CONTENTS
Β |
Β |
Exhibit
10(x)
Β
AGREEMENT
|
NOVEMBER
2006
|
Β£100,000,000
Β
CREDIT
FACILITY
Β
FOR
Β
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Β
ARRANGED
BY
Β
BARCLAYS
CAPITAL
BAYERISCHE
LANDESBANK acting through its London Branch
LLOYDS
TSB BANK plc
as
Mandated Lead Arrangers
Β
WITH
Β
LLOYDS
TSB BANK plc
as
Facility Agent
Β
|
Β
CONTENTS
Β
Clause
|
Page
|
1.
|
Interpretation
|
1
|
2.
|
Facilities
|
10
|
3.
|
Purpose
|
11
|
4.
|
Conditions
Precedent
|
11
|
5.
|
Utilisation
|
11
|
6.
|
Extension
Option
|
12
|
7.
|
Optional
Currencies
|
13
|
8.
|
Repayment
|
16
|
9.
|
Prepayment
and Cancellation
|
16
|
10.
|
Interest
|
18
|
11.
|
Terms
|
20
|
12.
|
Market
Disruption
|
21
|
13.
|
Taxes
|
22
|
14.
|
Increased
Costs
|
24
|
15.
|
Mitigation
|
25
|
16.
|
Payments
|
26
|
17.
|
Representations
|
28
|
18.
|
Information
Covenants
|
30
|
19.
|
Financial
Covenants
|
32
|
20.
|
General
Covenants
|
34
|
21.
|
Default
|
37
|
22.
|
The
Administrative Parties
|
39
|
23.
|
Evidence
and Calculations
|
44
|
24.
|
Fees
|
44
|
25.
|
Indemnities
and Break Costs
|
45
|
26.
|
Expenses
|
46
|
27.
|
Amendments
and Waivers
|
46
|
28.
|
Changes
to the Parties
|
47
|
29.
|
Disclosure
of Information
|
50
|
30.
|
Set-off
|
50
|
31.
|
Pro
Rata Sharing
|
51
|
32.
|
Severability
|
52
|
33.
|
Counterparts
|
52
|
34.
|
Notices
|
52
|
35.
|
Language
|
53
|
36.
|
Governing
Law
|
54
|
37.
|
Enforcement
|
54
|
Β
Β
Β
Schedule |
Page
|
Β
1.
|
Original
Parties
|
55
|
2.
|
Conditions
precedent documents
|
56
|
3.
|
Form
of Request
|
57
|
4.
|
Calculation
of the Mandatory Cost
|
58
|
5.
|
Form
of Transfer Certificate
|
60
|
6.
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
62
|
Β
Signatories
|
63
|
THIS
AGREEMENT
is
datedΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β November
2006
Β
BETWEEN:
Β
(1)
|
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
(registered number 02366894) (the Company);
|
Β
(2)
|
BARCLAYS
CAPITAL, BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK acting
through its London Branch, and LLOYDS
TSB BANK plc
each in this capacity as a Mandated
Lead Arranger
and together in this capacity, the Mandated
Lead Arrangers;
|
Β
(3)
|
THE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
listed in Schedule 1 (Original Parties) as original lenders (the
Original
Lenders);
and
|
Β
(4)
|
LLOYDS
TSB BANK plc
as
facility agent (in this capacity the Facility
Agent).
|
Β
IT
IS AGREED as
follows:
Β
1.
|
INTERPRETATION
|
Β
1.1
|
Definitions
|
Β
In
this
Agreement:
Β
Act
means
the Electricity Xxx 0000 and, unless the context otherwise requires, all
subordinate legislation made pursuant thereto.
Β
Administrative
Party
means a
Mandated Lead Arranger or the Facility Agent.
Β
Affiliate
means a
Subsidiary or a Holding Company of a person or any other Subsidiary of that
Holding Company.
Β
Applicable
Accounting Principles
means
those accounting principles, standards and practices generally accepted in
the
United Kingdom and the accounting and reporting requirements of the Companies
Xxx 0000, in each case as used in the Original Financial
Statements.
Β
Authority
means
The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority established under Section 1 of the
Utilities Xxx 0000.
Β
Availability
Period
means
the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the
date that is the Final Maturity Date.
Β
Balancing
and Settlement Code
means
the document, as modified from time to time, setting out the electricity
balancing and settlement arrangements designated by the Secretary of State
and
adopted by The National Grid Company plc (Registered No. 2366977) or its
successor pursuant to its transmission licence.
Β
Balancing
and Settlement Code Framework
means
the agreement of that title, in the form approved by the Secretary of State,
as
amended from time to time, to which the Company is a party and by which the
Balancing and Settlement Code is made binding upon the Company.
Β
Break
Costs
means
the amount (if any) which a Lender is entitled to receive under this Agreement
as compensation if any part of a Loan or overdue amount is prepaid.
Β
Business
Day
means a
day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which commercial banks are open
in
London and:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
if
on that day a payment in or a purchase of a currency (other than
euro) is
to be made, the principal financial centre of the country of that
currency; or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
if
on that day a payment in or purchase of euro is to be made, which
is also
a TARGET Day.
|
Β
Commitment
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
for
an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name in Schedule
1
(Original Parties) under the heading "Commitments"
and the amount of any other Commitment it acquires;
and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
for
any other Lender, the amount of any other Commitment it
acquires,
|
Β
to
the
extent not cancelled, transferred or reduced under this Agreement.
Β
Compliance
Certificate
means a
certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 6 (Form of Compliance
Certificate) setting out, among other things, calculations of the financial
covenants.
Β
Default
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
an
Event of Default; or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
an
event which would be (with the lapse of time, the expiry of a grace
period, the giving of notice or the making of any determination under
the
Finance Documents or any combination of them) an Event of
Default.
|
Β
Environmental
Law
means
all regulations and other laws concerning the protection of human health or
the
environment;
Β
euro
or
euros
or
β¬
means
the single currency of the Participating Member States.
Β
Event
of Default
means an
event specified as such in this Agreement.
Β
Extended
Final Maturity Date
means
the date specified as such in the notice exercising the Extension Option
provided by the Company under Clause 6 (Extension Option) , being a date falling
no later than the day falling 364 days after the then current Final Maturity
Date.
Β
Extension
Option means
the
option of the Company under Clause 6 (Extension Option) to extend the Final
Maturity Date of the Facility.
Β
Facility
means
the revolving credit facility (incorporating a term-out option and an extension
option) made available under this Agreement and described in Clause 2.1
(Facility).
Β
Facility
Office
means
the office(s) notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
on
or before the date it becomes a Lender;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
by
not less than five Business Days'
notice,
|
Β
as
the
office(s) through which it will perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
Β
Fee
Letter
means
any letter entered into by reference to this Agreement between one or more
Administrative Parties and the Company setting out the amount of certain fees
referred to in the Agreement.
Β
Final
Maturity Date means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
date which falls 364 days after (and including) the date of this
Agreement
(unless extended in accordance with Clause 2.3 (Term-out Option)
or Clause
6 (Extension Option));
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
if
the Extension Option is exercised, the Extended Final Maturity Date;
or
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
if
the Term-out Option is exercised, the Term-out Repayment
Date.
|
Β
Finance
Document
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
this
Agreement;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
a
Fee Letter;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
a
Transfer Certificate; or
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
any
other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the
Company.
|
Β
Finance
Party
means a
Lender or an Administrative Party.
Β
Financial
Indebtedness
means
any indebtedness for or in respect of:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
moneys
borrowed;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
any
acceptance credit;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
any
bond, note, debenture, loan stock or other similar
instrument;
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
any
redeemable preference share;
|
Β
Β |
(e)
|
any
finance or capital lease;
|
Β
Β |
(f)
|
receivables
sold or discounted (otherwise than on a non-recourse
basis);
|
Β
Β |
(g)
|
the
acquisition cost of any asset to the extent payable after its acquisition
or possession by the party liable where the deferred payment is arranged
primarily as a method of raising finance or financing the acquisition
of
that asset;
|
Β
Β |
(h)
|
any
derivative transaction protecting against or benefiting from fluctuations
in any rate or price (and, except for non-payment of an amount, the
then
xxxx to market value of the derivative transaction will be used to
calculate its amount);
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement)
which
has the commercial effect of a
borrowing;
|
Β
Β |
(j)
|
any
counter-indemnity obligation in respect of any guarantee, indemnity,
bond,
letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial
institution; or
|
Β
any
guarantee, indemnity or similar assurance against financial loss of any person
in respect of any item referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) above.
Β
Group
means
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Β
Holding
Company
means a
holding company within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Xxx 0000.
Β
Increased
Cost
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
an
additional or increased cost;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
a
reduction in the rate of return under a Finance Document or on its
overall
capital; or
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
a
reduction of an amount due and payable under any Finance
Document,
|
Β
which
is
incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates but only to
the
extent attributable to that Finance Party having entered into any Finance
Document or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance
Document.
Β
Lender
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
an
Original Lender; or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
any
person which becomes a Lender after the date of this
Agreement.
|
Β
LIBOR
means
for a Term of any Loan or overdue amount:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
applicable Screen Rate; or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
if
no Screen Rate is available for the relevant currency or Term of
that Loan
or overdue amount, the arithmetic mean (rounded upward to four decimal
places) of the rates, as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request,
quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank
market,
|
Β
as
of
11.00 a.m. on the Rate Fixing Day for the offering of deposits in the currency
of that Loan or overdue amount for a period comparable to that
Term.
Β
Licence
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
electricity distribution licence made and treated as granted to the
Company under SectionΒ 6(1)(c) of the Act pursuant to a licensing
scheme made by the Secretary of State under PartΒ II of Schedule 7 to
the Utilities Xxx 0000 on 28 September 2001;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
by
any statutory amendment or replacement licence or licences granted
pursuant to the Utilities Xxx 0000 which permit the Company to distribute
electricity in the Authorised Area;
|
Β
Loan
means,
unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, the principal amount of each
borrowing under this Agreement or the principal amount outstanding of that
borrowing.
Β
Majority
Lenders
means,
at any time, Lenders:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
whose
share in the outstanding Loans and whose undrawn Commitments then
aggregate 662/3% or more of the aggregate of all the outstanding
Loans and
the undrawn Commitments of all the
Lenders;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
if
there is no Loan then outstanding, whose undrawn Commitments then
aggregate 662/3% or more of the Total Commitments;
or
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
if
there is no Loan then outstanding and the Total Commitments have
been
reduced to zero, whose Commitments aggregated 662/3% or more of the
Total
Commitments immediately before the
reduction.
|
Β
Mandatory
Cost
means
the cost of complying with certain regulatory requirements, expressed as a
percentage rate per annum and calculated by the Facility Agent under Schedule
4
(Calculation of the Mandatory Cost).
Β
Margin
means
the percentage rate per annum determined to be the Margin in accordance with
Clause 10.5(a) (Margin), as adjusted from time to time in accordance with
Clauses 10.5(b) to 10.5(e) (Margin).
Β
Material
Adverse Effect
means
something having a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to perform
its payment obligations under this Agreement.
Β
Material
Subsidiary
means,
at any time, a Subsidiary of the Company whose gross assets or gross revenues
(excluding intra-Group items) then equal or exceed 15% of the gross assets
or
gross revenues of the Group.
Β
For
this
purpose:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
gross assets or gross revenues of a Subsidiary of the Company will
be
determined from its financial statements (unconsolidated if it has
Subsidiaries) upon which the latest audited financial statements
of the
Group have been based;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
if
a Subsidiary of the Company becomes a member of the Group after the
date
on which the latest audited financial statements of the Group have
been
prepared, the gross assets or gross revenues of that Subsidiary will
be
determined from its latest financial
statements;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
the
gross assets or gross revenues of the Group will be determined from
its
latest audited financial statements, adjusted (where appropriate)
to
reflect the gross assets or gross revenues of any company or business
subsequently acquired or disposed of;
and
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
if
a Material Subsidiary disposes of all or substantially all of its
assets
to another Subsidiary of the Company, it will immediately cease to
be a
Material Subsidiary and the other Subsidiary (if it is not already)
will
immediately become a Material Subsidiary; the subsequent financial
statements of those Subsidiaries and the Group will be used to determine
whether those Subsidiaries are Material Subsidiaries or
not.
|
Β
If
there
is a dispute as to whether or not a company is a Material Subsidiary, a
certificate of the auditors of the Company will be, in the absence of manifest
error, conclusive.
Β
Maturity
Date
means
the last day of the Term of a Loan (other than a Term-Out Loan) and in the
case
of a Term-Out Loan the date specified as such in the Request for that Term-Out
Loan.
Β
Xxxxx'x
means
Xxxxx'x Investors' Services, Inc. (or any successor to its ratings
business).
Β
OFGEM
means
the
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.
Β
Original
Financial Statements
means
the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended
31 March 2006.
Β
Participating
Member States
means a
member state of the European Community that adopts the euro as its lawful
currency under the legislation of the European Union for European Monetary
Union.
Β
Party
means a
party to this Agreement.
Β
Pro
Rata Share
means:
Β
Β | Β (a) |
for
the purpose of determining a Lender's share in a utilisation of a
Facility, the proportion which its Commitment under that Facility
bears to
all the Commitments under that Facility;
and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
for
any other purpose on a particular
date:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
proportion which a Lender's share of the Loans (if any) bears to
all the
Loans;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
there is no Loan outstanding on that date, the proportion which its
Commitment bears to the Total Commitments on that date;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
if
the Total Commitments have been cancelled, the proportion which its
Commitments bore to the Total Commitments immediately before being
cancelled; or
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
when
the term is used in relation to a particular Facility, the above
proportions but applied only to the Loans and Commitments for that
Facility.
|
Β
For
the
purpose of subparagraph (iv) above, the Facility Agent will determine, in the
case of a dispute whether the term in any case relates to a particular
Facility.
Β
PUHCA
means
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, of the United States
of America.
Β
Rate
Fixing Day
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
first day of a Term for a Loan denominated in Sterling;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
the
second Business Day before the first day of a Term for a Loan denominated
in any other currency;
|
Β
or
such
other day as the Facility Agent determines is generally treated as the rate
fixing day by market practice in the relevant interbank market.
Β
Reference
Banks
means
the Facility Agent, Barclays Bank PLC and Bayerische Landesbank acting through
its London branch and any other bank or financial institution appointed as
such
by the Facility Agent under this Agreement.
Β
Repeating
Representations
means
the representations which are deemed to be repeated under this
Agreement.
Β
Request
means a
request for a Loan, substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (Form of
Request).
Β
Rollover
Loan
means
one or more Loans (other than a Term-Out Loan):
Β
Β |
(a)
|
to
be made on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be
repaid;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
the
aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the maturing Loan;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
in
the same currency as the maturing Loan;
and
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
to
be made for the purpose of refinancing a maturing
Loan.
|
Β
S&P
means
Standard & Poor's Corporation (a division of the XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc)
(or any successor to its ratings business).
Β
Screen
Rate
means
the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate (if any) for the
relevant currency and Term displayed on the appropriate page of the Telerate
screen selected by the Facility Agent. If the relevant page is replaced or
the
service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent (after consultation with
the
Company and the Lenders) may specify another page or service displaying the
appropriate rate.
Β
Secretary
of State
means
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Β
Security
Interest
means
any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, assignment, hypothecation or security
interest or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar
effect.
Β
Sterling
and
Β£
mean the
lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
Β
Subsidiary
means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
a
subsidiary within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Xxx
0000;
and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
unless
the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary undertaking within the
meaning of sectionΒ 258 of the Companies Xxx
0000.
|
Β
TARGET
Day
means a
day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express
Transfer payment system is open for the settlement of payments in
euro.
Β
Tax
means
any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature
(including any related penalty or interest).
Β
Tax
Deduction
means a
deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance
Document.
Β
Tax
Payment
means a
payment made by the Company to a Finance Party in any way relating to a Tax
Deduction or under any indemnity given by the Company in respect of Tax under
any Finance Document.
Β
Term
means
each period determined under this Agreement by reference to which interest
on a
Loan or an overdue amount is calculated.
Β
Term-Out
Loans
means
the Loans (if any) drawn under Clause 2.3 (Term-out Option).
Β
Term-Out
Option
means
the option of the Company in Clause 2.3 (Term-out Option) to draw Loans as
Term-Out Loans.
Β
Term-out
Repayment Date
means
the date specified as such in the notice exercising the Term-Out Option provided
by the Company under Clause 2.3 (Term-out Option), being a date falling no
later
than one year after the Final Maturity Date (as determined before the exercise
of the Term-out Option).
Β
Total
Commitments
means
the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders being the total amount
specified as such in Schedule 1 (Original Parties) at the date of this
Agreement.
Β
Transfer
Certificate
means a
certificate, substantially in the form of Schedule 5 (Form of Transfer
Certificate), with such amendments as the Facility Agent may approve or
reasonably require or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and
the
Company.
Β
U.K.
means
the United Kingdom.
Β
U.S.
Dollars
and
U.S.$
means
the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of
America.
Β
Utilisation
Date
means
each date on which a Facility is utilised.
Β
1.2
|
Construction
|
Β
(a)
|
The
following definitions have the meanings given to them in Clause 19.1
(Financial Covenants):
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
Consolidated
EBITDA;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
Interest
Payable;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
Measurement
Period;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
Regulatory
Asset Base; and
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
Total
Gross Debt.
|
Β
(b)
|
In
this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference
to:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
an
amendment
includes a supplement, novation, restatement or re-enactment and
amended
will be construed accordingly;
|
Β
assets
includes
present and future properties, revenues and rights of every
description;
Β
an
authorisation
includes
an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing,
registration or notarisation;
Β
Barclays
Capital
is a
reference to Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays
Bank
PLC;
Β
disposal
means a
sale, transfer, grant, lease or other disposal, whether voluntary or
involuntary, and dispose
will be
construed accordingly;
Β
indebtedness
includes
any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment
or
repayment of money;
Β
know
your customer requirements
are the
identification checks that a Finance Party requests in order to meet its
obligations under any applicable law or regulation to identify a person who
is
(or is to become) its customer;
Β
a
person
includes
any individual, company, corporation, unincorporated association or body
(including a partnership, trust, joint venture or consortium), government,
state, agency, organisation or other entity whether or not having separate
legal
personality;
Β
a
regulation
includes
any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or
not
having the force of law but, if not having the force of law, being of a type
with which any person to which it applies is accustomed to comply) of any
governmental, inter-governmental or supranational body, agency, department
or
regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;
Β
the
Winding-up
of a
person also includes the administration, dissolution or liquidation or other
like process of that person, any composition or arrangement with the creditors,
amalgamation, reconstruction, reorganisation or consolidation pursuant to Part
XIII of the Companies Xxx 0000 proposed or carried out in respect of that person
or a company voluntary arrangement pursuant to the Insolvency Xxx 0000 carried
out or proposed in respect of that person;
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
a
currency is a reference to the lawful currency for the time being
of the
relevant country;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
a
Default being outstanding
means that it has not been remedied or
waived;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
a
provision of law is a reference to that provision as extended, applied,
amended or re-enacted and includes any subordinate
legislation;
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
a
Clause, a Subclause or a Schedule is a reference to a clause or subclause
of, or a schedule to, this
Agreement;
|
Β
Β |
(vi)
|
a
person includes its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted
transferees;
|
Β
Β |
(vii)
|
a
Finance Document or another document is a reference to that Finance
Document or other document as amended;
and
|
Β
Β |
(viii)
|
a
time of day is a reference to London
time.
|
Β
(c)
|
Unless
the contrary intention appears, a reference to a month
or
months
is
a reference to a period starting on one day in a calendar month and
ending
on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month or
the
calendar month in which it is to end, except that:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
if
the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, the period
will
end on the next Business Day in that month (if there is one) or the
preceding Business Day (if there is
not);
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
there is no numerically corresponding day in that month, that period
will
end on the last Business Day in that month;
and
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
notwithstanding
subparagraph (i) above, a period which commences on the last Business
Day
of a month will end on the last Business Day in the next month or
the
calendar month in which it is to end, as
appropriate.
|
Β
(d)
|
Unless
expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person
who is
not a party to a Finance Document may not enforce any of its terms
under
the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 and notwithstanding
any
term of any Finance Document, the consent of any third party is not
required for any variation (including any release or compromise of
any
liability) or termination of that Finance
Document.
|
Β
(e)
|
Unless
the contrary intention appears:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
a
reference to a Party will not include that Party if it has ceased
to be a
Party under this Agreement;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
a
word or expression used in any other Finance Document or in any notice
given in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning
in that
Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement;
and
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
any
obligation of the Company under the Finance Documents which is not
a
payment obligation remains in force for so long as any payment obligation
of the Company is or may be outstanding under the Finance
Documents.
|
Β
(f)
|
The
headings in this Agreement do not affect its
interpretation.
|
Β
2.
|
FACILITIES
|
Β
2.1
|
Facility
|
Β
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Company a
revolving loan facility with an extension option and a term-out option
denominated in Sterling in an aggregate amount equal to the Total
Commitments.
Β
2.2
|
Nature
of a Finance Party's rights and
obligations
|
Β
Unless
otherwise agreed by all the Finance Parties:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
obligations of a Finance Party under the Finance Documents are
several;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
failure
by a Finance Party to perform its obligations does not affect the
obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
no
Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance
Party under the Finance Documents;
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
the
rights of a Finance Party under the Finance Documents are separate
and
independent rights;
|
Β
Β |
(e)
|
a
debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party is a
separate
and independent debt; and
|
Β
Β |
(f)
|
a
Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents,
separately enforce those rights.
|
Β
2.3
|
Term-out
Option
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company may on one occasion only, by delivery of a notice to the
Facility
Agent (who shall send a copy of the same to the Lenders) not earlier
than
45 days prior to the then applicable Final Maturity Date, elect to
draw
one or more Loans (each a Term-OutΒ Loan)
each with the same Utilisation Date falling prior to the then applicable
Final Maturity Date and each with the same Maturity Date being a
date
after the then current Final Maturity Date, but no later than the
date
falling one year after the then applicable Final Maturity Date (such
selected date being the Term-out
Repayment Date).
The delivery of this notice constitutes the exercise of the Term-Out
Option by the Company.
|
Β
(b)
|
Any
Loan outstanding after the date of the exercise of the Term-Out Option
must be repaid on its Maturity
Date.
|
Β
3.
|
PURPOSE
|
Β
3.1
|
Loans
|
Β
Each
Loan
may be used for the core working capital requirements of the Company and in
compliance with the Licence.
Β
3.2
|
No
obligation to monitor
|
Β
No
Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the utilisation of a
Facility.
Β
4.
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
Β
4.1
|
Conditions
precedent documents
|
Β
A
Request
may not be given until the Facility Agent has notified the Company and the
Lenders that it has received all of the documents and evidence set out in
Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent documents) in form and substance satisfactory
to the Facility Agent. The Facility Agent must give this notification to the
Company and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.
Β
4.2
|
Further
conditions precedent
|
Β
The
obligations of each Lender to participate in any Loan are subject to the further
conditions precedent that on both the date of the Request and the Utilisation
Date for that Loan:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
Repeating Representations are correct in all material respects;
and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
no
Default or, in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is
outstanding or would result from the
Loan.
|
Β
4.3
|
Maximum
number
|
Β
Unless
the Facility Agent agrees, a Request may not be given if, as a result, there
would be more than 15 Loans outstanding.
Β
5.
|
UTILISATION
|
Β
5.1
|
Giving
of Requests
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company may borrow a Loan by giving to the Facility Agent a duly
completed
Request.
|
Β
(b)
|
Unless
the Facility Agent otherwise agrees, the latest time for receipt
by the
Facility Agent of a duly completed Request is 11.00 a.m. one Business
Day
before the Rate Fixing Day for the proposed
borrowing.
|
Β
(c)
|
Each
Request is irrevocable.
|
Β
5.2
|
Completion
of Requests
|
Β
A
Request
for a Loan will not be regarded as having been duly completed
unless:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
it
identifies the Facility the Loan applies
to;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
the
Utilisation Date is a Business Day falling within the Availability
Period;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
The
amount of the Loan requested is:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
a
minimum of Β£5,000,000 or its equivalent in accordance with Clause 7.5
(Optional Currency equivalents), and an integral multiple of 1,000,000
units of that currency;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
maximum undrawn amount available under this Agreement for Loans under
the
relevant Facility on the proposed Utilisation Date;
or
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
such
other amount as the Facility Agent may agree;
and
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
the
proposed Term complies with this
Agreement.
|
Β
Only
one
Loan may be requested in a Request.
Β
5.3
|
Advance
of Loan
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent must promptly notify each Lender of the details of
the
requested Loan and the amount of its share in that
Loan.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
amount of each Lender's share of the Loan will be its Pro Rata Share
on
the proposed Utilisation Date.
|
Β
(c)
|
No
Lender is obliged to participate in a Loan if as a
result:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
its
share in the Loans under a Facility would exceed its Commitment for
that
Facility; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Loans would exceed the Total
Commitments.
|
Β
(d)
|
If
the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender
must
make its share in the Loan available to the Facility Agent for the
Company
on the Utilisation Date.
|
Β
6.
|
EXTENSION
OPTION
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company may request that the Final Maturity Date for all the Lenders
be
extended for a further period of 364 days by giving notice to the
Facility
Agent no more than 60 days and not less than 45 days before the Final
Maturity Date for all the Lenders. Promptly upon receipt of such
notice
the Facility Agent shall inform each Lender that the Company has
requested
the extension of the Final Maturity Date under this
Clause.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Company may only request the extension of the Final Maturity date
under
paragraph (a) above, if it has not exercised the Term-out
Option.
|
Β
(c)
|
If
any Lender agrees to the request by the date falling 30 days before
the
Final Maturity Date its Final Maturity Date will be extended for
a further
period of 364 days. However, the Commitment of each Lender which
did not
agree to the request will be automatically cancelled on its Final
Maturity
Date. Each Lender will notify the Facility Agent whether it agrees
to an
extension of its Final Maturity Date under this Clause by the date
falling
30 days before the Final Maturity
Date.
|
Β
(d)
|
The
Facility Agent will notify the Company of each Lender's decision
promptly
after it has received notice from each Lender under paragraph (c)
above.
|
Β
(e)
|
Any
request for an extension under this Clause is
irrevocable.
|
Β
7.
|
OPTIONAL
CURRENCIES
|
Β
7.1
|
General
|
Β
In
this
Clause:
Β
Agent's
Spot Rate of Exchange
means
the Facility Agent's spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the relevant
currency in the London foreign exchange market with Sterling at or about 11.00
a.m. on a particular day.
Β
Optional
Currency
means
any currency (other than Sterling) in which a Loan may be denominated under
this
Agreement.
Β
Pre-approved
Currency
means
U.S.$ and euro.
Β
Sterling
Amount
of a
Loan or part of a Loan means:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
if
the Loan is denominated in Sterling, its amount;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
in
the case of any Loan denominated in an Optional Currency, its equivalent
in Sterling calculated on the basis of the Agent's Spot Rate of Exchange
one Business Day before the Rate Fixing Day for that
Term.
|
Β
7.2
|
Selection
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must select the currency of a Loan in its Request. The Company
may
select Sterling or an Optional Currency for a
Loan.
|
Β
(b)
|
Unless
the Facility Agent otherwise agrees, the Loans may not be denominated
at
any one time in more than three
currencies.
|
Β
7.3
|
Selection
of Optional Currencies
|
Β
(a)
|
A
Loan may be denominated in an Optional Currency for a Term
if:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
that
Optional Currency is readily available in the amount required and
freely
convertible into Sterling in the relevant interbank market on the
Rate
Fixing Day and the first day of that Term;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
that
Optional Currency is a Pre-approved Currency or has been previously
approved by the Facility Agent (acting on the instruction of all
the
Lenders).
|
Β
(b)
|
If
the Facility Agent has received a request from the Company for a
currency
to be approved as an Optional Currency (other than a Pre-approved
Currency), the Facility Agent must, within five Business Days, confirm
to
the Company:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
whether
or not the Lenders have given their approval;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
approval has been given, the minimum amount (and, if required, integral
multiples) for any Loan in that
currency.
|
Β
7.4
|
Revocation
of currency
|
Β
(a)
|
Notwithstanding
any other term of this Agreement, if before 9.30 a.m. on any Rate
Fixing
Day the Facility Agent receives notice from a Lender
that:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Optional Currency requested is not readily available to it in the
relevant
interbank market in the amount and for the period required;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
participating
in a Loan in the proposed Optional Currency might contravene any
law or
regulation applicable to it,
|
Β
the
Facility Agent must give notice to the Company to that effect promptly and
in
any event before 11.00 a.m. on that day.
Β
(b)
|
In
this event:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
that
Lender must participate in the Loan in Sterling;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
share of that Lender in the Loan and any other similarly affected
Lender(s) will be treated as a separate Loan denominated in Sterling
during that Term.
|
Β
(c)
|
Any
part of a Loan treated as a separate Loan under this Subclause will
not be
taken into account for the purposes of any limit on the number of
Loans or
currencies outstanding at any one
time.
|
Β
(d)
|
A
Loan will still be treated as a Rollover Loan if it is not denominated
in
the same currency as the maturing Loan by reason only of the operation
of
this Subclause.
|
Β
7.5
|
Optional
Currency equivalents
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as expressly provided in this Agreement, the equivalent in Sterling
of a
Loan or part of a Loan in an Optional Currency for the purposes of
calculating:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
whether
any limit under this Agreement has been
exceeded;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
amount of a Loan;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
the
share of a Lender in a Loan;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
the
amount of any repayment of a Loan;
or
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
the
undrawn amount of a Lender's
Commitment,
|
Β
is
its
Sterling Amount.
Β
(b)
|
The
rate of exchange to be used for calculating the amount in Sterling
of any
repayment or prepayment of a Term-Out Loan in an Optional Currency
is that
last used for determining the amount of the Term-Out Loan in that
Optional
Currency.
|
Β
7.6
|
Term-Out
Loans - change of currency
|
Β
(a)
|
A
Term-Out Loan will remain denominated in the same currency through
successive Terms, unless the currency is changed under paragraph
(c)
below.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Company may change the currency of a Term-Out Loan with effect from
the
start of a Term by giving notice to the Facility Agent by 9.00 a.m.
three
Business Days before the first day of that Term. The Term-Out Loan
will
remain denominated in that currency until it is changed again under
this
Subclause.
|
Β
(c)
|
If
a Term-Out Loan is to be denominated in different currencies during
successive Terms:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Company must repay that Term-Out Loan on the last day of its current
Term
in the currency in which it is then denominated (the old
currency);
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Lenders must, subject to the terms of this Agreement, re-advance
the
Term-Out Loan in the currency in which the Company requires the Term-Out
Loan to be denominated for the next Term (the new
currency).
|
Β
The
amount of the Loan in the new currency will be calculated by reference to its
Sterling Amount.
Β
(d)
|
Alternatively,
if the Facility Agent and the Company agree:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Facility Agent may apply the amount (or so much of that amount as
is
necessary) of the Term-Out Loan in the new currency to purchase an
amount
of the old currency sufficient to discharge the obligation of the
Company
to repay the Term-Out Loan in the old
currency;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Facility Agent must apply any amount of the old currency purchased
under
subparagraph(i) above towards repaying the Term-Out Loan in the old
currency;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
the
Facility Agent will promptly notify the Company if there is a shortfall
or
an excess;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
if
there is a shortfall, the Company must pay to the Facility Agent
on the
date the Term-Out Loan is due to be repaid in the old currency an
amount
in the old currency equal to the shortfall; and
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
if
there is an excess, the Facility Agent must pay to the Company on
the date
the Term-Out Loan is due to be repaid in the old currency an amount
in the
new currency equal to the excess.
|
Β
If
the
day on which the old currency is due to be repaid is not also a Business Day
for
the new currency:
Β
Β |
(vi)
|
the
Facility Agent must notify the Company and the Lenders
promptly;
|
Β
Β |
(vii)
|
the
Term-Out Loan will remain in the old currency until the next day
which is
a Business Day for both the old and the new currencies;
and
|
Β
Β |
(viii)
|
during
this period, the Term-Out Loan will have Terms running from one Business
Day to the next Business Day.
|
Β
The
Company must indemnify the Facility Agent against any loss or liability incurred
by the Facility Agent as a result of any foreign exchange contract entered
into
for the purpose of this Clause.
Β
7.7
|
Term-Out
Loans - continuing in same Optional
Currency
|
Β
(a)
|
If
a Term-Out Loan is to be denominated in the same Optional Currency
during
two successive Terms, the Facility Agent must calculate the amount
of the
Term-Out Loan in the Optional Currency for the second of those
Terms.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
amount of the Term-Out Loan in the Optional Currency for the second
Term
will be the amount determined by notionally converting into that
Optional
Currency the Sterling Amount of the Term-Out Loan on the basis of
the
Agent's Spot Rate of Exchange one Business Day before the Rate Fixing
Day
for that Term.
|
Β
(c)
|
If
the amount calculated is less than the existing amount of that Term-Out
Loan in the Optional Currency during the first Term, the Company
must pay,
subject to paragraph (e) below, on the last day of the first Term
an
amount equal to the difference.
|
Β
(d)
|
If
the amount calculated is more than the existing amount of that Term-Out
Loan in the Optional Currency during the first Term, each Lender
must pay,
subject to paragraph (e) below, on the last day of the first Term
its Pro
Rata Share of the difference.
|
Β
(e)
|
If
the calculation made by the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above
shows
that the amount of the Term-Out Loan in the Optional Currency has
increased or decreased by less than 5% since it was borrowed or (if
later)
the most recent adjustment under paragraph (c) or (d) above, no payment
is
required under paragraph (c) or (d)
above.
|
Β
7.8
|
Notification
|
Β
The
Facility Agent must notify the Lenders and the Company of the relevant Sterling
Amount (and the applicable Agent's Spot Rate of Exchange) promptly after they
are ascertained.
Β
8.
|
REPAYMENT
|
Β
8.1
|
Repayment
of Loans
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must repay each Loan (other than a Term-Out Loan) in full
on its
Maturity Date. No Loan may be outstanding after the applicable Final
Maturity Date.
|
Β
(b)
|
Subject
to the other terms of this Agreement, any amounts repaid under paragraph
(a) above may be re-borrowed.
|
Β
8.2
|
Repayment
of Term-Out Loans
|
Β
The
Company must repay all Term-Out Loans in full on the Term-out Repayment
Date.
Β
9.
|
PREPAYMENT
AND CANCELLATION
|
Β
9.1
|
Mandatory
prepayment - illegality
|
Β
(a)
|
A
Lender must notify the Company promptly if it becomes aware that
it is
unlawful in any jurisdiction for that Lender to perform any of its
obligations under a Finance Document or to fund or maintain its share
in
any Loan.
|
Β
(b)
|
After
notification under paragraph (a)
above:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Company must repay or prepay the share of that Lender in each Loan
made to
it on the date specified in paragraph (c) below;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Commitments of that Lender will be immediately
cancelled.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
date for repayment or prepayment of a Lender's share in a Loan will
be:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Business Day following receipt by the Company of notice from the
Lender
under paragraph (a) above; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
later, the latest date allowed by the relevant
law.
|
Β
9.2
|
Mandatory
prepayment - change of
control
|
Β
If,
except in the context of a group reorganisation where the Company continues
to
be controlled directly or indirectly, by PPL Corporation, the Company becomes
aware of any person (whether alone or together with any associated person or
persons) gaining control of the Company (for these purposes associated
person
means,
in relation to any person, a person who is (i) "acting in concert" (as defined
in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) with that person or (ii) a "connected
person" (as defined in section 839 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act
1988)
of that person and control
has the
meaning given to it in Section 416 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act
1988):
Β
Β |
(a)
|
within
five days of such date, the Company shall give notice of such change
of
control to the Facility Agent;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
the
Lenders and the Company shall immediately enter into negotiations
for a
period of not more than 45 days from the date of the change of control
with a view to agreeing whether the Facility shall continue to be
made
available and on what terms; and
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
if
no such agreement is reached within the said period of 45 days
then:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
Lender may on ten days' notice to the Facility Agent and to the Company
require the repayment of its share in each Loan and cancel its Commitment;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Majority Lenders may on ten days' notice to the Company require repayment
in full of all outstanding Loans and cancel the Total
Commitments.
|
Β
9.3
|
Voluntary
prepayment
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company may, by giving not less than three Business Days' prior notice
to
the Facility Agent, prepay any Loan at any time in whole or in part.
|
Β
(b)
|
A
prepayment of part of a Loan drawn in US Dollars must be in a minimum
amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of U.S.
$1,000,000.
|
Β
(c)
|
A
prepayment of part of a Loan drawn in Sterling must be in a minimum
amount
of Β£5,000,000 and an integral multiple of
Β£1,000,000.
|
Β
9.4
|
Automatic
cancellation
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Commitments of each Lender in relation to the Facility will be
automatically cancelled at the close of business on the last day
of the
Availability Period.
|
Β
(b)
|
If
a Lender does not agree to an extension requested under Clause 6
(E), the
Commitments of this Lender will be automatically cancelled on his
Final
Maturity Date.
|
Β
9.5
|
Voluntary
cancellation
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company may, by giving not less than three Business Days' prior notice
to
the Facility Agent, cancel the unutilised amount of the Total Commitments
in whole or in part.
|
Β
(b)
|
Partial
cancellation of the Total Commitments must be in a minimum amount
of
Β£5,000,000 and an integral multiple of
Β£1,000,000.
|
Β
(c)
|
Any
cancellation in part will be applied against the relevant Commitment
of
each Lender pro
rata.
|
Β
9.6
|
Involuntary
prepayment and cancellation
|
Β
(a)
|
If
the Company is, or will be, required to pay to a Lender a Tax Payment
or
an Increased Cost, the Company may, while the requirement continues,
give
notice to the Facility Agent requesting prepayment and cancellation
in
respect of that Lender.
|
Β
(b)
|
After
notification under paragraph (a)
above:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Company must repay or prepay that Lender's share in each Loan made
to it
on the date specified in paragraph (c) below;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Commitments of that Lender will be immediately
cancelled.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
date for repayment or prepayment of a Lender's share in a Loan will
be the
last day of the current Term for that Loan or, if earlier, the date
specified by the Company in its
notification.
|
Β
9.7
|
Partial
prepayment of Term-Out
Loans
|
Β
No
amount
of a Term-Out Loan repaid or prepaid under this Agreement may subsequently
be
re-borrowed.
Β
9.8
|
Re-borrowing
of Loans (other than Term-Out
Loans)
|
Β
Any
voluntary prepayment of a Loan (other than a Term-Out Loan) may be re-borrowed
on the terms of this Agreement. Any mandatory or involuntary prepayment of
a
Loan may not be re-borrowed.
Β
9.9
|
Miscellaneous
provisions
|
Β
(a)
|
Any
notice of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement is
irrevocable and must specify the relevant date(s) and the affected
Loans
and Commitments. The Facility Agent must notify the Lenders promptly
of
receipt of any such notice.
|
Β
(b)
|
All
prepayments under this Agreement must be made with accrued interest
on the
amount prepaid. No premium or penalty is payable in respect of any
prepayment except for Break Costs.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
Majority Lenders may agree a shorter notice period for a voluntary
prepayment or a voluntary cancellation.
|
Β
(d)
|
No
prepayment or cancellation is allowed except in accordance with the
express terms of this Agreement.
|
Β
(e)
|
No
amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may
subsequently be reinstated.
|
Β
10.
|
INTEREST
|
Β
10.1
|
Calculation
of interest
|
Β
The
rate
of interest on each Loan for each Term is the percentage rate per annum equal
to
the aggregate of the applicable:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
Margin;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
LIBOR;
and
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
Mandatory
Cost.
|
Β
10.2
|
Payment
of interest
|
Β
Except
where it is provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company must pay
accrued interest on each Loan made to it on the last day of each Term and also,
if the Term is longer than six months, on the dates falling at six-monthly
intervals after the first day of that Term.
Β
10.3
|
Interest
on overdue amounts
|
Β
(a)
|
If
the Company fails to pay any amount payable by it under the Finance
Documents, it must immediately on demand by the Facility Agent pay
interest on the overdue amount from its due date up to the date of
actual
payment, both before, on and after
judgment.
|
Β
(b)
|
Interest
on an overdue amount is payable at a rate determined by the Facility
Agent
to be 1% per annum above the rate which would have been payable if
the
overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted
a Loan
in the currency of the overdue amount. For this purpose, the Facility
Agent may (acting reasonably):
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
select
successive Terms of any duration of up to three months;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
determine
the appropriate Rate Fixing Day for that
Term.
|
Β
(c)
|
Notwithstanding
paragraph (b) above, if the overdue amount is a principal amount
of a Loan
and becomes due and payable prior to the last day of its current
Term,
then:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
first Term for that overdue amount will be the unexpired portion
of that
Term; and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
rate of interest on the overdue amount for that first Term will be
1% per
annum above the rate then payable on that
Loan.
|
Β
After
the
expiry of the first Term for that overdue amount, the rate on the overdue amount
will be calculated in accordance with paragraph (b) above.
Β
(d)
|
Interest
(if unpaid) on an overdue amount will be compounded with that overdue
amount at the end of each of its Terms but will remain immediately
due and
payable.
|
Β
10.4
|
Notification
of rates of interest
|
Β
The
Facility Agent must promptly notify each relevant Party of the determination
of
a rate of interest under this Agreement.
Β
10.5
|
Margin
|
Β
(a)
|
The
applicable Margin for all Loans will be determined in accordance
with the
table below, with the applicable Margin for Loans being determined
by
reference to the percentage rate per annum specified in Column 2
as set
out below opposite the long term credit rating assigned to the Company
and
published by Xxxxx'x and/or S&P as specified in Column
1:
|
Β
Β
Column
1 Credit Rating (S&P/Xxxxx'x)
|
Column
2 Margin
%
|
Β
A-/A3
(or higher)
|
0.30
|
Β
BBB+/Baa1
|
0.35
|
Β
BBB/Baa2
|
0.45
|
Β
BBB-/Baa3
(or lower)
|
0.55
|
Β
(b)
|
Initially
the applicable Margin shall be 0.35 per
cent.
|
Β
(c)
|
During
any period in which (i) an Event of Default is outstanding; and/or
(ii)
there is no long term credit rating assigned to the Company by either
S&P or Xxxxx'x, the applicable Margin shall be 0.55% per
annum.
|
Β
(d)
|
In
the event that the long term credit ratings assigned to the Company
by
S&P and Xxxxx'x would indicate a different Margin under (a) above then
the lower of the two credit ratings shall apply to determine the
applicable Margin, save that, in the event that there is more than
one
notch difference between the two credit ratings, then the middle
level
shall apply to determine the applicable Margin and, in the event
that
there are an even number of levels between the two credit ratings
(and
therefore no middle level) the higher of the two middle levels shall
be
used to determine the applicable
Margin.
|
Β
(e)
|
Any
adjustment to the Margin pursuant to paragraphs (a) to (d) above
shall be
made on the date of publication by S&P and/or Xxxxx'x of a long term
credit rating of the Company (or an amendment of a previously published
rating) or on the date in which no long term credit rating is assigned
to
the Company, if such publication (or amendment) would result in a
change
in the Margin as provided above and, for the avoidance of doubt,
such
adjustment shall apply to Loans currently outstanding at such date
of
publication and with effect from such
date.
|
Β
(f)
|
Promptly
after becoming aware of the same, the Company shall inform the Facility
Agent in writing if any of the circumstances contemplated by subclauses
10.5(c) through (d) apply.
|
Β
11.
|
TERMS
|
Β
11.1
|
Selection
- Term-Out Loans
|
Β
(a)
|
Each
Term-Out Loan has successive Terms.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Company must select the first Term-Out for a Term-Out Loan in the
relevant
notice under Clause 2.3 (Term-out Option) and each subsequent Term
in an
irrevocable notice received by the Facility Agent not later than
11.00
a.m. one Business Day before the Rate Fixing Day for that Term. Each
Term
for a Term-Out Loan will start on its Utilisation Date or on the
expiry of
its preceding Term.
|
Β
(c)
|
If
the Company fails to select a Term for an outstanding Term-Out Loan
under
paragraph (b) above, that Term will, subject to the other provisions
of
this Clause, be one month.
|
Β
(d)
|
Subject
to the following provisions of this Clause, each Term for a Term-Out
Loan
will be one, two, three or six months or any other period agreed
by the
Company and the Lenders.
|
Β
11.2
|
Selection
- Loans
|
Β
(a)
|
Each
Loan (other than a Term-Out Loan) has one Term
only.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Company must select the Term for a Loan in the relevant
Request.
|
Β
(c)
|
Subject
to the following provisions of this Clause, each Term for a Loan
will be
one, two, three or six months or for a period of one to thirty days
duration as selected by the Company or any other period agreed by
the
Company and the Lenders.
|
Β
11.3
|
Consolidation
- Term-Out Loans
|
Β
(a)
|
Unless
the Company otherwise requests, a Term for a Term-Out Loan will end
on the
same day as the current Term for any other Term-Out Loan denominated
in
the same currency as that Term-Out Loan. On the last day of those
Terms,
those Term-Out Loans will be consolidated and treated as one Term-Out
Loan.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Company may select different Terms for any portion of a Term-Out
Loan on
the last day of the Term of that Term-Out Loan provided such portion
is a
minimum of Β£5,000,000 and an integral multiple of Β£1,000,000. Any such
portion shall be treated as a separate
Loan.
|
Β
11.4
|
No
overrunning the Final Maturity
Date
|
Β
If
a Term
would otherwise overrun the Final Maturity Date, it will be shortened so that
it
ends on the Final Maturity Date.
Β
11.5
|
Other
adjustments
|
Β
The
Facility Agent and the Company may enter into such other arrangements as they
may agree for the adjustment of Terms and the consolidation and/or splitting
of
Loans.
Β
11.6
|
Notification
|
Β
The
Facility Agent must notify the Company and the Lenders of the duration of each
Term promptly after ascertaining its duration.
Β
12.
|
MARKET
DISRUPTION
|
Β
12.1
|
Failure
of a Reference Bank to supply a
rate
|
Β
If
LIBOR
is to be calculated by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank
does not supply a rate by 12.00 noon on a Rate Fixing Day, the applicable LIBOR
will, subject as provided below, be calculated on the basis of the rates of
the
remaining Reference Banks.
Β
12.2
|
Market
disruption
|
Β
(a)
|
In
this Clause, each of the following events is a market
disruption event:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
LIBOR
is to be calculated by reference to the Reference Banks but no, or
only
one, Reference Bank supplies a rate by 12.00 noon on the Rate Fixing
Day;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Facility Agent receives by close of business on the Rate Fixing Day
notification from Lenders whose shares in the relevant Loan exceed
50% of
that Loan that such Lenders are unable to obtain matching deposits
in the
relevant interbank market or the rate at which they can do so is
in excess
of LIBOR for the relevant Term.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent must promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of
a
market disruption event.
|
Β
(c)
|
After
notification under paragraph (b) above, the rate of interest on each
Lender's share in the affected Loan for the relevant Term will be
the
aggregate of the applicable:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
Margin;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
rate
notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable,
and
in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that
Term, to
be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to
that
Lender of funding its share in that Loan from whatever source it
may
reasonably select; and
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
Mandatory
Cost.
|
Β
12.3
|
Alternative
basis of interest or
funding
|
Β
(a)
|
If
a market disruption event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Company
so
requires, the Company and the Facility Agent must enter into negotiations
for a period of not more than 30 days with a view to agreeing an
alternative basis for determining the rate of interest and/or funding
for
the affected Loan and any future Loan.
|
Β
(b)
|
Any
alternative basis agreed will be, with the prior consent of all the
Lenders, binding on all the
Parties.
|
Β
13.
|
TAXES
|
Β
13.1
|
General
|
Β
In
this
Clause:
Β
Tax
Credit
means a
credit against any Tax or any relief or remission for Tax (or its
repayment).
Β
U.K.
Lender
means a
Lender which is within the charge to U.K. corporation tax in respect of, and
beneficially entitled to, a payment of interest on a Loan made by a person
that
was a bank for the purposes of section 349 of the Income and Corporation Taxes
Act 1988 (as currently defined in section 840A of the Income and Corporation
Taxes Act 1988) at the time the Loan was made.
Β
13.2
|
Tax
gross-up
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must make all payments to be made by it under the Finance
Documents without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required
by
law.
|
Β
(b)
|
If:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
a
Lender is not, or ceases to be, a U.K. Lender;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Company or a Lender is aware that the Company must make a Tax Deduction
(or that there is a change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction),
|
Β
it
must
promptly notify the Facility Agent. The Facility Agent must then promptly notify
the affected Parties.
Β
(c)
|
Except
as provided below, if a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made
by the
Company or the Facility Agent, the amount of the payment due from
the
Company will be increased to an amount which (after making the Tax
Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have
been due
if no Tax Deduction had been
required.
|
Β
(d)
|
Except
as provided below, the Company is not required to make an increased
payment under paragraph (c) above to a Lender that is not, or has
ceased
to be, a U.K. Lender in excess of the amount that the Company would
have
had to pay had the Lender been, or not ceased to be, a U.K. Lender.
|
Β
(e)
|
Paragraph
(d) above will not apply if the Lender has ceased to be a U.K. Lender
by
reason of any change after the date it became a Lender under this
Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application
of)
any law or double taxation agreement or any published practice or
concession of any relevant taxing
authority.
|
Β
(f)
|
Where
a Lender fails to give notice under paragraph (b) above within 60
days
after it obtains knowledge (or, after reasonable due enquiry, ought
to
have obtained knowledge) of such event, then such Lender shall, with
respect to any claim made by it under this Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up),
only be entitled to claim an increased payment for the period from
and
after the date that is 60 days prior to the date on which the Lender
does
give notice.
|
Β
(g)
|
If
the Company is required to make a Tax Deduction, it must make the
minimum
Tax Deduction and must make any payment required in connection with
that
Tax Deduction within the time allowed by
law.
|
Β
(h)
|
Within
30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or a payment required in
connection with a Tax Deduction, the Company must deliver to the
Facility
Agent for the relevant Finance Party evidence satisfactory to that
Finance
Party (acting reasonably) that the Tax Deduction has been made or
(as
applicable) the appropriate payment has been paid to the relevant
taxing
authority.
|
Β
13.3
|
Tax
indemnity
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, the Company must indemnify a Finance Party against
any
loss or liability which that Finance Party (in its absolute discretion)
determines will be or has been suffered (directly or indirectly)
by that
Finance Party for or on account of Tax in relation to a payment received
or receivable (or any payment deemed to be received or receivable)
under a
Finance Document.
|
Β
(b)
|
Paragraph
(a) above does not apply to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party under
the
laws of the jurisdiction in which:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
that
Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction
(or
jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident
for tax
purposes; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
that
Finance Party's Facility Office is located in respect of amounts
received
or receivable in that jurisdiction,
|
Β
if
that
Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or
receivable by that Finance Party. However, any payment deemed to be received
or
receivable, including any amount treated as income but not actually received
by
the Finance Party, such as a Tax Deduction, will not be treated as net income
received or receivable for this purpose.
Β
(c)
|
A
Finance Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph
(a)
above must promptly notify the Company of the event which will give,
or
has given, rise to the claim.
|
Β
13.4
|
Tax
Credit
|
Β
If
the
Company makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party has obtained and
used
any Tax Credit that is attributable to that Tax Payment, then, if in its
discretion (acting reasonably) it can do so without any further adverse
consequences for it, that Finance Party must pay an amount to the Company which
that Finance Party determines (in its discretion, acting reasonably) will leave
it (after that payment) in the same after-tax position as it would have been
in
if the Tax Payment had not been required to be made by the Company. The relevant
Finance Party shall take those steps it considers reasonable to seek and claim
any tax credit.
Β
13.5
|
Tax
Warranty of Lenders
|
Β
Each
Lender severally warrants to the Company on the date it becomes a Lender that
it
is a U.K. Lender. A Lender must promptly notify the Company if it ceases to
be a
U.K. Lender after this Agreement is entered into.
Β
13.6
|
Stamp
taxes
|
Β
The
Company must pay and indemnify each Finance Party against any stamp duty,
registration or other similar Tax payable in connection with the entry into,
performance or enforcement of any Finance Document, except for any such Tax
payable in connection with the entry into of a Transfer
Certificate.
Β
13.7
|
Value
added taxes
|
Β
(a)
|
All
costs and expenses payable under a Finance Document by the Company
is
exclusive of any value added tax or any other Tax of a similar nature
which might be chargeable in connection with that amount. If any
such Tax
is chargeable, the Company must pay to the Finance Party (in addition
to
and at the same time as paying that amount) an amount equal to the
amount
of that Tax.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
obligation of the Company under paragraph (a) above will be reduced
to the
extent that the Finance Party determines (acting reasonably) that
it is
entitled to repayment or a credit in respect of the relevant
Tax.
|
Β
14.
|
INCREASED
COSTS
|
Β
14.1
|
Increased
Costs
|
Β
Except
as
provided below in this Clause, the Company must pay to a Finance Party the
amount of any Increased Cost incurred by that Finance Party or any of its
Affiliates as a result of:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
introduction of, or any change in, or any change in the interpretation
or
application of, any law or regulation;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
compliance
with any law or regulation,
|
Β
made
after the date of this Agreement.
Β
14.2
|
Exceptions
|
Β
The
Company need not make any payment for an Increased Cost to the extent that
the
Increased Cost is:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
compensated
for under another Clause or would have been but for an exception
to that
Clause;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
a
Tax on the overall net income of a Finance Party or any of its
Affiliates;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
attributable
to a Finance Party or its Affiliate wilfully failing to comply with
any
law or regulation; or
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
attributable
to the implementation or application of or compliance with the
"International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards,
a
Revised Framework" published by Basel Committee on Banking and Supervision
in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement
(Basel
II)
or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether
such
implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator,
Finance Party or any of its Affiliates);
or
|
Β
Β |
(e)
|
incurred
in any period or periods ending prior to the date falling 60 days
before
the date any demand in relation to that Increased Cost is made (save
where
the relevant Finance Party (after due enquiry) was unaware of the
existence of such Increased Cost or where such Increased Cost is
caused by
reason of a change in (or in the interpretation, administration or
application of) law with retrospective
effect).
|
Β
14.3
|
Claims
|
Β
A
Finance
Party intending to make a claim for an Increased Cost must notify the Company
promptly of the circumstances giving rise to, and the amount of, the
claim.
Β
15.
|
MITIGATION
|
Β
15.1
|
Mitigation
|
Β
(a)
|
Each
Finance Party must, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable
steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which result
or would
result in:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
Tax Payment or Increased Cost being payable to that Finance Party;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
that
Finance Party being able to exercise any right of prepayment and/or
cancellation under this Agreement by reason of any
illegality;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
that
Finance Party incurring any cost of complying with the minimum reserve
requirements of the European Central Bank;
or
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
the
occurrence of any market disruption
event,
|
Β
including
transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to an
Affiliate or changing its Facility Office.
Β
(b)
|
A
Finance Party is not obliged to take any step under this Subclause
if, in
the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might
be
prejudicial to it.
|
Β
(c)
|
Each
Finance Party must promptly notify the Company of any circumstances
as
described in 15.1(a)(i) to (iv).
|
Β
(d)
|
The
Company must indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses
reasonably incurred by it as a result of any step taken under this
Clause
15.1 (Mitigation).
|
Β
15.2
|
Substitution
|
Β
Notwithstanding
Clauses 15.1, if any circumstances arise which result in:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
any
Tax Payment or Increased Cost being payable to that Finance Party;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
that
Finance Party being able to exercise any right of prepayment and/or
cancellation under this Agreement by reason of any illegality;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
that
Finance Party incurring any cost of complying with the minimum reserve
requirements of the European Central Bank;
or
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
the
occurrence of any market disruption
event,
|
Β
then
the
Company, at its expense, at any time within 180 days after the occurrence of
the
relevant event or circumstance, so long as no Default is outstanding, may by
notice to such Finance Party require it (and, if applicable, its Affiliate)
to
novate its rights and obligations hereunder (including its Commitments and
its
share of any Loans) in accordance with Clause 28 (Changes to the Parties) to
a
bank or financial institution specified by the Company and acceptable to the
Facility Agent which is willing to take such a novation as aforesaid provided
that:
Β
Β |
(e)
|
such
novation shall not conflict with or violate any law applicable to
or
binding on such Finance Party (or, if applicable, its Affiliate);
and
|
Β
Β |
(f)
|
the
Company shall have paid to the Finance Party (or, if applicable,
its
Affiliate) all amounts accrued and owing
hereunder.
|
Β
Β |
(g)
|
Notwithstanding
the above, the Company shall not be entitled to require a novation
under
this Clause 15.2 with respect to any Finance Party
if:
|
Β
Β |
(h)
|
the
relevant Finance Party shall have mitigated the effect of the relevant
event or circumstance as provided in Clause 15.1(a), and the novation
would have no greater or further mitigating effect;
or
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
relevant event or circumstances are applicable to all Finance
Parties.
|
Β
15.3
|
Conduct
of business by a Finance
Party
|
Β
No
term
of this Agreement will:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
interfere
with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (Tax or
otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit or oblige any Finance
Party to
investigate or claim any Tax Credit;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
oblige
any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs
(Tax
or otherwise) or any computation in respect of Tax.
|
Β
16.
|
PAYMENTS
|
Β
16.1
|
Place
|
Β
Unless
a
Finance Document specifies that payments under it are to be made in another
manner, all payments by a Party (other than the Facility Agent) under the
Finance Documents must be made to the Facility Agent to its account at such
office or bank:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
in
the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
in
the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating
Member State or London,
|
Β
as
it may
notify to that Party for this purpose by not less than five Business Days'
prior
notice.
Β
16.2
|
Funds
|
Β
Payments
under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent must be made for value on
the
due date at such times and in such funds as the Facility Agent may specify
to
the Party concerned as being customary at the time for the settlement of
transactions in the relevant currency in the place for payment.
Β
16.3
|
Distribution
|
Β
(a)
|
Each
payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents
for
another Party must, except as provided below, be made available by
the
Facility Agent to that Party by payment (as soon as practicable after
receipt) to its account with such office or
bank:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
in
the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
in
the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating
Member State or London,
|
Β
as
it may
notify to the Facility Agent for this purpose by not less than five Business
Days' prior notice.
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent may apply any amount received by it for the Company
in or
towards payment (as soon as practicable after receipt) of any amount
due
from the Company under the Finance Documents or in or towards the
purchase
of any amount of any currency to be so
applied.
|
Β
(c)
|
Where
a sum is paid to the Facility Agent under this Agreement for another
Party, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that
Party
until it has established that it has actually received it. However,
the
Facility Agent may assume that the sum has been paid to it, and,
in
reliance on that assumption, make available to that Party a corresponding
amount. If it transpires that the sum has not been received by the
Facility Agent, that Party must immediately on demand by the Facility
Agent refund any corresponding amount made available to it together
with
interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt
by
the Facility Agent at a rate calculated by the Facility Agent to
reflect
its cost of funds.
|
Β
16.4
|
Currency
|
Β
(a)
|
Unless
a Finance Document specifies that payments under it are to be made
in a
different manner, the currency of each amount payable under the Finance
Documents is determined under this
Clause.
|
Β
(b)
|
Interest
is payable in the currency in which the relevant amount in respect
of
which it is payable is denominated.
|
Β
(c)
|
A
repayment or prepayment of any principal amount is payable in the
currency
in which that principal amount is denominated on its due
date.
|
Β
(d)
|
Amounts
payable in respect of costs and expenses are payable in the currency
in
which they are incurred.
|
Β
(e)
|
Each
other amount payable under the Finance Documents is payable in
Sterling.
|
Β
16.5
|
No
set-off or counterclaim
|
Β
All
payments made by the Company under the Finance Documents must be made without
set-off or counterclaim.
Β
16.6
|
Business
Days
|
Β
(a)
|
If
a payment under the Finance Documents is due on a day which is not
a
Business Day, the due date for that payment will instead be the next
Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the
preceding
Business Day (if there is not) or whatever day the Facility Agent
determines is market practice.
|
Β
(b)
|
During
any extension of the due date for payment of any principal under
this
Agreement interest is payable on that principal at the rate payable
on the
original due date.
|
Β
16.7
|
Partial
payments
|
Β
(a)
|
If
any Administrative Party receives a payment insufficient to discharge
all
the amounts then due and payable by the Company under the Finance
Documents, the Administrative Party must apply that payment towards
the
obligations of the Company under the Finance Documents in the following
order:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
first,
in or towards payment pro
rata
of
any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Administrative Parties
under
the Finance Documents;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
secondly,
in or towards payment pro
rata
of
any accrued interest or fee due but unpaid under this
Agreement;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
thirdly,
in or towards payment pro
rata
of
any principal amount due but unpaid under this Agreement;
and
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
fourthly,
in or towards payment pro
rata
of
any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance
Documents.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent must, if so directed by all the Lenders, vary the
order set
out in subparagraphsΒ (a)(ii) to (iv)
above.
|
Β
(c)
|
This
Subclause will override any appropriation made by the
Company.
|
Β
16.8
|
Timing
of payments
|
Β
If
a
Finance Document does not provide for when a particular payment is due, that
payment will be due within three Business Days of demand by the relevant Finance
Party.
Β
17.
|
REPRESENTATIONS
|
Β
17.1
|
Representations
|
Β
The
representations set out in this Clause are made by the Company to each Finance
Party.
Β
17.2
|
Status
|
Β
It
is a
limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the
Companies XxxΒ 0000 in England and Wales.
Β
17.3
|
Powers
and authority
|
Β
It
has
the power to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary action to
authorise the entry into and performance of, the Finance Documents to which
it
is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance
Documents.
Β
17.4
|
Legal
validity
|
Β
Subject
to any general principles of law limiting its obligations and referred to in
any
legal opinion required under this Agreement, each Finance Document to which
it
is a party is its legally binding, valid and enforceable
obligation.
Β
17.5
|
Non-conflict
|
Β
The
entry
into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance
Documents do not conflict with any borrowing or other power or restricted
granted or imposed by:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
any
law or regulation applicable to it and violation of which has or
is likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
its
constitutional documents.
|
Β
17.6
|
No
Event of Default
|
Β
No
Event
of Default is outstanding or will result from the execution of, or the
performance of any transaction contemplated by, any Finance
Document.
Β
17.7
|
Authorisations
|
Β
All
authorisations required by it (including any authorisations required under
PUHCA
or the Act, if any) in connection with the entry into, performance, validity
and
enforceability of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents
have been obtained or effected (as appropriate) and are in full force and
effect.
Β
17.8
|
Financial
statements
|
Β
Its
audited consolidated financial statements most recently delivered to the
Facility Agent (which, at the date of this Agreement, are the Original Financial
Statements):
Β
Β |
(a)
|
have
been prepared in accordance with accounting principles and practices
generally accepted in its jurisdiction of incorporation, consistently
applied; and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
fairly
represent its consolidated financial condition as at the date to
which
they were drawn up,
|
Β
except,
in each case, as disclosed to the contrary in those financial
statements.
Β
17.9
|
No
material adverse change
|
Β
Other
than as disclosed in writing to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date
of
this Agreement there has been no material adverse change in its consolidated
financial condition since the date to which the Original Financial Statements
were drawn up.
Β
17.10
|
Litigation
|
Β
No
litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings are current or, to its
knowledge, pending or threatened, which, if adversely determined, are reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Β
17.11
|
Winding
Up
|
Β
No
meeting has been convened for its Winding-up and, so far as it is aware, no
petition, application or the like is outstanding for its Winding
up.
Β
17.12
|
Non-Violation
of other Agreements:
|
Β
Its
entry
into, exercise of its rights and/or performance of or compliance with its
obligations under this Agreement do not and will not violate, to an extent
or in
a manner which has or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on it, any
agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it.
Β
17.13
|
Times
for making representations
|
Β
(a)
|
The
representations set out in this Clause are made by the Company on
the date
of this Agreement.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
representations in Clauses 17.2 to 17.7 (inclusive) are deemed to
be
repeated by the Company on the date of each Request and the first
day of
each Term.
|
Β
(c)
|
When
a representation is repeated, it is applied to the circumstances
existing
at the time of repetition.
|
Β
18.
|
INFORMATION
COVENANTS
|
Β
18.1
|
Financial
statements
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must supply to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for
all the
Lenders:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
its
audited consolidated financial statements for each of its financial
years;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
its
interim financial statements for the first half-year of each of its
financial years.
|
Β
(b)
|
All
financial statements must be supplied as soon as they are available
and:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
in
the case of the Company's audited consolidated financial statements,
within 180 days; and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
in
the case of the Company's interim financial statements, within 90
days,
|
Β
(c)
|
of
the end of the relevant financial
period.
|
Β
18.2
|
Form
of Financial Statement
|
Β
If
any
financial statement delivered or to be delivered to the Facility Agent under
Clause 18.1 is not to be or, as the case may be, has not been prepared in
accordance with Applicable Accounting Principles:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
The
Company and the Facility Agent (on behalf of and after consultation
with
all the Lenders) shall, on the request of the Facility Agent or the
Company, negotiate in good faith with a view to agreeing such amendments
to the above financial ratio and/or the definitions of the terms
used in
it as are necessary to give the Lenders comparable protection to
that
contemplated at the date of this Agreement;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
If
amendments are agreed by the Company and the Majority Lenders within
25
days, those amendments shall take effect in accordance with the terms
of
that agreement;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
If
such amendments are not so agreed within 25 days, the Company
shall:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
within
30 days after the end of that 25 day period;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
with
all subsequent financial statements to be delivered to the Facility
Agent
under Clause 18.1,
|
Β
deliver
to the Facility Agent details of all such adjustments as need to be made to
the
relevant financial statements to bring them into line with the Companies Xxx
0000 (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) and Applicable Accounting
Principles.
Β
18.3
|
Compliance
Certificate
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must supply to the Facility Agent a Compliance Certificate
with
each set of its financial statements, sent to the Facility Agent
under
this Agreement.
|
Β
(b)
|
A
Compliance Certificate must be signed by two directors of the
Company.
|
Β
18.4
|
Information
- miscellaneous
|
Β
The
Company must supply to the Facility Agent, in sufficient copies for all the
Lenders if the Facility Agent so requests:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
copies
of all documents despatched by the Company to its creditors generally
or
any class of them at the same time as they are
despatched;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
promptly
upon becoming aware of them, details of any litigation, arbitration
or
administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending
and
which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse
Effect;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
promptly
on request, a list of the then current Material Subsidiaries; and
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
promptly
on request, such further information regarding the financial condition
and
operations of the Group as any Finance Party through the Facility
Agent
may reasonably request.
|
Β
18.5
|
Notification
of Default
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps,
if
any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its
occurrence.
|
Β
(b)
|
Promptly
on request by the Facility Agent, the Company must supply to the
Facility
Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors on its behalf,
certifying that no Default is outstanding or, if a Default is outstanding,
specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy
it.
|
Β
18.6
|
Use
of websites
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, the Company may deliver any information under
this
Agreement to a Lender by posting it on to an electronic website
if:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Facility Agent and the Lender
agree;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Company and the Facility Agent designate an electronic website for
this
purpose;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
the
Company notifies the Facility Agent of the address of and password
for the
website; and
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
the
information posted is in a format agreed between the Company and
the
Facility Agent.
|
Β
The
Facility Agent must supply each relevant Lender with the address of and password
for the website.
Β
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
the above, the Company must supply to the Facility Agent in paper
form a
copy of any information posted on the website together with sufficient
copies for:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
Lender not agreeing to receive information via the website;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
within
ten Business Days of request any other Lender, if that Lender so
requests.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
Company must promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence, notify
the
Facility Agent if:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
website cannot be accessed;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
website or any information on the website is infected by any electronic
virus or similar software;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
the
password for the website is changed;
or
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
any
information to be supplied under this Agreement is posted on the
website
or amended after being posted.
|
Β
If
the
circumstances in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above occur, the Company must supply
any
information required under this Agreement in paper form.
Β
18.7
|
Know
your customer requirements
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must promptly on the request of any Finance Party supply
to that
Finance Party any documentation or other evidence which is reasonably
requested by that Finance Party (whether for itself, on behalf of
any
Finance Party or any prospective new Lender) to enable a Finance
Party or
prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied with the results
of
all applicable know your customer
requirements.
|
Β
(b)
|
Each
Lender must promptly on the request of the Facility Agent supply
to the
Facility Agent any documentation or other evidence which is reasonably
required by the Facility Agent to carry out and be satisfied with
the
results of all know your customer
requirements.
|
Β
19.
|
FINANCIAL
COVENANTS
|
Β
19.1
|
Definitions
|
Β
In
this
Clause:
Β
Consolidated
EBITDA
means
the consolidated net pre-taxation profits of the Group for a Measurement Period
as adjusted by:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
adding
back Interest Payable;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
taking
no account of any exceptional or extraordinary
item;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
excluding
any amount attributable to minority
interests;
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
adding
back depreciation and amortisation;
and
|
Β
Β |
(e)
|
taking
no account of any revaluation of an asset or any loss or gain over
book
value arising on the disposal of an asset (otherwise than in the
ordinary
course of trading) by a member of the Group during that Measurement
Period.
|
Β
Interest
Payable
means,
in relation to any Measurement Period, all interest payable and similar charges
of the Group expressed in Sterling and determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with Applicable Accounting Principles.
Β
Measurement
Period
means a
half-year of the Company.
Β
Regulatory
Asset Base
means
the regulatory asset base of the Company most recently published by
OFGEM.
Β
Total
Gross Debt
means,
in respect of the Company, at any time the consolidated Financial Indebtedness
of the Company which is required to be accounted for as debt in the annual
financial statements of the Company.
Β
19.2
|
Interpretation
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided to the contrary in this Agreement, an accounting term
used in
this Clause is to be construed in accordance with the principles
applied
in connection with the Original Financial
Statements.
|
Β
(b)
|
Any
amount in a currency other than Sterling is to be taken into account
at
its Sterling equivalent calculated on the basis
of:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Facility Agent's spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the relevant
currency in the London foreign exchange market with Sterling at or
about
11.00 a.m. on the day the relevant amount falls to be calculated;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
the amount is to be calculated on the last day of a financial period
of
the Company, the relevant rates of exchange used by the Company in,
or in
connection with, its financial statements for that
period.
|
Β
(c)
|
No
item must be credited or deducted more than once in any calculation
under
this Clause.
|
Β
19.3
|
Interest
cover
|
Β
The
Company must ensure that the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Payable
is
not, at the end of each Measurement Period, less than 3 to 1.
Β
19.4
|
Asset
Cover
|
Β
The
Company must ensure that the Regulatory Asset Base will exceed Total Gross
Debt
by at least Β£150,000,000 at all times.
Β
20.
|
GENERAL
COVENANTS
|
Β
20.1
|
General
|
Β
The
Company agrees to be bound by the covenants set out in this Clause relating
to
it and, where the covenant is expressed to apply to each member of the Group,
the Company must ensure that each of its Subsidiaries performs that
covenant.
Β
20.2
|
Authorisations
|
Β
The
Company must promptly obtain, maintain and comply with the terms of any
authorisation required under any law or regulation to enable it to perform
its
obligations under, or for the validity or enforceability of, any Finance
Document.
Β
20.3
|
Compliance
with laws
|
Β
Each
member of the Group must comply in all respects with all laws to which it is
subject where failure to do so is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Β
20.4
|
Pari
passu ranking
|
Β
The
Company must ensure that its payment obligations under the Finance Documents
rank at least pari
passu
with all
its other present and future unsecured payment obligations, except for
obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies
generally.
Β
20.5
|
Negative
pledge
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary
may
create or allow to exist any Security Interest on any of its
assets.
|
Β
(b)
|
Paragraph
(a) does not apply to:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
Security Interest created under or in connection with or arising
out of
the Balancing and Settlement Code or any transactions or arrangements
entered into in connection with the management of risks relating
thereto;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
in
respect of overdue amounts which have not been overdue for more than
30
days and/or are being contested in good faith, liens arising solely
by
operation of law or by order of a court or tribunal (or by an agreement
of
similar effect) and/or in the ordinary course of business or
operations;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
any
Security Interest created after the date of this Agreement for the
sole
purpose of re-financing all or any part of either Facility (at the
option
of the Company) provided that the monies borrowed or raised on such
Security Interest shall, to that extent, be applied reasonably promptly
in
accordance with this Agreement in or towards repayment of the relevant
Facility;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
any
Security Interest arising out of title retention provisions in a
supplier's standard conditions of supply of goods acquired in the
ordinary
course of business or operations;
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
any
Security Interest created on any asset acquired after the date of
this
Agreement for the sole purpose of financing or re-financing that
acquisition and securing a principal, capital or nominal amount not
exceeding the cost of that acquisition, provided that the Security
Interest is removed or discharged within six months of the date of
acquisition of such asset;
|
Β
Β |
(vi)
|
any
Security Interest outstanding on or over any asset acquired after
the date
of this Agreement and in existence at the date of such acquisition,
provided that the Security Interest is removed or discharged within
six
months of the date of acquisition of such
asset;
|
Β
Β |
(vii)
|
any
Security Interest created or outstanding on or over any asset of
any
company which becomes a Material Subsidiary of the Company after
the date
of this Agreement where such Security Interest is created prior to
the
date on which such company becomes a Material Subsidiary of the Company
and is not created or increased in contemplation of such Company
being
acquired and/or becoming a Material Subsidiary of the Company and
the
Security Interest is removed or discharged within six months of the
date
of such company becoming a Material Subsidiary of the
Company;
|
Β
Β |
(viii)
|
any
Security Interest created on any asset to secure any Financial
Indebtedness incurred in connection with the financing of any asset
or
project in respect of which the repayment of that Financial Indebtedness
is to be made from the revenues arising out of, or other proceeds
of
realisation from, that asset or project, with recourse to those revenues
and proceeds and other assets used in connection with, or forming
the
subject matter of, that asset or project but without recourse (or
with
such limited recourse as the Majority Banks may from time to time
agree)
to any other assets of the Group;
|
Β
Β |
(ix)
|
any
netting arrangements under any swap or other hedging transaction
which is
on standard market terms;
|
Β
Β |
(x)
|
any
Security Interest created or outstanding with the prior approval
of the
Majority Banks; and
|
Β
Β |
(xi)
|
any
Security Interest created or outstanding on or over assets of the
Company
or any of its Material Subsidiaries provided that the aggregate
outstanding principal or nominal amount secured by all Security Interests
created or outstanding under this exception on or over such assets
shall
not at any time exceed Β£25,000,000 or its
equivalent.
|
Β
20.6
|
Disposals
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, no member of the Group may, either in a single
transaction or in a series of transactions and whether related or
not,
dispose of all or any part of its assets (other than cash) which
is
substantial in the context of the consolidated total assets of the
Group.
|
Β
(b)
|
Paragraph
(a) does not apply to:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
disposal made in the ordinary course of business or operations of
the
disposing entity (including, without limitation, disposals of subsidiaries
or lines of business, provided that this shall not include a disposal
of
the core electricity distribution business);
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
disposals
on normal commercial terms of obsolete assets or assets no longer
required
for the purpose of the relevant Person's business or
operations;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
any
realisation of investments acquired, purchased or made by the temporary
application of funds not immediately required in the relevant Person's
business or operations;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
the
exchange of assets for other assets of a similar or superior nature
and
value, or the sale of assets on normal commercial terms for cash
which is
payable in full on the completion of the sale and is to be, and is,
applied in or towards the purchase of similar assets within six
months;
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
the
disposal of assets by one wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
to
another or (if the consideration for the disposal does not exceed
a normal
commercial consideration) to the Company by one of its
Subsidiaries;
|
Β
Β |
(vi)
|
disposals
of any National Grid shares on normal commercial
terms;
|
Β
Β |
(vii)
|
disposals
in connection with sale-and-leaseback or sale and repurchase transactions
or any other form of "off balance sheet" financing, provided that
the
aggregate book value (in the books of the disposing party) of all
assets
the subject of all such disposals made during the period commencing
on the
date of this Agreement and ending on the date when no amount remains
to be
lent or remains payable under this Agreement shall not exceed Β£50,000,000;
and
|
Β
Β |
(viii)
|
any
disposal which the Majority Banks shall have agreed shall not be
taken
into account.
|
Β
20.7
|
Change
of business
|
Β
The
Company shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature
of the business of the Company or the Group.
Β
20.8
|
Environmental
matters
|
Β
The
Company will and will ensure that its Material Subsidiaries will comply with
all
applicable Environmental Law and other regulations, orders or other law
applicable to the conduct of the business of the supply or distribution of
electricity, in each case, where failure to do so would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Β
20.9
|
Insurance
|
Β
Each
member of the Group must insure its business and assets with insurance companies
to such an extent and against such risks as that member of the Group reasonably
considers to be appropriate, having regard to the insurance arrangements of
companies engaged in similar business.
Β
20.10
|
Licence
|
Β
The
Company will:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
comply
in all respects with the terms of its Licence where failure to comply
would have a Material Adverse Effect or would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's ability to perform its obligations under
the
Licence;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
promptly
notify the Facility Agent upon receipt by the Company of any notice
from
the government, any court or any regulatory authority or agency of
a
revocation, termination, material adverse amendment, suspension or
withdrawal of the Licence unless contemporaneously that Licence is
to be
replaced, substituted or reissued on the same, or substantially the
same
or improved terms; and
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
comply
with the requirements of all applicable rules, regulations, orders
and
other requirements of the Secretary of State and/or OFGEM under the
Act of
any other law applicable to the conduct of the business of the
distribution of electricity, where failure to comply would have a
Material
Adverse Effect or would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
ability to perform its obligations under the Licence.
|
Β
20.11
|
Arm's
Length Transactions
|
Β
The
Company shall not (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group
shall) enter into any transactions with any member of the Group, a Holding
Company or any Affiliate of such Group or Holding Company except on arm's length
terms and for full market value (or on terms which are more favourable to the
Group).
Β
21.
|
DEFAULT
|
Β
21.1
|
Events
of Default
|
Β
Each
of
the events set out in this Clause is an Event of Default.
Β
21.2
|
Non-payment
|
Β
The
Company fails to pay any sum payable under any Finance Document when due
unless:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
its
failure to pay is caused by administrative or technical error;
and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
payment
is made within five Business Days of its due
date.
|
Β
21.3
|
Breach
of other obligations
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company does not perform or comply with its obligations under Clause
19
(Financial Covenants), Clause 20.5 (Negative pledge) or Clause 20.6
(Disposals).
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Company does not perform or comply with any of its other obligations
under
any Finance Document in any material respect or any representation
or
warranty by the Company in this Agreement or in any document delivered
under it is or proves to have been incorrect when made or deemed
repeated,
unless the non-compliance or circumstances giving rise to the
misrepresentation, as the case may be, is capable of remedy and is
not
remedied within 45 days of the earlier of the Facility Agent giving
notice
requiring the same to be remedied and the Company becoming aware
of such
non-compliance or misrepresentation, as the case may
be.
|
Β
21.4
|
Cross-acceleration
|
Β
Any
other
Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness of the Company
is cancelled or terminated or becomes due and payable before its normal maturity
(whether by declaration or automatically), in each case, by reason of default
on
the part of the Company or is not paid when due nor within any applicable grace
period, other than in circumstances where such default or liability to pay
is
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. However, no Event
of Default will occur under this Clause 21.4 unless and until the aggregate
amount of such Financial Indebtedness in respect of which one or more of the
events mentioned above in this ClauseΒ 21.4 has occurred exceeds Β£20,000,000
or its equivalent.
Β
21.5
|
Insolvency
|
Β
(a)
|
Any
of the following occurs in respect of the
Company:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
it
is unable to pay its debts generally as they fall due or it is deemed
by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be insolvent;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
it
suspends making payments on all or any class of its debts or publicly
announces an intention to do so;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
by
reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, it begins
negotiations with all or any class of its creditors for the general
rescheduling of its indebtedness;
or
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
a
moratorium is declared in respect of any of its
indebtedness.
|
Β
(b)
|
If
a moratorium occurs in respect of the Company, the ending of the
moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by the
moratorium.
|
Β
21.6
|
Insolvency
proceedings
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, any of the following occurs in respect of the
Company:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
person presents a petition for its winding-up, administration or
dissolution;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
an
order for its winding-up, administration or dissolution is made;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
any
liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory
manager,
receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer
is
appointed in respect of it or any of its assets;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
its
directors or other officers request the appointment of a liquidator,
trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver,
administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer;
or
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
any
other analogous step or procedure is taken in any
jurisdiction.
|
Β
(b)
|
Paragraph
(a) does not apply to (i) a petition for winding-up presented by
a
creditor which is being actively contested in good faith and with
due
diligence and with a reasonable prospect of success or (ii) a voluntary
solvent winding-up, amalgamation, reconstruction or reorganisation
or
otherwise part of a solvent scheme of arrangement, in each case on
terms
approved by the Majority Lenders.
|
Β
21.7
|
Creditors'
process
|
Β
A
distress, attachment, execution or other legal process material in relation
to
the Company's ability to perform its payment obligations under this Agreement
is
levied, enforced or sued out on or against the assets of the Company and is
not
discharged or stayed within 90 days.
Β
21.8
|
Licence
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Licence is revoked or surrendered or ceases to be held by the Company
other than in circumstances which permit the Company or its Affiliates
to
carry on the distribution business of the Company either without
a licence
as a result of any change in the Act or regulatory regime or with
a new
licence, permitting the distribution of electricity in the authorised
areas covered by the Licence, issued under the Act or pursuant to
the
Utilities Act, 2000; or
|
Β
(b)
|
the
Licence is amended in a manner that would have a Material Adverse
Effect
(excluding as a result of a price control review by
OFGEM).
|
Β
21.9
|
Balancing
and Settlement Code
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company ceases to be a party to the Balancing and Settlement Code
Framework Agreement other than in circumstances where the Company
is able
to carry its distribution business;
or
|
Β
(b)
|
the
Company breaches the Balancing and Settlement Code and such breach
has or
is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect other than
in
circumstances where the Company is able to carry on its distribution
business.
|
Β
21.10
|
Unlawfulness
|
Β
It
is or
becomes unlawful for the Company to perform any of its obligations under this
Agreement in any material respect.
Β
21.11
|
Repudiation
|
Β
The
Company repudiates a Finance Document or evidences an intention to repudiate
a
Finance Document.
Β
21.12
|
Acceleration
|
Β
If
an
Event of Default is outstanding, the Facility Agent may, and must if so
instructed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
cancel
the Total Commitments; and/or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
declare
that all or part of any amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents
are:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
immediately
due and payable; and/or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
payable
on demand by the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of the
Majority
Lenders.
|
Β
Any
notice given under this subclause will take effect in accordance with its
terms.
Β
22.
|
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PARTIES
|
Β
22.1
|
Appointment
and duties of the Facility
Agent
|
Β
(a)
|
Each
Finance Party (other than the Facility Agent) irrevocably appoints
the
Facility Agent to act as its agent under the Finance
Documents.
|
Β
(b)
|
Each
Finance Party irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent
to:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
perform
the duties and to exercise the rights, powers and discretions that
are
specifically given to it under the Finance Documents, together with
any
other incidental rights, powers and discretions;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
execute
each Finance Document expressed to be executed by the Facility
Agent.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
Facility Agent has only those duties which are expressly specified
in the
Finance Documents. Those duties are solely of a mechanical and
administrative nature.
|
Β
22.2
|
Role
of the Mandated Lead
Arranger
|
Β
Except
as
specifically provided in the Finance Documents, no Mandated Lead Arranger has
any obligations of any kind to any other Party in connection with any Finance
Document.
Β
22.3
|
No
fiduciary duties
|
Β
Except
as
specifically provided in a Finance Document, nothing in the Finance Documents
makes an Administrative Party a trustee or fiduciary for any other Party or
any
other person. No Administrative Party need hold in trust any moneys paid to
it
for a Party or be liable to account for interest on those moneys.
Β
22.4
|
Individual
position of an Administrative
Party
|
Β
(a)
|
If
it is also a Lender, each Administrative Party has the same rights
and
powers under the Finance Documents as any other Lender and may exercise
those rights and powers as though it were not an Administrative
Party.
|
Β
(b)
|
Each
Administrative Party may:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
carry
on any business with the Company or its related entities (including
acting
as an agent or a trustee for any other financing);
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
retain
any profits or remuneration it receives under the Finance Documents
or in
relation to any other business it carries on with the Company or
its
related entities.
|
Β
22.5
|
Reliance
|
Β
The
Facility Agent may:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
rely
on any notice or document believed by it to be genuine and correct
and to
have been signed by, or with the authority of, the proper
person;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
rely
on any statement made by any person regarding any matters which may
reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power
to
verify;
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
engage,
pay for and rely on professional advisers selected by it (including
those
representing a Party other than the Facility Agent);
and
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
act
under the Finance Documents through its personnel and
agents.
|
Β
22.6
|
Majority
Lenders' instructions
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent is fully protected if it acts on the instructions
of the
Majority Lenders in the exercise of any right, power or discretion
or any
matter not expressly provided for in the Finance Documents. Any such
instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all
the
Lenders. In the absence of instructions, the Facility Agent may act
as it
considers to be in the best interests of all the
Lenders.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without
first obtaining that Lender's consent) in any legal or arbitration
proceedings in connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
Facility Agent may require the receipt of security satisfactory to
it,
whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise, against any liability
or loss which it may incur in complying with the instructions of
the
Majority Lenders.
|
Β
22.7
|
Responsibility
|
Β
(a)
|
No
Administrative Party is responsible to any other Finance Party for
the
adequacy, accuracy or completeness
of:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
Finance Document or any other document;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
any
statement or information (whether written or oral) made in or supplied
in
connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(b)
|
Without
affecting the responsibility of the Company for information supplied
by it
or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender
confirms that it:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
has
made, and will continue to make, its own independent appraisal of
all
risks arising under or in connection with the Finance Documents (including
the financial condition and affairs of the Company and its related
entities and the nature and extent of any recourse against any Party
or
its assets); and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
has
not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by any
Administrative Party in connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(c)
|
(i)
|
Nothing
in this Agreement will oblige the Facility Agent to satisfy any know
your
customer requirement in relation to the identity of any person on
behalf
of any Finance Party.
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
Each
Finance Party confirms to the Facility Agent that it is solely responsible
for any know your customer requirements it is required to carry out
and
that it may not rely on any statement in relation to those requirements
made by any other person.
|
Β
22.8
|
Exclusion
of liability
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent is not liable or responsible to any other Finance
Party for
any action taken or not taken by it in connection with any Finance
Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful
misconduct.
|
Β
(b)
|
No
Party may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent
of
the Facility Agent in respect of any claim it might have against
the
Facility Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by
that
officer, employee or agent in connection with any Finance Document.
Any
officer, employee or agent of the Facility Agent may rely on this
Subclause and enforce its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third
Parties) Xxx 0000.
|
Β
22.9
|
Default
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent is not obliged to monitor or enquire whether a Default
has
occurred. The Facility Agent is not deemed to have knowledge of the
occurrence of a Default.
|
Β
(b)
|
If
the Facility Agent:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
receives
notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default
and
stating that the event is a Default;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
is
aware of the non-payment of any principal or interest or any fee
payable
to a Lender under this Agreement,
|
Β
it
must
promptly notify the Lenders.
Β
22.10
|
Information
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent must promptly forward to the person concerned the
original
or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Facility Agent
by a
Party for that person.
|
Β
(b)
|
Except
where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Facility
Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or
completeness of any document it forwards to another
Party.
|
Β
(c)
|
Except
as provided above, the Facility Agent has no
duty:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
either
initially or on a continuing basis to provide any Lender with any
credit
or other information concerning the risks arising under or in connection
with the Finance Documents (including any information relating to
the
financial condition or affairs of the Company or its related entities
or
the nature or extent of recourse against any Party or its assets)
whether
coming into its possession before, on or after the date of this Agreement;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
unless
specifically requested to do so by a Lender in accordance with a
Finance
Document, to request any certificate or other document from the
Company.
|
Β
(d)
|
In
acting as the Facility Agent, the agency division of the Facility
Agent is
treated as a separate entity from its other divisions and departments.
Any
information acquired by the Facility Agent which, in its opinion,
is
acquired by it otherwise than in its capacity as the Facility Agent
may be
treated as confidential by the Facility Agent and will not be treated
as
information possessed by the Facility Agent in its capacity as
such.
|
Β
(e)
|
The
Facility Agent is not obliged to disclose to any person any confidential
information supplied to it by a member of the Group solely for the
purpose
of evaluating whether any waiver or amendment is required to any
term of
the Finance Documents.
|
Β
(f)
|
The
Company irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent to disclose to
the other
Finance Parties any information which, in its opinion, is received
by it
in its capacity as the Facility
Agent.
|
Β
22.11
|
Indemnities
|
Β
(a)
|
Without
limiting the liability of the Company under the Finance Documents,
each
Lender must indemnify the Facility Agent for that Lender's Pro Rata
Share
of any loss or liability incurred by the Facility Agent in acting
as the
Facility Agent, except to the extent that the loss or liability is
caused
by the Facility Agent's gross negligence or wilful
misconduct.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent may deduct from any amount received by it for a Lender
any
amount due to the Facility Agent from that Lender under a Finance
Document
but unpaid.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
Company must indemnify the Facility Agent against any loss or liability
properly incurred by the Facility Agent as a result
of:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
investigating
any event which the Facility Agent reasonably believes to be a Default;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
acting
or relying on any notice which the Facility Agent reasonably believes
to
be genuine, correct and appropriately
authorised.
|
Β
22.12
|
Compliance
|
Β
The
Facility Agent may refrain from doing anything (including disclosing any
information) which might, in its opinion, constitute a breach of any law or
regulation or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any person, and may do
anything which, in its opinion, is necessary or desirable to comply with any
law
or regulation.
Β
22.13
|
Resignation
of the Facility Agent
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent may resign and appoint any of its Affiliates as successor
Facility Agent by giving notice to the Lenders and the Company.
|
Β
(b)
|
Alternatively,
the Facility Agent may resign by giving notice to the Lenders and
the
Company, in which case the Majority Lenders may appoint a successor
Facility Agent.
|
Β
(c)
|
If
no successor Facility Agent has been appointed under paragraph (b)
above
within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the Facility
Agent
may appoint a successor Facility
Agent.
|
Β
(d)
|
The
person(s) appointing a successor Facility Agent must, if practicable,
consult with the Company prior to the appointment. Any successor
Facility
Agent must have an office in the
U.K.
|
Β
(e)
|
The
resignation of the Facility Agent and the appointment of any successor
Facility Agent will both become effective only when the successor
Facility
Agent notifies all the Parties that it accepts its appointment. On
giving
the notification, the successor Facility Agent will succeed to the
position of the Facility Agent and the term Facility
Agent
will mean the successor Facility
Agent.
|
Β
(f)
|
The
retiring Facility Agent must, at its own cost, make available to
the
successor Facility Agent such documents and records and provide such
assistance as the successor Facility Agent may reasonably request
for the
purposes of performing its functions as the Facility Agent under
the
Finance Documents.
|
Β
(g)
|
Upon
its resignation becoming effective, this Clause will continue to
benefit
the retiring Facility Agent in respect of any action taken or not
taken by
it in connection with the Finance Documents while it was the Facility
Agent, and, subject to paragraph (f) above, it will have no further
obligations under any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(h)
|
The
Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Facility Agent, require it
to
resign under paragraph (b) above.
|
Β
22.14
|
Relationship
with Lenders
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments
under this Agreement and as acting through its Facility Office(s)
until it
has received not less than five Business Days' prior notice from
that
Lender to the contrary.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent may at any time, and must if requested to do so by
the
Majority Lenders, convene a meeting of the
Lenders.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
Facility Agent must keep a register of all the Parties and supply
any
other Party with a copy of the register on request. The register
will
include each Lender's Facility Office(s) and contact details for
the
purposes of this Agreement.
|
Β
22.15
|
Facility
Agent's management time
|
Β
If
the
Facility Agent requires, any amount payable to the Facility Agent by any Party
under any indemnity or in respect of any costs or expenses incurred by the
Facility Agent under the Finance Documents after the date of this Agreement
may
include the cost of using its management time or other resources and will be
calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Facility
Agent may notify to the relevant Party. This is in addition to any amount in
respect of fees or expenses paid or payable to the Facility Agent under any
other term of the Finance Documents.
Β
22.16
|
Notice
period
|
Β
Where
this Agreement specifies a minimum period of notice to be given to the Facility
Agent, the Facility Agent may, at its discretion, accept a shorter notice
period.
Β
23.
|
EVIDENCE
AND CALCULATIONS
|
Β
23.1
|
Accounts
|
Β
Accounts
maintained by a Finance Party in connection with this Agreement are prima
facie
evidence
of the matters to which they relate for the purpose of any litigation or
arbitration proceedings.
Β
23.2
|
Certificates
and determinations
|
Β
Any
certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under
the
Finance Documents will be, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence
of the matters to which it relates.
Β
23.3
|
Calculations
|
Β
Any
interest or fee accruing under this Agreement accrues from day to day and is
calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of
360
or 365 days or otherwise, depending on what the Facility Agent determines is
market practice.
Β
24.
|
FEES
|
Β
24.1
|
Facility
Agent's fee
|
Β
The
Company must pay to the Facility Agent for its own account an agency fee in
the
manner agreed between the Facility Agent and the Company.
Β
24.2
|
Arrangement
fee
|
Β
The
Company must pay an arrangement and participation fee in the manner agreed
between the Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Company.
Β
24.3
|
Commitment
fee
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must pay a commitment fee computed at the rate of 40% of
the
Margin from time to time on the undrawn, uncancelled amount of each
Lender's Commitment calculated from the date of this
Agreement.
|
Β
(b)
|
Accrued
commitment fee is payable quarterly in arrear. Accrued commitment
fee is
also payable to the Facility Agent for a Lender on the date its Commitment
is cancelled in full.
|
Β
24.4
|
Term-Out
Fee
|
Β
The
Company shall pay to the Facility Agent for the Lenders a term-out fee in an
amount equal to 0.1% flat of the amount of the Term-Out Loans termed-out under
Clause 2.3 (Term-out Option) as calculated on the initial Final Maturity Date
.
The term-out fee shall be payable within five Business days after the initial
Final Maturity Date.
Β
24.5
|
Extension
Fee
|
Β
The
Company must pay to each Lender whose Commitment is extended under Clause
6Β (Extension Option) an extension fee in the manner agreed between the
Company and the Facility Agent on behalf of those Lenders.
Β
25.
|
INDEMNITIES
AND BREAK COSTS
|
Β
25.1
|
Currency
indemnity
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must, as an independent obligation, indemnify each Finance
Party
against any loss or liability which that Finance Party incurs as
a
consequence of:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
that
Finance Party receiving an amount in respect of the Company's liability
under the Finance Documents; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
that
liability being converted into a claim, proof, judgment or
order,
|
Β
in
a
currency other than the currency in which the amount is expressed to be payable
under the relevant Finance Document.
Β
(b)
|
Unless
otherwise required by law, the Company waives any right it may have
in any
jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency
other than that in which it is expressed to be
payable.
|
Β
25.2
|
Other
indemnities
|
Β
The
Company shall within 15 days of demand indemnify the Facility Agent and each
Lender against any funding or other cost, loss, expense or liability in an
amount certified by it in reasonable detail (together with documentation in
support) sustained or incurred by it as a direct result of:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
occurrence of any Event of Default;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
(other
than by reason of negligence or default by a Finance Party) a Loan
not
being made after a Request has been delivered for that Loan; or
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
the
receipt or recovery by any party (or the Facility Agent on its behalf)
of
all or any part of a Loan or overdue sum due from the Company otherwise
than on the Final Maturity Date or Maturity Date (as relevant) of
that
Loan or, in the case of an overdue sum, the last day of an interest
period
relating to that overdue sum, as the case may be or a Loan or any
part
thereof not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of
prepayment.
|
Β
25.3
|
Break
Costs
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Company must pay to each Lender its Break
Costs.
|
Β
(b)
|
Break
Costs are the amount (if any) determined by the relevant Lender by
which:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
interest which that Lender would have received for the period from
the
date of receipt of any part of its share in a Loan or an overdue
amount to
the last day of the applicable Term for that Loan or overdue amount
if the
principal or overdue amount received had been paid on the last day
of that
Term;
|
Β
exceeds
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount
equal to the amount received by it on deposit with a leading bank
in the
appropriate interbank market for a period starting on the Business
Day
following receipt and ending on the last day of the applicable
Term.
|
Β
(c)
|
Each
Lender must supply to the Facility Agent for the Company details
of the
amount of any Break Costs claimed by it under this
Subclause.
|
Β
26.
|
EXPENSES
|
Β
26.1
|
Initial
costs
|
Β
The
Company must pay to each Administrative Party the amount of all costs and
expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with
the
negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and syndication of the Finance
Documents.
Β
26.2
|
Subsequent
costs
|
Β
The
Company must pay to the Facility Agent the amount of all costs and expenses
(including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection
with:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
negotiation, preparation, printing and execution of any Finance Document
(other than a Transfer Certificate) executed after the date of this
Agreement; and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
any
amendment, waiver or consent requested by or on behalf of the Company
or
specifically allowed by this
Agreement.
|
Β
26.3
|
Enforcement
costs
|
Β
The
Company must pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses
(including legal fees) incurred by it in connection with the enforcement of,
or
the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.
Β
27.
|
AMENDMENTS
AND WAIVERS
|
Β
27.1
|
Procedure
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided in this Clause, any term of the Finance Documents may
be
amended or waived with the agreement of the Company and the Majority
Lenders. The Facility Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance
Party, an
amendment or waiver allowed under this
Clause.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
Facility Agent must promptly notify the other Parties of any amendment
or
waiver effected by it under paragraph (a) above. Any such amendment
or
waiver is binding on all the
Parties.
|
Β
27.2
|
Exceptions
|
Β
(a)
|
An
amendment or waiver which relates
to:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
definition of Majority
Lenders
in
Clause 1.1 (Definitions);
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
an
extension of the date of payment of any amount to a Lender under
the
Finance Documents;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
a
reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment
of
principal, interest, fee or other amount payable to a Lender under
the
Finance Documents;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
an
increase in, or an extension of, a Commitment or the Total
Commitments;
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
a
term of a Finance Document which expressly requires the consent of
each
Lender;
|
Β
Β |
(vi)
|
the
right of a Lender to assign or transfer its rights or obligations
under
the Finance Documents; or
|
Β
Β |
(vii)
|
this
Clause,
|
Β
may
only
be made with the consent of all the Lenders.
Β
(b)
|
An
amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of
an
Administrative Party may only be made with the consent of that
Administrative Party.
|
Β
27.3
|
Change
of currency
|
Β
If
a
change in any currency of a country occurs (including where there is more than
one currency or currency unit recognised at the same time as the lawful currency
of a country), the Finance Documents will be amended to the extent the Facility
Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Company) determines
is
necessary to reflect the change.
Β
27.4
|
Waivers
and remedies cumulative
|
Β
The
rights of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
may
be exercised as often as necessary;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
are
cumulative and not exclusive of its rights under the general law;
and
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
may
be waived only in writing and
specifically.
|
Β
Delay
in
exercising or non-exercise of any right is not a waiver of that
right.
Β
28.
|
CHANGES
TO THE PARTIES
|
Β
28.1
|
Assignments
and transfers by the
Company
|
Β
The
Company may not assign or transfer any of its rights and obligations under
the
Finance Documents without the prior consent of all the Lenders.
Β
28.2
|
Assignments
and transfers by Lenders
|
Β
(a)
|
A
Lender (the Existing
Lender)
may, subject to the following provisions of this Subclause, at any
time
assign or transfer (including by way of novation) any of its rights
and
obligations under this Agreement to any other person (the New
Lender).
|
Β
(b)
|
Unless
the Company and the Facility Agent otherwise agree, a transfer of
part of
a Commitment or rights and obligations under this Agreement by the
Existing Lender must be in a minimum amount of
Β£5,000,000.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
consent of the Company is required for any assignment or transfer
unless
the New Lender is another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender. The
consent
of the Company must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The
Company
will be deemed to have given its consent five Business Days after
the
Lender has requested it unless consent is expressly refused by the
Company
within that time.
|
Β
(d)
|
The
Facility Agent is not obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate until
it
has completed all know your customer requirements to its satisfaction.
The
Facility Agent must promptly notify the Existing Lender and the New
Lender
if there are any such requirements.
|
Β
(e)
|
The
Company may not withhold its consent solely because the assignment
or
transfer might increase the Mandatory
Cost.
|
Β
(f)
|
A
transfer of obligations will be effective only if
either:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
obligations are novated in accordance with the following provisions
of
this Clause; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
New Lender confirms to the Facility Agent and the Company in form
and
substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent that it is bound by
the terms
of this Agreement as a Lender. On the transfer becoming effective
in this
manner the Existing Lender will be released from its obligations
under
this Agreement to the extent that they are transferred to the New
Lender.
|
Β
(g)
|
Unless
the Facility Agent otherwise agrees, the New Lender must pay to the
Facility Agent for its own account, on or before the date any assignment
or transfer occurs, a fee of
Β£2,000.
|
Β
(h)
|
Any
reference in this Agreement to a Lender includes a New Lender but
excludes
a Lender if no amount is or may be owed to or by it under this
Agreement.
|
Β
28.3
|
Procedure
for transfer by way of
novations
|
Β
(a)
|
In
this Subclause:
|
Β
Transfer
Date
means,
for a Transfer Certificate, the later of:
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
proposed Transfer Date specified in that Transfer Certificate;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
date on which the Facility Agent executes that Transfer
Certificate.
|
Β
(b)
|
A
novation is effected if:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
Existing Lender and the New Lender deliver to the Facility Agent
a duly
completed Transfer Certificate; and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Facility Agent executes it.
|
Β
The
Facility Agent must execute as soon as reasonably practicable a Transfer
Certificate delivered to it and which appears on its face to be in
order.
Β
(c)
|
Each
Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably
authorises the Facility Agent to execute any duly completed Transfer
Certificate on its behalf.
|
Β
(d)
|
On
the Transfer Date:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
the
New Lender will assume the rights and obligations of the Existing
Lender
expressed to be the subject of the novation in the Transfer Certificate
in
substitution for the Existing Lender;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
Existing Lender will be released from those obligations and cease
to have
those rights.
|
Β
28.4
|
Limitation
of responsibility of Existing
Lender
|
Β
(a)
|
Unless
expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender is not responsible
to
a New Lender for the legality, validity, adequacy, accuracy, completeness
or performance of:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
any
Finance Document or any other document;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
any
statement or information (whether written or oral) made in or supplied
in
connection with any Finance Document,
|
Β
and
any
representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
Β
(b)
|
Each
New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance
Parties
that it:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
has
made, and will continue to make, its own independent appraisal of
all
risks arising under or in connection with the Finance Documents (including
the financial condition and affairs of the Company and its related
entities and the nature and extent of any recourse against any Party
or
its assets) in connection with its participation in this Agreement;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
has
not relied exclusively on any information supplied to it by the Existing
Lender in connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(c)
|
Nothing
in any Finance Document requires an Existing Lender
to:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
accept
a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations
assigned or transferred under this Clause;
or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
support
any losses incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance
by
the Company of its obligations under any Finance Document or
otherwise.
|
Β
28.5
|
Costs
resulting from change of Lender or Facility
Office
|
Β
If:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
a
Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights and obligations under
the
Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office;
and
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
as
a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer
or
change occurs, the Company would be obliged to pay a Tax Payment
or an
Increased Cost,
|
Β
the
Company need only pay that Tax Payment or Increased Cost to the same extent
that
it would have been obliged to if no assignment, transfer or change had
occurred.
Β
28.6
|
Changes
to the Reference Banks
|
Β
(a)
|
If
a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender
of
which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Facility Agent
must
(in consultation with the Company) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate
of a Lender to replace that Reference
Bank.
|
Β
(b)
|
If
a Reference Bank ceases to have a London office or novates or assigns
all
its rights and obligations under this Agreement or if any Commitments
of
any Reference Bank are cancelled or if Loans it has advanced are
prepaid
it shall be replaced as a Reference Bank by such other Bank with
an office
in London as the Facility Agent (after consultation with the Company)
shall designate by notice to the Company and the
Banks.
|
Β
29.
|
DISCLOSURE
OF INFORMATION
|
Β
(a)
|
Each
Finance Party must keep confidential any information supplied to
it by or
on behalf of the Company in connection with the Finance Documents.
However, a Finance Party is entitled to disclose
information:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
which
is publicly available, other than as a result of a breach by that
Finance
Party of this Clause;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
in
connection with any legal or arbitration
proceedings;
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
if
required to do so under any law or
regulation;
|
Β
Β |
(iv)
|
to
a governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory
authority;
|
Β
Β |
(v)
|
to
its professional advisers;
|
Β
Β |
(vi)
|
to
the extent allowed under paragraph (b) below;
or
|
Β
Β |
(vii)
|
with
the agreement of the Company.
|
Β
(b)
|
A
Finance Party may disclose to an Affiliate or any person with whom
it may
enter, or has entered into, any kind of transfer, participation or
other
agreement in relation to this Agreement (a participant):
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
a
copy of any Finance Document; and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
any
information which that Finance Party has acquired under or in connection
with any Finance Document.
|
Β
However,
before a participant may receive any confidential information, it must agree
with the relevant Finance Party to keep that information confidential on the
terms of paragraph (a) above.
Β
This
Clause supersedes any previous confidentiality undertaking given by a Finance
Party in connection with this Agreement prior to it becoming a
Party.
Β
30.
|
SET-OFF
|
Β
A
Finance
Party may set off any matured obligation owed to it by the Company under the
Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party)
against any obligation (whether or not matured) owed by that Finance Party
to
the Company, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency
of
either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance
Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual
course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
Β
31.
|
PRO
RATA SHARING
|
Β
31.1
|
Redistribution
|
Β
If
any
amount owing by the Company under this Agreement to a Lender (the recovering
Lender)
is
discharged by payment, set-off or any other manner other than through the
Facility Agent under this Agreement (a recovery),
then:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
recovering Lender must, within three Business Days, supply details
of the
recovery to the Facility Agent;
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
the
Facility Agent must calculate whether the recovery is in excess of
the
amount which the recovering Lender would have received if the recovery
had
been received by the Facility Agent under this Agreement;
and
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
the
recovering Lender must pay to the Facility Agent an amount equal
to the
excess (the redistribution).
|
Β
31.2
|
Effect
of redistribution
|
Β
(a)
|
The
Facility Agent must treat a redistribution as if it were a payment
by the
Company under this Agreement and distribute it among the Lenders,
other
than the recovering Lender,
accordingly.
|
Β
(b)
|
When
the Facility Agent makes a distribution under paragraph (a) above,
the
recovering Lender will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance
Parties
which have shared in that
redistribution.
|
Β
(c)
|
If
and to the extent that the recovering Lender is not able to rely
on any
rights of subrogation under paragraph (b) above, the Company will
owe the
recovering Lender a debt which is equal to the redistribution, immediately
payable and of the type originally
discharged.
|
Β
(d)
|
If:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
a
recovering Lender must subsequently return a recovery, or an amount
measured by reference to a recovery, to the Company;
and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
the
recovering Lender has paid a redistribution in relation to that
recovery,
|
Β
each
Finance Party must reimburse the recovering Lender all or the appropriate
portion of the redistribution paid to that Finance Party, together with interest
for the period while it held the re-distribution. In this event, the subrogation
in paragraph (b) above will operate in reverse to the extent of the
reimbursement.
Β
31.3
|
Exceptions
|
Β
Notwithstanding
any other term of this Clause, a recovering Lender need not pay a redistribution
to the extent that:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
it
would not, after the payment, have a valid claim against the Company
in
the amount of the redistribution;
or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
it
would be sharing with another Finance Party any amount which the
recovering Lender has received or recovered as a result of legal
or
arbitration proceedings, where:
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
the
recovering Lender notified the Facility Agent of those proceedings;
and
|
Β
Β |
(d)
|
the
other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those proceedings
but did not do so or did not take separate legal or arbitration
proceedings as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving notice
of
them.
|
Β
32.
|
SEVERABILITY
|
Β
If
a term
of a Finance Document is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, that shall not affect:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
the
legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any
other
term of the Finance Documents; or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
the
legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that
or any
other term of the Finance
Documents.
|
Β
33.
|
COUNTERPARTS
|
Β
Each
Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts. This has the
same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy
of
the Finance Document.
Β
34.
|
NOTICES
|
Β
34.1
|
In
writing
|
Β
(a)
|
Any
communication in connection with a Finance Document must be in writing
and, unless otherwise stated, may be given:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
in
person, by post, or fax or any other electronic communication approved
by
the Facility Agent; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
between the Facility Agent and a Lender and the Facility Agent and
the
Lender agree, by e-mail or other electronic
communication.
|
Β
(b)
|
For
the purpose of the Finance Documents, an electronic communication
will be
treated as being in writing.
|
Β
(c)
|
Unless
it is agreed to the contrary, any consent or agreement required under
a
Finance Document must be given in
writing.
|
Β
34.2
|
Contact
details
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, the contact details of each Party for all
communications in connection with the Finance Documents are those
notified
by that Party for this purpose to the Facility Agent on or before
the date
it becomes a Party.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
contact details of the Company for this purpose
are:
|
Β
Β
Address:
|
Β
Xxxxxxxx,
|
Β |
Xxxxxx
Xxxx,
|
Β |
Xxxxxxx,
|
Β |
XX0
0XX
|
Β
Fax
number:
|
Β
x00
(0) 0000 000000
|
E-mail:
|
xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
|
Attention:
|
Xxx
Xxxxxxxx.
|
Β
(c)
|
The
contact details of the Facility Agent for this purpose
are:
|
Β
Β
Address:
|
Β
Loans
Administration Department
|
Β |
Lloyds
TSB Bank plc
|
Β |
Xxxx
Xxxxx
|
Β |
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
Β | Xxxxxxx |
Β |
X0
0XX
|
Β
Fax
number:
|
Β
x00
(0)0000 000000
|
Attention:
|
The
Manager.
|
Β
(d)
|
Any
Party may change its contact details by giving five Business Days' notice
to the Facility Agent or (in the case of the Facility Agent) to the
other
Parties.
|
Β
(e)
|
Where
a Party nominates a particular department or officer to receive a
communication, a communication will not be effective if it fails
to
specify that department or officer.
|
Β
34.3
|
Effectiveness
|
Β
(a)
|
Except
as provided below, any communication in connection with a Finance
Document
will be deemed to be given as
follows:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
if
delivered in person, at the time of
delivery;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
if
posted, five days after being deposited in the post, postage prepaid,
in a
correctly addressed envelope; and
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
if
by fax, when received in legible
form.
|
Β
(b)
|
A
communication given under paragraph (a) above but received on a
non-working day or after business hours in the place of receipt will
only
be deemed to be given on the next working day in that
place.
|
Β
(c)
|
A
communication to the Facility Agent will only be effective on actual
receipt by it.
|
Β
34.4
|
The
Company
|
Β
All
formal communication under the Finance Documents to or from the Company must
be
sent through the Facility Agent.
Β
35.
|
LANGUAGE
|
Β
(a)
|
Any
notice given in connection with a Finance Document must be in
English.
|
Β
(b)
|
Any
other document provided in connection with a Finance Document must
be:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
in
English; or
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
(unless
the Facility Agent otherwise agrees) accompanied by a certified English
translation. In this case, the English translation prevails unless
the
document is a statutory or other official
document.
|
Β
36.
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
Β
This
Agreement is governed by English law.
Β
37.
|
ENFORCEMENT
|
Β
37.1
|
Jurisdiction
|
Β
(a)
|
The
English courts have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute
in
connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(b)
|
The
English courts are the most appropriate and convenient courts to
settle
any such dispute and the Company waives objection to those courts
on the
grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise in relation to proceedings
in
connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
(c)
|
This
Clause is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. To the extent
allowed by law, a Finance Party may
take:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
proceedings
in any other court; and
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
concurrent
proceedings in any number of
jurisdictions.
|
Β
THIS
AGREEMENT
has been
entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
Β
SCHEDULE
1Β
Β
ORIGINAL
PARTIES
Β
Β
Name
of Original Lender
|
Commitments
|
Β | Β |
Barclays
Bank PLC
|
Β£33,333,333
|
Β | Β |
Bayerische
Landesbank acting through its London branch
|
Β£33,333,333
|
Β | Β |
Lloyds
TSB Bank plc
|
Β£33,333,334
|
Β | Β |
Β | Β |
Total
Tranche A Commitments
|
Β£100,000,000
|
Β
SCHEDULE
2Β
Β
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS
Β
Company
Β
1.
|
A
certified copy of the constitutional documents of the
Company.
|
Β
2.
|
A
certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors or a committee
of
the board of directors of the Company approving the terms of, and
the
transactions contemplated by, the Finance
Documents.
|
Β
3.
|
A
specimen of the signature of each person authorised on behalf of
the
Company to execute or witness the execution of any Finance Document
or to
sign or send any document or notice in connection with any Finance
Document.
|
Β
4.
|
A
certificate of the Company (signed by a director) confirming that
borrowing the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing limit
binding on the Company to be
exceeded.
|
Β
Legal
opinions
Β
A
legal
opinion of Xxxxx & Overy LLP, legal advisers to the Company addressed to the
Finance Parties.
Β
Other
documents and evidence
Β
1.
|
Evidence
that all fees and expenses then due and payable from the Company
under
this Agreement have been or will be paid no later than the first
Utilisation Date.
|
Β
2.
|
The
Original Financial Statements.
|
Β
Β
SCHEDULE
3Β
Β
FORM
OF REQUEST
Β
To:Β LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC as Facility Agent
Β
From:Β [Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
Β
Date:Β [Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
Β
Β
Β
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC - Β£100,000,000 Credit Agreement
dated
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ] 2006 (as amended
and restated from time to time) (the Agreement)
Β
1.
|
We
refer to the Agreement. This is a
Request.
|
Β
2.
|
We
wish to borrow a Loan on the following
terms:
|
Β
Β |
(a)
|
Utilisation
Date:
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
Amount/currency:
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
|
Β
Β |
(c)
|
Term:
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
|
Β
3.
|
Our
payment instructions are:
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
|
Β
4.
|
We
confirm that each condition precedent under the Agreement which must
be
satisfied on the date of this Request is so
satisfied.
|
Β
5.
|
We
confirm that as at [relevant testing date] Consolidated EBITDA was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
and Interest Payable was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ];
therefore, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Payable was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
to 1.
|
Β
6.
|
We
confirm that as at [relevant testing date] Regulatory Asset Base
was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ] and
Total Gross Debt was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ];
therefore, Regulatory Asset Base exceeded Total Gross Debt by
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
|
Β
7.
|
This
Request is irrevocable.
|
Β
By:
Β
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
Β
SCHEDULE
4Β
Β
CALCULATION
OF THE MANDATORY COST
Β
1.
|
General
|
Β
The
Mandatory Cost is the weighted average of the rates calculated below by the
Facility Agent on the first day of a Term. The Facility Agent must distribute
each amount of Mandatory Cost among the Lenders on the basis of the rate for
each Lender.
Β
2.
|
For
a Lender lending from a Facility Office in the
U.K.
|
Β
(a)
|
The
relevant rate for a Lender lending from a Facility Office in the
U.K. is
the arithmetic mean of the rates notified by that Lender to the Facility
Agent and calculated in accordance with the following
formulae:
|
Β
for
a
Loan in Sterling:Β
AB
+ C(B-D) + E x 0.01
Β Β
100-(A+C)
|
Β %
per annum
|
for any other Loan:
Β E
x 0.01Β
Β Β 300Β
|
%
per annum
|
Β
where
on
the day of application of the formula:
Β |
Β A
|
is
the percentage of the Lender's eligible liabilities (in excess
of any
stated minimum) which the Bank of England requires it to hold on
a
non-interest-bearing deposit account in accordance with its cash
ratio
requirements;
|
Β | Β | Β |
Β |
Β B
|
is
LIBOR for that Term;
|
Β | Β | Β |
Β |
Β C
|
is
the percentage of the Lender's eligible liabilities which the Bank
of
England requires it to place as a special deposit;
|
Β | Β | Β |
Β |
Β D
|
is
the interest rate per annum allowed by the Bank of England on a
special
deposit; and
|
Β | Β | Β |
Β |
Β E
|
is
the charge payable by the Lender to the Financial Services Authority
under
the fees rules (but, for this purpose, calculated by the Facility
Agent on
a notional basis as being the average of the fee tariffs within
fee-block
Category A1 (Deposit acceptors) of the fees rules, applying any
applicable
discount and ignoring any minimum fee required under the fees rules)
and
expressed in pounds per Β£1 million of the tariff base of that
Lender.
|
Β
(b)
|
For
the purposes of this paragraph 2:
|
Β
Β |
(i)
|
eligible
liabilities
and special
deposit
have the meanings given to them at the time of application of the
formula
by the Bank of England;
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
fees
rules
means the then current rules on periodic fees in the Supervision
Manual of
the FSA Handbook; and
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
tariff
base
has the meaning given to it in the fees
rules.
|
Β
(c)
|
(i)
|
In
the application of the formulae, A, B, C and D are included as figures
and
not as percentages, e.g. if A = 0.5% and B = 15%, AB is calculated
as 0.5
x 15. A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B is taken
as
zero.
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
Each
rate calculated in accordance with a formula is, if necessary, rounded
upward to four decimal places.
|
Β
(d)
|
(i)
|
Each
Lender must supply to the Facility Agent the information required
by it to
make a calculation of the rate for that Lender. The Facility Agent
may
assume that this information is correct in all
respects.
|
Β
Β |
(ii)
|
If
a Lender fails to do so, the Facility Agent may assume that the Lender's
obligations in respect of cash ratio deposits, special deposits and
the
fees rules are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction
of incorporation with a Facility Office in the same jurisdiction
as its
Facility Office.
|
Β
Β |
(iii)
|
The
Facility Agent has no liability to any Party if its calculation over
or
under compensates any Lender.
|
Β
3.
|
For
a Lender lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member
State
|
Β
(a)
|
The
relevant rate for a Lender lending from a Facility Office in a
Participating Member State is the percentage rate per annum notified
by
that Lender to the Facility Agent as its cost of complying with the
minimum reserve requirements of the European Central
Bank.
|
Β
(b)
|
If
a Lender fails to specify a rate under paragraph 3(a) above, the
Facility
Agent will assume that the Lender has not incurred any such
cost.
|
Β
4.
|
Changes
|
Β
The
Facility Agent may, after consultation with the Company and the Lenders, notify
all the Parties of any amendment to this Schedule which is required to reflect:
Β
Β |
(a)
|
any
change in law or regulation; or
|
Β
Β |
(b)
|
any
requirement imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services
Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any successor
authority).
|
Β
Any
notification will be, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive and binding
on all the Parties.
Β
SCHEDULE
5Β
Β
FORM
OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
Β
Β
Β
To:Β LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC as Facility Agent
Β
From:Β [THE
EXISTING LENDER] (the Existing
Lender)
and
[THE NEW LENDER] (the New
Lender)
Β
Date:Β [Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
Β
Β
Β
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC - Β£100,000,000 Credit Agreement
dated
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ] 2006 (as amended and restated
from time to time) (the
Agreement)
Β
We
refer
to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate.
Β
Β
|
1.Β Β
The Existing Lender transfers by novation to the New Lender the Existing
Lender's rights and obligations
Β Β Β Β Β Β
referred toΒ in
the Schedule below in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement.
|
Β
Β
|
2.Β Β
The proposed Transfer Date is
[Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
|
Β
Β
|
3.Β Β Β
The administrative details of the New Lender for the purposes of
the
Agreement are set out in the
Schedule.
|
Β
Β
|
4.Β Β Β
Transfer Certificate is governed by English
law.
|
Β
THE
SCHEDULE
Β
Rights
and obligations to be transferred by novation
[insert
relevant details, including applicable Commitment (or part)]
Β
Administrative
details of the New Lender
[insert
details of Facility Office, address for notices and payment details
etc.]
Β
Β
Β
Β
Β
[EXISTING
LENDER]
|
Β
[NEW
LENDER]
|
Β
By:
|
By:
|
Β
The
Transfer Date is confirmed by the Facility Agent as
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
Β
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
Β
By:
Β
SCHEDULE
6Β
Β
FORM
OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
Β
To:Β LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC as Facility Agent
Β
From:Β WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Β
Date:Β [Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
Β
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC - Β£100,000,000 Credit Agreement
dated
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ] 2006 (as amended and
restated from time to time) (the
Agreement)
Β
1.
|
We
refer to the Agreement. This is a Compliance
Certificate.
|
Β
2.
|
We
confirm that as at [relevant testing date], Consolidated EBITDA was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
and Interest Payable was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ],
therefore the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Payable was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
to 1.
|
Β
3.
|
We
confirm that as at [relevant testing date], Regulatory Asset Base
was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ]
and Total Gross Debt was
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ];
therefore Regulatory Asset Base exceeded Total Gross Debt by
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
|
Β
4.
|
We
set out below calculations establishing the figures in paragraph
2
above:
|
Β
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
Β
5.
|
We
confirm that the following companies were Material Subsidiaries at
[relevant testing date]:
|
Β
[Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ].
Β
6.
|
[We
confirm that no Default is outstanding as at [relevant testing date].]
1
|
Β
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Β
By:Β
Β
Β
1Β
If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default
that is outstanding and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy
it.
Β
SIGNATORIES
Β
Β
Β
Company
Β
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Β
By:
Β
Β
Mandated
Lead Arrangers
Β
BARCLAYS
CAPITAL
Β
By:
Β
Β
BAYERISCHE
LANDESBANK
acting
through its London Branch
Β
By:
Β
Β
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC
Β
By:
Β
Β
Original
Lenders
Β
BARCLAYS
BANK PLC
Β
By:
Β
Β
BAYERISCHE
LANDESBANK
acting
through its London Branch
Β
By:
Β
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC
Β
By:
Β
Β
Facility
Agent
Β
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC
Β
By: