the requirement for delivery of, or any material waiver or material amendment under, or release of the Guarantee Agreement other than as a result of a Restricted Subsidiary being designated as a Non-Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 15.1; |
(v) | any change in the nature of Advances under the Credit Facility; |
(vi) | any change to the provisions referred to in Sections 3.8 and 14.3(h); |
(vii) | any decrease in the Applicable Margins set forth in Section 4.2; |
(viii) | any amendment to Section 2.1, 18.5 or 20.1 or this Section 21.16(a); |
(ix) | any change to the definition of "Majority Lenders"; and |
(x) | amounts under the column titled "Adjustments in Applicable Margin" in the definition of "Applicable Sustainability Adjustment" (other than amendments or waivers which will increase the Applicable Margin); |
provided that any change to Section 3.9 or 18.4 will also require the consent of the Swing Line Lender and the Agent, any change to Article 11 will require the consent of each LC Issuer and the Agent and any change to this Article 21 will require the consent of the Agent. In addition, any change to the Individual Commitment Amount of a Lender can only be made with the consent of such Lender.
For greater certainty, the Borrower and the Sustainability Structuring Agent (with the consent of the Majority Lenders) may agree on any alternative SPT Metric in accordance with Section 3.10 and on any other amendment to the definition of "Applicable Sustainability Adjustment" (but not to the amounts under the column titled "Adjustments in Applicable Margin"), "SPT Metrics" or any definitions or provisions directly or indirectly related thereto unless otherwise noted herein.
(b) | Majority Consent. Subject to Section 21.16(a), any waiver of or any amendment to any provision of the Documents as they pertain to the Credit Facility and any action, consent or other determination in connection with the Documents as they pertain to the Credit Facility will bind all of the Lenders under the Credit Facility if such waiver, amendment, action, consent or other determination is agreed to in writing by the Majority Lenders. |
If a Lender (an "Affected Lender"):
(b) | provides a notice that it is not able to fund an Advance in respect of a Hostile Acquisition pursuant to Section 7.2; |
(c) | makes a claim for Additional Compensation pursuant to Section 12.1; or |
(d) | provides a notice that it is unable to maintain or continue to offer any Advance pursuant to Section 12.2; |
95
then the Borrower may:
(e) | replace the Affected Lender with another financial institution acceptable to the Agent, acting reasonably, who purchases at par the Principal Amount owing to the Affected Lender and such Lender's entire Individual Commitment Amount and assumes the Affected Lender's Individual Commitment Amount and all other obligations of the Affected Lender hereunder, provided that prior to or concurrently with such replacement: |
(i) | the Affected Lender shall have received payment in full of all principal, interest, fees and other amounts through such date of replacement and a release from any further obligations to make Advances under the Documents after the date of such replacement; |
(ii) | the assignment fee required to be paid by Section 20.2 shall have been paid to the Agent; |
(iii) | all of the requirements for such assignment contained in Section 20.2 shall have been satisfied, including, without limitation, the consent of the Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the Fronting Lenders and the receipt by the Agent of such agreements, documents and instruments as the Agent may reasonably require; and |
(iv) | in the case of Section 21.17(a) each assignee consents, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such Affected Lender was an Affected Lender and the Borrower also requires each other Lender that is an Affected Lender by reason of Section 21.17(a) to assign the Principal Amount owing to it and its Individual Commitment Amount; or |
(f) | elect to terminate the Affected Lender's Individual Commitment Amount, in which case the Commitment Amount shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of any Individual Commitment Amount so cancelled (provided that prior to or concurrently with such cancellation the Affected Lender shall have received payment in full of all principal, interest, fees and other amounts through such date of cancellation (including breakage and other costs in accordance with Section 9.2, the provision of Escrow Funds to the Agent on behalf of such Lender in respect of outstanding Bankers' Acceptances accepted by such Lender and cash collateralization in full of any contingent obligations in respect of any outstanding Letters of Credit for which such Lender is the LC Issuer) and a release from any further obligations to make Advances under the Documents after such termination). |
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) | the standby fees payable pursuant to Section 4.2 shall cease to accrue on the unused portion of the Individual Commitment Amount of such Defaulting Lender; |
(b) | for the purposes of any Advance requested hereunder while there is a Defaulting Lender, each Lender's Rateable Portion thereof shall be calculated based on such Lender's Individual Commitment Amount relative to the Commitment Amount reduced by the Individual Commitment Amount of the Defaulting Lender; |
(c) | a Defaulting Lender, and the Individual Commitment Amount of such Defaulting Lender, shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Majority Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 21.16), provided that any waiver or amendment requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that: (i) materially and adversely affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other |
96
affected Lenders; (ii) increases the Individual Commitment Amount of such Lender; or (iii) relates to the matters set forth in Section 21.16(a) (except for the matters referred to in subsections 21.16(a)(ii) and 21.16(a)(vi)) shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; |
(e) | the Agent may withhold any payments owing to such Defaulting Lender for set-off against such Defaulting Lender's existing or reasonably foreseeable future obligations hereunder; |
(f) | for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall retain and reserve their other rights and remedies respecting each Defaulting Lender; |
(ii) | if the reallocation described in Section 21.18(g)(i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Banking Day following notice by the Swing Line Lender or any Fronting Lender prepay all outstanding Swing Line Loans and Fronted Letters of Credit (in the case of Letters of Credit, by the provision of cash collateral in accordance with Section 11.1(e), the provisions of which Section shall apply thereto as if a demand has been made pursuant thereto by each LC Issuer in respect of each outstanding Letter of Credit); |
(h) | so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans and a Fronting Lender shall not be required to issue any Fronted Letters of Credit unless, in each case, it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Individual Commitment Amounts of non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with Section 21.18(g), and participating interests in any such newly made Swing Line Loan or newly issued Fronted Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 21.18(g)(i); |
(i) | the Borrower may replace the Defaulting Lender with another financial institution acceptable to the Agent and the Fronting Lenders, each acting reasonably, who purchases at par the Principal Amount owing to the Defaulting Lender and such Lender's entire Individual Commitment Amount and assumes the Defaulting Lender's Individual Commitment Amount and all other obligations of the Defaulting Lender hereunder, provided that prior to or concurrently with such replacement: |
(i) | subject to Sections 21.18(a), 21.18(d) and 21.18(e), the Defaulting Lender shall have received payment in full of all principal, interest, fees and other amounts through such date |
97
of replacement and a release from any further obligations to make Advances under the Documents after the date of such replacement; |
(ii) | the replacement financial institution shall remit the assignment fee required to be paid by Section 20.2 to the Agent and the amount payable by such replacement financial institution to the Defaulting Lender shall be reduced by the amount of such fee; and |
(iii) | all of the requirements for such assignment contained in Section 20.2 shall have been satisfied, including, without limitation, the consent of the Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the Fronting Lenders and the receipt by the Agent of such agreements, documents and instruments as the Agent may reasonably require; and |
(j) | the Borrower may elect to terminate the Defaulting Lender's Individual Commitment Amount, in which case the Commitment Amount shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of any Individual Commitment Amount so cancelled (provided that prior to or concurrently with such cancellation the Defaulting Lender shall have received payment in full of all principal, interest, fees and other amounts through such date of cancellation (including breakage and other costs in accordance with Section 9.2, the provision of Escrow Funds to the Agent on behalf of such Lender in respect of outstanding Bankers' Acceptances accepted by such Lender and cash collateralization in full of any contingent obligations in respect of any outstanding Letters of Credit for which such Lender is the LC Issuer) and a release from any further obligations to make Advances under the Documents after such termination). |
98
in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the 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 Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Lender or other such recipient, otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, paid, 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 express written confirmation from the 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 (1) Banking Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Agent pursuant to this Section 21.19(b). |
(c) | Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set-off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Agent to such Lender from any source, against any amount due to the Agent under the preceding Section 21.19(a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement. |
99
be contractually subrogated to all the rights and interests of the applicable Lender under the applicable 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 Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Enerplus Party, 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 Agent from (i) the Borrower or any other Enerplus Party or (ii) the proceeds of realization from the enforcement of one or more of the Documents against or in respect of one or more of the Enerplus Parties, in each case, for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment. |
(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 Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including waiver of any defense based on "discharge for value", "good consideration" for the Erroneous Payment or change of position by such Payment Recipient, any defense that the intent of the Agent was that such Payment Recipient retain the Erroneous Payment in all events, or any doctrine or defense similar to any of the foregoing. |
(g) | Each party's obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 21.19 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Agent, or any assignment or transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender or an Affiliate thereof the termination of the Individual Commitment Amount and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Document. |
(h) | For purposes of this Section 21.19, each Lender: |
(i) | agrees it is executing and delivering this Agreement with respect to this Section 21.19 both on its own behalf and as agent for and on behalf of its Affiliates referred to in this Section 21.19 and any Person receiving funds under or pursuant to any of the Documents on behalf of such Lender or any of such Affiliates; |
(ii) | represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that its Affiliates referred to in this Section 21.19 and any Person receiving funds under or pursuant to any of the Documents on behalf of such Lender or any of such Affiliates are bound by the provisions of this Section 21.19; and |
(iii) | agrees that any matter or thing done or omitted to be done by such Lender, its Affiliates, or any Person receiving funds under or pursuant to any of the Documents on behalf of such Lender or any of such Affiliates which are the subject of this Section 21.19 will be binding upon such Lender and each Lender does hereby indemnify and save the Agent and its Affiliates harmless from any and all losses, expenses, claims, demands or other liabilities of the Agent and its Affiliates resulting from the failure of such Lender, its Affiliates or such Persons to comply with their obligations under and in respect of this Section 21.19, in each case, in accordance with and subject to the limitations in Section 21.9. |
100
(i) | left at the relevant address set forth below or in Schedule A, as applicable; or |
(ii) | sent by facsimile or other means of recorded electronic communication; and |
(A) | if to the Agent or the Sustainability Structuring Agent, addressed to it at: |
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Global Agent Administration Services 000 Xxx Xxxxxx, XXX - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Email: XXXXXxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
Xxx.Xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
(B) | if to any of Enerplus Parties, addressed to any of them at: |
Enerplus Corporation
3000 Dome Tower
000 - 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention:Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile:(000) 000-0000
Email:xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
(C) | if to any Lender, addressed to such Lender at the address set forth opposite such Lender's name in Schedule A. |
(iii) | The Parties each covenant to accept service of judicial proceedings arising under the Documents at its respective address set forth herein. |
(iv) | Any notice or other communication given or made in accordance with this Section 22.1 will be deemed to have been received on the day of delivery if delivered as aforesaid or on the day of receipt of same by facsimile or other recorded means of electronic communication, as the case may be, provided such day is a Banking Day and that such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon local time and, if such day is not a Banking Day or if notice is received after 12:00 noon local time, on the first Banking Day thereafter. Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 22.1(b), shall be effective as provided therein. |
(v) | Any notice given under any of the Documents to the Agent will be deemed to also be given to and received by the Agent in its capacity as Lender. |
101
notices by electronic communication. The Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. |
Unless the Agent otherwise prescribes (i) notices and other communications sent to an email address shall be deemed received upon the sender's receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the "return receipt requested" function, as available, return email or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its email address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor, provided that in the case of (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent within normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Banking Day for the recipient.
(c) | Change of Address, Etc. Any Party may change its address, facsimile number or email address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice in the manner provided in this Section 22.1 to the other Parties. |
(d) | Platform: |
(i) | The Borrower agrees that the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the "Platform"). |
(ii) | The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available." The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or the Platform. In no event shall the Agent, its Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of the Agent and its Affiliates (collectively, the "Agent Parties") have any liability to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower's, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or the Agent's transmission of communications through the Platform. "Communications" means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower provides to the Agent pursuant to any Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to the Agent or any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section 22.1(d), including through the Platform. |
Any verbal instructions given by the Borrower in relation to this Agreement will be at the risk of the Borrower and neither the Agent nor the Lenders will have any liability for any error or omission in such verbal instructions or in the interpretation or execution thereof by the Agent or a Lender, as the case may be, provided the Agent or Lender, as the case may be, acted without gross negligence in the circumstances. The Agent will notify the Borrower of any conflict or inconsistency between any written confirmation of such verbal instructions received from the Borrower and the said verbal advice as soon as practicable after the conflict or inconsistency becomes apparent to the Agent.
102
Except as expressly provided for herein, the Parties agree that nothing contained in this Agreement nor the conduct of any Party will in any manner whatsoever constitute or be intended to constitute any Party as the agent or representative or fiduciary of any other Party nor constitute or be intended to constitute a partnership or joint venture among the Parties or any of them, but rather each Party will be separately responsible, liable and accountable for its own obligations under the Documents, or any conduct arising therefrom and for all claims, demands, actions and causes of action arising therefrom. The Parties agree that no Party will have the authority or represent that it has, or hold itself out as having, the authority to act for or assume any obligation or responsibility on behalf of any other Party, save and except as may be expressly provided for in this Agreement.
(b) | Excess. The Lenders through the Agent will pay to the Borrower the amount, if any, after netting out all amounts due by the Borrower under Section 22.4(a), which the Lenders may realize in excess of what is owed to them by virtue of the conversion of the Original Currency into the Second Currency. |
The Borrower will, from time to time forthwith at the Agent's request and at the Borrower's own cost and expense, do, make, execute and deliver, or cause to be done, made, executed and delivered, all such further documents, acts, matters and things which may be reasonably required by the Agent with respect to the Credit Facility, the Guarantee Agreements or any part thereof and to give effect to any provision of the Documents.
The Borrower will pay or reimburse the Agent and the Lenders, as applicable, for the out-of-pocket expenses, including environmental risk assessments, reasonable legal fees (on a solicitor and his own client fully indemnity basis) and disbursements, and enforcement costs, incurred by the Agent and the Lenders, as applicable, in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, syndication, maintenance of the Documents and the enforcement of their rights and remedies under the Documents. The Borrower will not, however, be liable for the wages or salaries of employees of the Agent or the Lenders employed to administer the Credit Facility.
103
To the extent legally permitted, the Borrower hereby irrevocably and absolutely waives the provisions of any applicable Law which may be inconsistent at any time with, or which may delay or limit in any way, the enforcement of the Documents in accordance with their terms.
The Parties hereto do hereby irrevocably:
(a) | submit and attorn to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Alberta for all matters arising out of or relating to the Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby; and |
(b) | waive any right they may have to, or to apply for, trial by jury in connection with any matter, action, proceeding, claim or counterclaim arising out of or relating to the Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby. |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, interest will be paid by the Parties as follows: |
(i) | on amounts for which any Party has actually incurred an out-of-pocket expense and for which another Party has an obligation under the Documents to reimburse such amounts to the Party incurring the expenses, interest will be payable on such amount at the Canadian Prime Rate or U.S. Base Rate, as applicable for the currency in which such amount is payable, in each case, plus the Applicable Margin plus 1% per annum from and including the day on which the amount was incurred to but excluding the day on which the amount is reimbursed if, commencing on the date which is 3 Banking Days following a demand for payment of the amount in accordance with the terms of the Documents, such expense has not been paid; and |
(ii) | on amounts payable by one Party to another Party under the Documents where such payment is in default but the non-payment of such amount has not required an actual out-of-pocket expense by the Party to whom such payment is due, at the Canadian Prime Rate or U.S. Base Rate, as applicable for the currency in which such amount is payable, in each case, plus the Applicable Margin plus 1% per annum from and including the day on which the payment was due to, but excluding the day on which the payment is made whether before or after judgment, but if such payment is a reimbursement by the Lenders to the Borrower for overpayment by it to the Lenders or is in respect of an inadvertent underpayment by the Agent, the Lenders or the Borrower to another Party (based on information provided by such other Party), such interest will only be calculated from the date which is 3 Banking Days following a demand for payment by the Party entitled to it. |
(b) | All interest referred to in this Section 22.9 will be simple interest calculated daily on the basis of a 365 or 366 day year, as applicable. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest to which such rates are equivalent are the rates so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in a period of one year commencing on the first day of the period for which such interest is payable and divided by 365 or 366, as applicable. |
Whenever any payment hereunder will be due on a day other than a Banking Day, or in the case of LIBOR Based Loans a LIBOR Banking Day, such payment will be made on the next succeeding
104
Banking Day, or LIBOR Banking Day, as applicable, and such extension of time will in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest thereunder.
(a) | The Borrower acknowledges that, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada), the U.S. Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and other applicable anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, government sanction and "know your client" Laws, whether within Canada or elsewhere (collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, "AML Legislation"), the Lenders and the Agent may be required to obtain, verify and record information regarding the Borrower, its directors, authorized signing officers, direct or indirect shareholders or unitholders or other Persons in control of the Borrower, and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Borrower shall promptly: (i) provide all such information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be reasonably requested by any Lender or the Agent, or any prospective assignee of a Lender or the Agent, in order to comply with any applicable AML Legislation, whether now or hereafter in existence; and (ii) notify the recipient of any such information of any changes thereto. |
(b) | If, upon the written request of any Lender, the Agent has ascertained the identity of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any authorized signatories of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary for the purposes of applicable AML Legislation on such Lender's behalf, then the Agent: |
(i) | shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for such Lender, and this Agreement shall constitute a "written agreement" in such regard between such Lender and the Agent within the meaning of applicable AML Legislation; and |
(ii) | shall provide to such Lender copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness. |
(c) | Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, each of the Lenders agrees that the Agent has no obligation to ascertain the identity of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any authorized signatories of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, on behalf of any Lender, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any such authorized signatory in doing so. |
This Agreement and the other Documents constitute the entire agreement between the Agent and the Lenders on one hand and the Enerplus Parties on the other hand, and cancels and supersedes any other agreements, undertakings, declarations, representations and warranties, written or verbal among all such Parties in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any 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 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 EEA Financial Institution; and |
105
(b) | the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable: |
(i) | a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability; |
(ii) | a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its Lender 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 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. |
To the extent that the Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedging Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, "QFC Credit Support" and each such QFC a "Supported QFC"), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the United States Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the "U.S. Special Resolution Regimes") in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable therein or the laws of any other jurisdiction):
(a) | In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a "Covered Party") becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support. |
(b) | As used in this Section 22.14, the following terms have the following meanings: |
"BHC Act Affiliate" of a party means an "affiliate" (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
"Covered Entity" means any of the following:
(i) | a "covered entity" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); |
106
(ii) | a "covered bank" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or |
(iii) | a "covered FSI" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). |
"Default Right" has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
"QFC" has the meaning assigned to the term "qualified financial contract" in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
(a) | Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement shall become effective when it has been executed by the Agent and each of the other parties hereto and when the Agent has received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or by sending a scanned copy by electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. |
(b) | Electronic Execution of Agreement and other Documents. The words "execution", "signed", "signature", and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement or any other Document and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, including .pdf and DocuSign, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Law. |
[The remainder of this page has intentionally been left blank]
THIS AGREEMENT has been executed effective as of the date first written above.
ENERPLUS CORPORATION, as Borrower | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Title: | Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
Title: | Vice-President, Finance |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent, Sustainability Structuring Agent and Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Title: | Managing Director |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Title: | Executive Director |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
BANK OF MONTREAL, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx |
Title: | Managing Director |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Cebryk |
Title: | Managing Director |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
Title: | Associate |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxx |
Title: | Director |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxx |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
CITIBANK, N.A., CANADIAN BRANCH, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxx |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
XXXXX FARGO BANK N.A., CANADIAN BRANCH, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxx Xxxxxxxxx |
Title: | Managing Director |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
FÉDÉRATION DES CAISSES XXXXXXXXXX DU QUÉBEC, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Title: | Director, Corporate Banking |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxx xxx Xxxxxx |
Title: | Managing Director, Corporate Banking |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
ATB FINANCIAL, as Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Title: | Director |
Per: | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx |
Title: | Associate Director |
[Signature page – Enerplus A&R Credit Agreement]
Schedule A to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
LIST OF LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS
LENDER | ADDRESS FOR NOTICES | INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENT |
---|---|---|
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx 000 – 2nd Street S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 2P2 Attention: Managing Director Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $140,000,000 |
Royal Bank of Canada | 3900, 000 – 0xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 5C5 Attention: Managing Director Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $120,000,000 |
Bank of Montreal | 000, 000 – 0xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 1G1 Attention: Managing Director Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $120,000,000 |
The Bank of Nova Scotia | 1700, 000 – 0xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 1N2 Attention: Managing Director Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $95,000,000 |
The Toronto-Dominion Bank | Suite 3600, 421 – 7th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 4K9 Attention: Vice President and Director Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $95,000,000 |
National Bank of Canada | 1800, 311 – 6th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H2 Attention: Director, Energy Group Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 Email: XXXxxxx@xxx.xx (if possible, we would prefer not to receive faxes) | $95,000,000 |
Citibank, N.A., Canadian Branch | 4000, 525 - 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 1G1 Attention: Assistant Vice President Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $70,000,000 |
A-2
LENDER | ADDRESS FOR NOTICES | INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENT |
---|---|---|
Xxxxx Fargo Bank N.A., Canadian Branch | 2711, 308 – 4th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 0H7 Attention: Portfolio Manager Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $70,000,0000 |
Fédération des caisses Xxxxxxxxxx du Québec | 0000, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X0X 0B1 Attention: Senior Manager/Vice-President Facsimile.: (000) 000-0000 | $50,000,000 |
ATB Financial | 600, 585 – 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 1G1 Attention: Manager, Energy and Commercial Banking Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $45,000,000 |
COMMITMENT AMOUNT: | | $900,000,000 |
FRONTING LENDERS AND INDIVIDUAL FRONTED LC COMMITMENTS
LENDER | ADDRESS FOR NOTICES | INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENT |
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx 000 – 2nd Street S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 2P2 Attention: Managing Director Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | $75,000,000 |
Schedule B to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING
TO: | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement ("CIBC") Global Agent Administration Services Email : DLGOEvelyn@cibc.com Uma.Rajendran@xxxx.xxx |
AND TO: [Swing Line Advances only:] | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Swing Line Lender Email: Xxxxx.Xxxxx@xxxx.xx Xxxxxx.Xxxxx@xxxx.xxx Xxxxxxx.XXXXXXXxxxXxx@xxxx.xxx and XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@XXXX.XX |
RE: | ENERPLUS CORPORATION – Amended and Restated Credit Agreement made as of April 29, 2021 among Enerplus Corporation, CIBC and the other Lenders and CIBC as Agent for the Lenders (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") |
| |
1. | The Drawdown Date is the ________ day of __________________, 20___. |
2. | The requested Advance is as follows: |
[DELETE AS APPLICABLE:]
SYNDICATED ADVANCE
Pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby irrevocably requests that the following Advances be made available as Syndicated Advances:
CANADIAN DOLLARS
TYPE OF ADVANCE | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT | TERM |
Canadian Prime Rate Loan | | N/A |
Bankers' Acceptance | | |
To be purchased by [(all, Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III)] [choose one or more as applicable] Lenders | | |
Borrower to market Bankers' Acceptances of Lenders whose Bankers' Acceptances are not purchased as above (circle one) | YES NO | |
Fronted Letter of Credit (Financial LC) | | |
B-2
Fronted Letter of Credit (Non-Financial LC) | | |
Fronting Lender: | | |
| | |
U.S. DOLLARS
TYPE OF ADVANCE | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT | TERM |
U.S. Base Rate Loan | | N/A |
LIBOR Based Loan | | |
Fronted Letter of Credit (Financial LC) | | |
Fronted Letter of Credit (Non-Financial LC) | | |
Fronting Lender: | | |
SWING LINE ADVANCE
Pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby irrevocably requests that the following Advances be made available as Swing Line Loan:
CANADIAN DOLLARS
TYPE OF ADVANCE | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT | TERM |
Canadian Prime Rate Loan | | N/A |
Bankers' Acceptance | | |
To be purchased by Swing Line Lender? (circle one) | YES NO | |
Borrower to market Bankers' Acceptances? (circle one) | YES NO | |
Swing Line Letter of Credit (Financial LC) | | |
Swing Line Letter of Credit (Non-Financial LC) | | |
| | |
U.S. DOLLARS
TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT | TERM |
U.S. Base Rate Loan | | N/A |
Swing Line Letter of Credit (Financial LC) | | |
B-3
Swing Line Letter of Credit (Non-Financial LC) | | |
Fronting Lender: | | |
3. | No Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing and no Default or Event of Default will occur as a result of the Advances requested herein. |
4. | Subject to Section 13.2 of the Credit Agreement, each of the representations and warranties set out in Article 13 of the Credit Agreement is true and correct as of the date hereof. |
5. | Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them by the Credit Agreement. |
DATED this ______ day of _____________, 20___, at Calgary, Alberta.
ENERPLUS CORPORATION | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Schedule C to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
FORM OF NOTICE OF ROLLOVER OR NOTICE OF CONVERSION
TO: | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement ("CIBC") Global Agent Administration Services Email : DLGOEvelyn@cibc.com Uma.Rajendran@xxxx.xxx |
AND TO: [Swing Line Advances only:] | CIBC, as Swing Line Lender Email: Xxxxx.Xxxxx@xxxx.xx Xxxxxx.Xxxxx@xxxx.xxx Xxxxxxx.XXXXXXXxxxXxx@xxxx.xxx and XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@XXXX.XX |
RE: | ENERPLUS CORPORATION – Amended and Restated Credit Agreement made as of April 29, 2021 among Enerplus Corporation, CIBC and the other Lenders and CIBC as Agent for the Lenders (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") |
1. | Pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby irrevocably notifies the Agent that it will be: |
(a) | rolling over part or all of the Advance made as a [Syndicated Advance/Swing Line Loan] [choose one] described as: |
Type of Advance:
*Principal Amount:
Date of Maturity:
into the same Advance made as a [Syndicated Advance/Swing Line Loan] [choose one]
Date of Maturity:
*if only part of maturing Advance is rolled over, please indicate.
or;
(b) | converting part or all of the Advance made as a [Syndicated Advance/Swing Line Loan] [choose one] described as: |
Type of Advance:
*Principal Amount:
Date of Maturity:
into an Advance made as a [Syndicated Advance/Swing Line Loan] [choose one] described as:
C-2
*if only part of maturing Advance is rolled over, please indicate.
Type of Advance:
*Principal Amount:
Date of Maturity:
effective the _______ day of __________________________, 20___.
2. | To the extent that this Notice rolls over or converts any Advances to Bankers' Acceptances, [[(all, Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III, no)] [choose one or more as applicable] Lenders will purchase them at the applicable Discount Rate [or] [the Borrower [will/will not] market the Bankers' Acceptances.]] |
3. | No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
4. | Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them by the Credit Agreement. |
DATED this _____ day of _________________, 20___ at Calgary, Alberta time.
ENERPLUS CORPORATION | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Schedule D to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
TO: | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as ("CIBC") |
TO: | The Lenders |
AND TO: | ENERPLUS CORPORATION |
RE: | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021 among Enerplus Corporation, as borrower (the "Borrower"), CIBC and those other financial institutions which are or hereafter become lenders thereunder (collectively, the "Lenders") and CIBC as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the "Agent") (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") |
DATE: | [●] (the "Effective Date") |
Unless otherwise indicated, terms defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meanings when used herein.
1. | [Name of assignee lender] (the "Assignee") acknowledges that its proper officers have received and reviewed a copy of the Credit Agreement and the other Documents and further acknowledges the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Documents. |
2. | The Assignee desires to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement. Effective on the Effective Date, [Name of assigning lender] (the "Assignor") has agreed to and does hereby sell, assign and transfer to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes, an interest in the Credit Facility, the Assignee assumes the obligations of the Assignor in respect of the Assignor's Individual Commitment Amount to the extent of U.S. $[●] of such commitment (the "Assigned Commitment"), and a share of the rights of the Assignor as a Lender under the Credit Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Commitment, including without limitation, a share (the "Pro Rata Share") of the rights of the Assignor with respect to the Aggregate Principal Amount owing to the Assignor under the Credit Facility equal to the proportion that the amount of the Assigned Commitment bears to U.S. $[●] (being the amount of the Individual Commitment Amount of the Assignor on the Effective Date prior to the assignment and transfer under this Assignment) (the Assigned Commitment and such Pro Rata Share are referred to herein as the "Assigned Interest"); and, accordingly, the Assignee has agreed to execute this Assignment and deliver an original of it to the Agent. |
3. | The Assignee, by its execution and delivery of this Assignment, agrees that from and after the date hereof it will be a Lender under the Credit Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Commitment and the Pro Rata Share and agrees to be bound by and to perform, where required, all of the terms, conditions and covenants of the Credit Agreement and the other Documents applicable to a Lender; but its liability to make Advances will be limited to its share of such Advances based upon its Individual Commitment Amount identified in paragraph 4 below, subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement. |
D-2
4. | The Assignee confirms that its Individual Commitment Amount under the Credit Agreement will be as follows: |
[State amount in U.S. Dollars.]
5. | The Assignee agrees to assume all liabilities and obligations of the Assignor as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and the other Documents to the extent of the Assigned Interest as provided for herein and the Assignor is hereby released and discharged from such obligations and liabilities to the same extent but only in respect of such obligations and liabilities arising from and after the Effective Date. |
6. | The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Documents, (iii) the financial condition of any of the Enerplus Parties or any other Person obligated in respect of any Document or (iv) the performance or observance by any of the Enerplus Parties or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Document. |
7. | The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, copies of the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender; and (b) agrees that (i) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, and (ii) it will, independently and without reliance on the Agent, the Assignor 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 the Documents, and (iii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender. |
8. | From and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignee whether such amounts have accrued prior to, on or after the Effective Date. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves. |
9. | Notices will be given to the Assignee in the manner provided for in the Credit Agreement at the following address: |
[●]
Attention:[●]
Facsimile:[●]
10. | This Assignment shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Assignment may be executed in any number of |
D-3
counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment by facsimile or by sending a scanned copy by electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment. This Assignment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws in force in the Province of Alberta from time to time. |
DATED this ______ day of _____________, 20___.
[Name of Assignee] | |
Per: | |
Name: | [] |
Title | [] |
* * *
The Assignor hereby acknowledges the above Assignment and agrees that its Individual Commitment Amount is reduced by an amount equal to the Individual Commitment Amount assigned to the assignee hereby.
DATED this ______ day of _____________, 20___.
[Name of Assignee] | |
Per: | |
Name: | [] |
Title | [] |
D-4
Consented to and acknowledged this ____ day of _____________, 20___ by:
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Fronting Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Swing Line Lender | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[If No Event of Default] ENERPLUS CORPORATION | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Schedule E to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AS OF THE AMENDMENT DATE
Legal Name | Jurisdiction of Organization | Location of Chief Executive Office | Shareholder/Unitholder | Designation |
3104613 Nova Scotia Limited | Nova Scotia | Alberta | 100% owned by the Borrower | Material Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus Resources U.S. Inc. | Delaware | Colorado | 100% owned by 3104613 Nova Scotia Limited | Material Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus Resources (USA) Corporation | Delaware | Colorado | 100% owned by Enerplus Resources U.S. Inc. | Material Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus Group Financing LLC* | Hungary | Hungary | 100% owned by the Borrower and 1209783 Alberta ULC | Material Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus Energy Ltd. | Alberta | Alberta | 100% owned by the Borrower | Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus USA 2006 Acquisition Inc. | Delaware | Colorado | 100% owned by Enerplus Resources U.S. Inc. | Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus Williston I, LLC | Delaware | Colorado | 100% owned by Enerplus Resources (USA) Corporation | Restricted Subsidiary |
Enerplus Williston II, LLC | Delaware | Colorado | 100% owned by Enerplus Resources (USA) Corporation | Restricted Subsidiary |
* Are not required to be party to the Guarantee Agreement
Schedule F to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
TO: | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement ("CIBC") Global Agent Administration Services Email : DLGOEvelyn@cibc.com Uma.Rajendran@xxxx.xxx |
AND TO: | ENERPLUS CORPORATION |
RE: | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021 among Enerplus Corporation, as borrower (the "Borrower"), CIBC and those other financial institutions which are or hereafter become lenders thereunder (collectively, the "Lenders") and CIBC as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the "Agent") (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") |
This Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 14.1(g) of the Credit Agreement.
I, ______________________________, am the duly appointed [insert title of officer] of the Borrower and hereby certify in such capacity for and on behalf of the Enerplus Parties, and not in my personal capacity and without assuming any personal liability whatsoever, after making due inquiry:
1. | This Compliance Certificate applies to the fiscal [quarter/year] of the Borrower ending _______________, _____ (the "Calculation Date"); |
2. | I am familiar with and have examined the provisions of the Credit Agreement and I have made such reasonable investigations of corporate records and inquiries of other officers and senior personnel of the Borrower and each of the other Enerplus Parties as I have deemed necessary for purposes of this Compliance Certificate; |
3. | No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing except those Defaults or Events of Default that have been expressly disclosed, in writing, to and waived by, in writing, the Lenders in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement; |
4. | There have been no changes to Schedule E of the Credit Agreement [except as follows:] |
[describe changes, if any and provide revised Schedule E]
5. | There are no Material Restricted Subsidiaries that are not party to a Guarantee Agreement or that have not provided a Guarantee Agreement to the Agent in accordance with Section 14.1(u) of the Credit Agreement. |
6. | The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries own not less than 85% of Consolidated Tangible Assets. |
7. | The Consolidated Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio of the Borrower as of the Calculation Date is _____________ :1.00, as calculated and presented on Exhibit "1" attached hereto; |
F-2
8. | The Consolidated Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of the Borrower as of the Calculation Date is _____________ :1.00, as calculated and presented on Exhibit "2" attached hereto; |
9. | The Consolidated Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio of the Borrower as of the Calculation Date is ____________ :1.00, as calculated and presented on Exhibit "3" attached hereto; |
10. | The Consolidated Senior Debt to Capitalization of the Borrower as of the Calculation Date is ____________ % as calculated and presented on Exhibit "4" attached hereto; |
11. | The Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Borrower as at the Calculation Date are $____________, as calculated and presented on Exhibit "5" attached hereto; |
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them by the Credit Agreement.
Dated at Calgary, Alberta this _______ day of ______________________, 20___.
ENERPLUS CORPORATION | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
EXHIBIT 1
CONSOLIDATED SENIOR DEBT TO
EBITDA RATIO OF THE BORROWER CALCULATION
EXHIBIT 2
CONSOLIDATED SENIOR NET DEBT TO
EBITDA RATIO OF THE BORROWER CALCULATION
EXHIBIT 3
CONSOLIDATED TOTAL DEBT TO
EBITDA RATIO OF THE BORROWER CALCULATION
EXHIBIT 4
CONSOLIDATED SENIOR DEBT TO
CAPITALIZATION RATIO OF THE BORROWER CALCULATION
EXHIBIT 5
CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE ASSETS OF THE BORROWER CALCULATION
Schedule G to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
FORM OF DESIGNATION OF ENERPLUS PARTIES
TO: | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement ("CIBC") Global Agent Administration Services Email : DLGOEvelyn@cibc.com Uma.Rajendran@xxxx.xxx |
AND TO: | ENERPLUS CORPORATION |
RE: | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021 among Enerplus Corporation, as borrower (the "Borrower"), CIBC and those other financial institutions which are or hereafter become lenders thereunder (collectively, the "Lenders") and CIBC as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the "Agent") (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") |
1. | Capitalized terms in this Certificate shall have the meanings set out in the Credit Agreement. |
2. | [Pursuant to Section 15.1(a) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby designates [Name of Subsidiary] (currently a Non-Restricted Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary under and for the purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Documents. |
-or-
Pursuant to Section 15.1(a) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby designates [Name of Subsidiary] (currently a Restricted Subsidiary) as a Non-Restricted Subsidiary under and for the purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Documents.]
3. | No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unless the exercise of the Borrower's discretion under paragraph 2 above would cause such Default or Event of Default to be cured and no Default or Event of Default would result from or exist immediately after such a designation. |
4. | The Borrower is entitled pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement to make the designation referenced in this Certificate. |
5. | The Restricted Subsidiaries under and for the purposes of the Credit Agreement and the Documents as of the date hereof are as set forth in Exhibit A to this Certificate. |
G-2
DATED this _____ day of ___________________, 20___ at Calgary, Alberta.
ENERPLUS CORPORATION | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Per: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
EXHIBIT A
TO DESIGNATION OF Enerplus PARTIES CERTIFICATE
Material Restricted Subsidiary(ies)
[⚫]
Restricted Subsidiary(ies)
[⚫]
Non-Restricted Subsidiary(ies)
[⚫]
Schedule H to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
FORM OF GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This Guarantee is made as of [⚫].
TO: | Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, in its capacity as Administrative Agent (as hereinafter defined) |
For valuable consideration, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, [⚫] (the "Guarantor") hereby irrevocably, absolutely and unconditionally:
(a) | guarantees to the Administrative Agent for and on behalf of itself and the Lenders (as hereinafter defined) the full, prompt and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations (as hereinafter defined) on demand, subject to Section 11; and |
(b) | indemnifies and saves harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (as hereinafter defined) from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, expenses or liabilities suffered or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (as hereinafter defined) resulting or arising from or relating to any failure of any Other Loan Party to pay in full or fully perform the Obligations as and when due, provided that the amount of such indemnification shall not exceed the amount of such Obligations together with any and all other amounts due and owing hereunder from time to time. |
And the Guarantor agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:
1. | Definitions. In this Guarantee, including any preamble and recitals and the guarantee provision set forth above, unless there is something in the subject matter or context inconsistent therewith, the following terms and expressions (including the singular and plural form and derivatives thereof) shall have the following meanings: |
(a) | "Administrative Agent" means Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders, and any successor thereof appointed pursuant to the Credit Agreement; |
(b) | "Borrower" means Enerplus Corporation and its successor and permitted assigns; |
(c) | "Commodity Exchange Act" means the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute; |
(d) | "Credit Agreement" means the amended and restated credit agreement dated April 29, 2021 among the Borrower as borrower, the financial institutions which are or may become party thereto from time to time, as lenders, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent for such lenders, providing for, inter alia, an extendible revolving credit facility, as such credit agreement may be amended, amended and restated, modified, replaced, restated or supplemented from time to time; |
(e) | "Excluded Swap Obligation" means, with respect to the Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of, or the grant by the Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the |
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of the Guarantor's failure for any reason to constitute an "eligible contract participant" as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time this Guarantee or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation, unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. If any Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which this Guarantee or such security interest is or becomes illegal; |
(f) | "Documents" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto from time to time in the Credit Agreement, in each case as the same may be amended, amended and restated, modified, replaced or supplemented from time to time; |
(g) | "Guarantee" means this Guarantee Agreement, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented, replaced or restated from time to time; |
(h) | "Lenders" has the meaning assigned to that term under the Credit Agreement and for the purposes of this Guarantee, includes the Hedge Providers and the Cash Management Lenders; |
(i) | "Obligations" means all obligations, indebtedness and liabilities of the Other Loan Parties, or any of them, to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, arising out of or contemplated by the Credit Agreement, any other Document, any Hedging Agreement entered into with a Hedge Provider and any Cash Management Services and including all Hedge Obligations and Cash Management Obligations of any such Other Loan Party, and whether present or future, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or not, extended or renewed, wheresoever and howsoever incurred, and any ultimate unpaid balance thereof, including all future advances and re-advances, and whether the same is from time to time reduced and thereafter increased or entirely extinguished and thereafter incurred again and whether such Other Loan Parties or any of them be bound alone or with others and whether as principal or surety; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Obligations shall exclude Excluded Swap Obligations; |
(j) | "Other Loan Parties" means collectively, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary from time to time other than the Guarantor and "Other Loan Party" means any of them; |
(k) | "Qualified ECP Guarantor" means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, the Guarantor, provided that (a) the Guarantor has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time this Guarantee becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) the Guarantor constitutes an "eligible contract participant" under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an "eligible contract participant" at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act; and |
(l) | "Swap Obligation" means, with respect to any Enerplus Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a "swap" within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act. |
Capitalized terms which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them under the Credit Agreement.
2. | Keepwell. Without derogation from the foregoing or any other provision of this Guarantee, to the extent that the Guarantor is a Qualified ECP Guarantor in respect of any Swap Obligations, the Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or |
H-3
3. | Acknowledgment of Administrative Agent Capacity. This Guarantee is granted to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as agent for the Lenders. All of the covenants, representations, warranties, rights, benefits and protections made or given in favour of the Administrative Agent hereunder are acknowledged to be for the joint and several benefit of the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders from time to time. |
4. | Evidence of Accounts. Any account settled or stated between the Administrative Agent or any Lender, on the one hand, and any Other Loan Party, on the other hand, shall be accepted by the Guarantor as prima facie evidence that the amount thereby appearing due by such Other Loan Party is so due. |
5. | Waiver of Defences. The liability of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be irrevocable, unconditional and absolute, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Guarantor shall not be released, discharged, limited or otherwise affected by, and the Guarantor hereby waives as against the Administrative Agent for and on behalf of the Lenders to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any defence relating to: |
(a) | any extension, other indulgence, renewal, settlement, discharge, compromise, waiver, subordination or release in respect of any Obligation or otherwise unless such extension, other indulgence, renewal, settlement, discharge, compromise, waiver, subordination or release shall specifically release the Guarantor from its indebtedness, obligations or liabilities hereunder or any part thereof or is a payment of all the Obligations in full; |
(b) | any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Obligations, including any increase or decrease in the principal, the rates of interest or other amounts payable in respect thereof; |
(c) | whether the Hedge Obligations of the Other Loan Parties shall be in respect of commodity risk, interest rate risk, currency risk or otherwise and whether on a financial or physical basis, and whether speculative or not; |
(d) | any defence based upon any incapacity, disability or lack or limitation of status or power of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person or of the directors, officers, employees, partners or agents thereof, or that any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person may not be a legal entity, or any irregularity, defect or informality in the borrowing or obtaining of moneys or credits in respect of the Obligations; |
(e) | any change in the existence, structure, constitution, name, control or ownership of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person; |
(f) | any insolvency, bankruptcy, amalgamation, merger, reorganization, arrangement or other similar proceeding affecting any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person or the assets of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person; |
(g) | any change in the shareholdings or membership of the Guarantor through the retirement of one or more partners or the introduction of one or more partners or otherwise; |
(h) | the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights which the Guarantor may have at any time against any Other Loan Party, any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or any other Person, whether in connection with the Obligations or any unrelated transactions; |
(i) | any release or non-perfection or any invalidity, illegality or unenforceability relating to or against any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person, whether relating to any instrument evidencing the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto or any part thereof or any provision of applicable Law purporting to prohibit the payment by any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person of any of the Obligations; |
(j) | any limitation, postponement, prohibition, subordination or other restriction on the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to payment of the Obligations or to take any steps in respect thereof, including any stay of proceedings against any Other Loan Party or any direct or indirect guarantor of the Obligations; |
(k) | any release, substitution or addition of any co-signer, endorser, other guarantor or any other Person in respect of the Obligations; |
(l) | any defence arising by reason of any failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any presentment, demand for performance, notice of non-performance, protest, and any other notice, including notice of: |
(i) | acceptance of this Guarantee; |
(ii) | partial payment or non-payment of all or any part of the Obligations; and |
(iii) | the existence, creation, or incurring of new or additional Obligations; |
(m) | any defence arising by reason of any failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to proceed against any Other Loan Party or any other Person, to proceed against, apply or exhaust any security held from any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person for the Obligations, or to proceed against or to pursue any other remedy in the power of the Administrative Agent or any Lender whatsoever; |
(n) | the benefit of any Law which provides that the obligation of a guarantor must neither be larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal obligation or which reduces a guarantor's obligation in proportion to the principal obligations; |
(o) | any defence arising by reason of any incapacity, lack of authority, or other defence of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person, or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person with respect to all or any part of the Obligations, or by reason of any act or omission of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or others which directly or indirectly results in the discharge or release of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or all or any part of the Obligations or any security, or guarantee therefor, whether by operation of law or otherwise; |
(p) | any defence arising by reason of any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to obtain, perfect or maintain a perfected (or any) Security Interest upon any property of any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person or by reason of any interest of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in any property, whether as owner thereof or the holder of a Security Interest therein or lien or encumbrance thereon, being invalidated, voided, declared fraudulent or preferential or otherwise set aside, or by reason of any impairment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right to recourse or collateral; |
(q) | any defence arising by reason of the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to marshal any assets; |
(r) | any defence based upon any failure of the Administrative Agent to give to any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or any other Person notice of any sale or other disposition of any property securing any or all of the Obligations or any guarantee thereof, or any defect in any notice that may be given in connection with any sale or other disposition of any such property, or any failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with any provision of applicable Law in enforcing any Security Interest upon any such property, including any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to dispose of any such property in a commercially reasonable manner; |
(s) | any dealing whatsoever with any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or other Person or any security, whether negligently or not, or any failure to do so; |
(t) | any extinguishment of all or any of the Obligations for any reason whatsoever (other than the actual satisfaction thereof); or |
(u) | any other Law, event or circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defence available to, or a discharge of the Guarantor, any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by any Other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Guarantor or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, which might, but for the provisions of this Section 5, constitute a legal or equitable discharge, limitation or reduction of the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder (other than the payment or satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations). |
The foregoing provisions apply (and the foregoing waivers shall be effective) even if the effect is to destroy or diminish the Guarantor's subrogation rights, the Guarantor's right to proceed against any Other Loan Party for reimbursement, the Guarantor's right to recover contribution from any other guarantor or any other right or remedy.
6. | Indemnity. The Guarantor shall be liable for and shall indemnify and save the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from and against any losses which may arise by virtue of any of the Obligations or any agreement related thereto being or becoming for any reason whatsoever in whole or in part (a) void, voidable, ultra xxxxx, illegal, invalid, ineffective or otherwise unenforceable in accordance with its terms, or (b) released or discharged by operation of law other than by reason of a release by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (collectively an "Indemnifiable Circumstance"). For greater certainty, these losses shall include the amount of all obligations which would have been payable by the Other Loan Party but for the existence of an Indemnifiable Circumstance. The Guarantor shall also be liable for and shall indemnify and save the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from and against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonably legal fees and expenses on a solicitor and his own client full indemnity basis) (x) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in the preparation, registration, administration or enforcement of this Guarantee, (y) with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay by the Guarantor in performing or observing any of its obligations under this Guarantee, and (z) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in performing or observing any of the other covenants of the Guarantor under this Guarantee. |
7. | No Waiver. No delay on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any of its options, powers or rights, or partial or single exercise thereof, shall constitute a waiver thereof. No amendment to this Guarantee or waiver of any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder shall be deemed to be made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender unless the same shall be in writing, duly signed on behalf of the Administrative Agent and each such waiver, if any, shall apply only with respect to the specific instance involved and for the specific purpose for which given, and shall in no way impair the rights or liabilities of the Administrative Agent or the Guarantor hereunder in any other respect at any other time. |
H-6
8. | Deemed Existence. If at any time, all or any part of any payment previously applied by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Obligation is or must be rescinded or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for any reason whatsoever (including the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Guarantor or any Other Loan Party) such Obligation shall, for the purpose of this Guarantee, to the extent that such payment is rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence, notwithstanding such application by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and this Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as to such Obligation, all as though such application by the Administrative Agent or any Lender had not been made. |
9. | Postponement. All indebtedness and liability, present and future, of the Other Loan Parties to the Guarantor is hereby postponed to the Obligations. All payments received by the Guarantor from any Other Loan Party in respect of such indebtedness and liability subsequent to the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing shall be received by the Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent for itself and the rateable benefit of the Lenders and the other senior creditors of the Other Loan Parties to whom the Guarantor has postponed such indebtedness and liability to the obligations owed to such other senior creditor on similar terms to the postponement in this Section 8 (the "Other Senior Creditors") and shall, subject to all applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or other Laws affecting creditors' rights generally, to the extent of its legal entitlement to do so, be paid over to the Administrative Agent and the Other Senior Creditors on a pro rata basis forthwith upon receipt thereof by the Guarantor and the portion thereof received by the Administrative Agent shall be applied against the Obligations as provided for in the Credit Agreement. In case of liquidation, winding-up or bankruptcy of any Other Loan Party (whether voluntary or involuntary) or any composition with creditors or scheme of arrangement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will have the right to rank for their full claims and receive all dividends or other payments in respect thereof in priority to the Guarantor until the claims of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have been irrevocably and unconditionally paid in full and the Guarantor will continue to be liable hereunder for any balance which may be owing to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by the Other Loan Parties. In the event of the valuation by the Administrative Agent of any of its security and/or the retention thereof by the Administrative Agent, such valuation and/or retention will not, as between the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the Guarantor, be considered as a purchase of such security, or as payment or satisfaction of the Obligations or any part thereof. The foregoing provisions of this Section 9 will not in any way limit or lessen the liability of the Guarantor under any other section of this Guarantee. |
10. | Other Securities. This Guarantee is in addition to and not in substitution for any other guarantee or any other securities by whomsoever given at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for any present or future Obligations and the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall at all times have the right to proceed against or realize upon all or any portion of any other guarantees or securities or any other money or assets to which it may become entitled or have a claim in such order and in such manner as it in its sole and unfettered discretion may deem fit. |
11. | Continuing Guarantee. This Guarantee is a continuing guarantee and: (a) shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms until payment in full of all amounts payable under this Guarantee and termination of the Lenders' commitments and obligations under and pursuant to the Documents; and (b) shall enure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent, each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon the Guarantor, its successors and permitted assigns. |
12. | Enforcement of Guarantee. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be enforceable by the Administrative Agent upon demand by the Administrative Agent for payment of the Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof without the necessity of any action or recourse whatsoever against any Other Loan Party, any security or any other guarantor. The remedies provided in this Guarantee are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by applicable Law, the Documents or otherwise. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to make demand upon the Guarantor at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon any such demand |
H-7
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat all Obligations as due and payable and may forthwith collect from the Guarantor all Obligations. The Guarantor shall make payment to or performance in favour of the Administrative Agent of all Obligations forthwith after demand therefor is made upon the Guarantor by the Administrative Agent as aforesaid. |
13. | Subrogation. This Guarantee shall not be considered as wholly or partially satisfied by the payment or liquidation at any time or times of any sum or sums of money for the time being due or remaining unpaid to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and all dividends, compensations, proceeds of security valued and payments received by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Other Loan Party, the Guarantor or from others or from any estate shall be regarded for all purposes as payments in gross without right on the part of any Guarantor to claim in reduction of the liability under this Guarantee the benefit of any such dividends, compositions, proceeds or payments or any securities held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or proceeds thereof, and the Guarantor shall have no right to be subrogated in any rights of the Administrative Agent until the Administrative Agent shall have received full, final and indefeasible payment and performance of the Obligations and the Lenders have no further obligation to extend credit or advance monies to or for the benefit of any Other Loan Party. |
14. | Foreign Currency Obligations. The Guarantor will make payment relative to each Obligation in the currency (the "Original Currency") in which the Other Loan Party is required to pay such Obligation. If the Guarantor makes payment relative to any Obligation to the Administrative Agent or a Lender in a currency (the "Other Currency") other than the Original Currency (whether voluntarily or pursuant to an order or judgment of a court or tribunal of any jurisdiction), such payment will constitute a discharge of the liability of the Guarantor hereunder in respect of such Obligation only to the extent of the amount of the Original Currency which the Administrative Agent or such Lender is able to purchase at Calgary, Alberta with the amount it receives on the date of receipt. If the amount of the Original Currency which the Administrative Agent or such Lender is able to purchase is less than the amount of such currency originally due to it in respect of the relevant Obligation, the Guarantor will indemnify and save the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from and against any loss or damage arising as a result of such deficiency. This indemnity will constitute an obligation separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Guarantee, will give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and will continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order in respect of any amount due hereunder or under any judgment or order. |
15. | Guarantee of Payment and Performance. This Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and performance and not of collection and is in addition and without prejudice to any securities of any kind now or hereafter held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. |
16. | Costs. The Guarantor shall pay to the Administrative Agent all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including all reasonable legal fees (on a solicitor and his own client basis) and other expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and any of the Lenders from time to time in the enforcement, realization and collection of or in respect of this Guarantee, and the term "Obligations" herein shall include all such costs and expenses. All of these amounts shall be payable by the Guarantor on demand, shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Canadian Prime Rate per annum, calculated from the date incurred by the Administrative Agent to the date paid by the Guarantor, compounded monthly on the last day of each month, both before and after default, maturity and judgment. |
17. | Payment. All payments hereunder with respect to any Obligations shall be made to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders at the Administrative Agent's office at 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0 or at such other office of the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent shall designate from time to time by notice in writing to the Guarantor. |
H-8
18. | Payment on Stay. If: (a) any Other Loan Party is prevented from making payment of any of the Obligations when it would otherwise be required to do so; or (b) the Administrative Agent is prevented from demanding payment of the Obligations because of a stay or other judicial proceeding or any other legal impediment, all Obligations or other amounts otherwise subject to demand, acceleration or payment shall be payable by the Guarantor as provided for hereunder. |
19. | Waiver of Notice. The Guarantor waives all notices which may be required by any statute, rule of law, contract or otherwise to preserve any rights to the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Guarantor. |
20. | Taxes. Any and all payments by the Guarantor hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present and future taxes, liens, imposts, stamp taxes, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto and any interest, additions to tax and penalties imposed with respect thereto, but excluding, with respect to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, taxes imposed on its income or capital and franchise taxes imposed on it by any taxation authority (hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Guarantor shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to the Administrative Agent or any Lender: |
(a) | the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 20) the Administrative Agent or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made; and |
(b) | the Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Law. |
21. | Covenants. The Guarantor acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Credit Agreement and the other Documents and understands the Obligations of the Other Loan Parties thereunder. The Guarantor consents and agrees to be bound by any provision in the Credit Agreement which relates to the Guarantor. In addition, the Guarantor covenants and agrees that it shall perform each and every term, covenant, condition and agreement which the Borrower has covenanted in the Credit Agreement to cause the Guarantor to perform, and the Guarantor will comply with each and every term, covenant, condition and agreement which the Borrower has covenanted under the Credit Agreement to cause the Guarantor to comply with, when and as provided for by the terms of the Credit Agreement and the Guarantor will not do anything which would result in a breach of the Credit Agreement. |
The Guarantor confirms and makes and repeats on its own behalf in favour of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders each of the representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement to the extent such representations and warranties relate to the Guarantor or any matter in respect thereof, and shall be deemed to make, repeat and re-affirm each such representation and warranty on each date on which such representations and warranties are made or deemed to be made or re-made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, all to the same extent as if the Guarantor was a party to the Credit Agreement, and all as though such representations and warranties were set out at length herein.
22. | Governing Law. This Guarantee shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable therein. |
23. | Severability. If any provision or paragraph of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, it shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision or paragraph in any other jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Guarantee. |
H-9
24. | Notices. Any demand, notice or communication to be made or given hereunder shall be in writing and may be made or given by personal delivery or by transmittal by facsimile or other electronic means of communication addressed to the respective parties as follows: |
the Guarantor at:
3000 Dome Tower
000 – 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
Attention:Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile:(000) 000-0000
the Administrative Agent at:
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Canadian Agency Services
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address or facsimile number as any party may from time to time notify the others in accordance with this Section 24. Any demand, notice or communication made or given by personal delivery shall be conclusively deemed to have been given on the day of actual delivery thereof, or, if made or given by telex or other electronic means of communication, on the first Banking Day following the transmittal thereof.
25. | Acknowledgment. The Guarantor confirms that its obligations under this Guarantee are not subject to any promise or condition affecting or limiting its liability, and no statement, representation, collateral agreement or promise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or by any officer, employee or agent of it, forms any part of this Guarantee or has induced the making thereof, or shall be deemed in any way to affect the Guarantor's liability hereunder. |
26. | Appropriation. The Administrative Agent shall be at liberty, without in any way prejudicing or affecting its rights hereunder, to appropriate any payment made or monies received to any part of the Obligations, whether then due or to become due, and from time to time to revoke or alter any such appropriation, as the Administrative Agent sees fit. |
[Signature Page Follows]
H-10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be signed by the proper officer duly authorized in that behalf as of the date and year first above written.
| | [⚫] | |
Per: | | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Per: | | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Schedule I to the Enerplus Corporation Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021
SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATE
TO: | CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as Agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement ("CIBC") and as Sustainability Structuring Agent Global Agent Administration Services Email : DLGOEvelyn@cibc.com Uma.Rajendran@xxxx.xxx |
AND TO: | ENERPLUS CORPORATION |
RE: | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2021 (the "Credit Agreement") among Enerplus Corporation, as borrower (the "Borrower"), CIBC and those other financial institutions which are or hereafter become lenders thereunder (collectively, the "Lenders") and CIBC as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the "Agent") (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") |
This Sustainability Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 14.1(i) of the Credit Agreement. |
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them by the Credit Agreement. |
The undersigned, [name], [title] of the Borrower, hereby certifies that, as of the date of this Sustainability Certificate, I have made or caused to be made such investigations as are necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this Sustainability Certificate and: |
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is a true, complete and correct copy of the Annual ESG Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, ● [and the GHG Intensity, Average Reduction of Freshwater Use and the Average 3-year LTIF disclosed therein have been verified by the SPT Metric Auditor on a limited assurance basis]1; and |
attached hereto as Exhibit "B" is a schedule setting forth each Adjustment in Applicable Margin and the Applicable Sustainability Adjustment for the fiscal year ending December 31, ●, and the calculations applicable thereto. |
I give this Sustainability Certificate on behalf of the Borrower and in my capacity as the [title] of the Borrower, and no personal liability is created against or assumed by me in the giving of this Sustainability Certificate.
1 NTD: do not include for fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
I-2
Dated at ●, this ● day of ●, ●.
| | ENERPLUS CORPORATION | |
Per: | | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Per: | | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |