Exhibit 10.6
Execution Version
for MRC TRANSMARK HOLDINGS UK LIMITED
arranged by HSBC BANK PLC as Arranger
with HSBC BANK PLC
acting as Agent, Issuing Bank and Security Agent
17 September 2010
CONTENTS
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1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
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1 |
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2. THE FACILITY |
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39 |
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3. PURPOSE |
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41 |
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4. CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION |
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42 |
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5. UTILISATION — LOANS |
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43 |
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6. UTILISATION — LETTERS OF CREDIT |
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44 |
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7. LETTERS OF CREDIT |
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46 |
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8. OPTIONAL CURRENCIES |
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50 |
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9. REPAYMENT |
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50 |
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10. ILLEGALITY, VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION |
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53 |
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11. MANDATORY PREPAYMENT |
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55 |
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12. RESTRICTIONS |
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58 |
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13. INTEREST |
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59 |
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14. INTEREST PERIODS |
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60 |
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15. CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST |
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61 |
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16. FEES |
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62 |
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17. TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES |
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63 |
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18. INCREASED COSTS |
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69 |
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19. OTHER INDEMNITIES |
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70 |
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20. MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS |
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71 |
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21. COSTS AND EXPENSES |
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72 |
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22. GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY |
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73 |
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23. REPRESENTATIONS |
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77 |
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24. INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS |
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84 |
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25. FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
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89 |
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26. GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
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93 |
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27. EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
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103 |
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28. CHANGES TO THE LENDERS |
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107 |
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29. CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS |
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113 |
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30. ROLE OF THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER, THE ISSUING BANK AND OTHERS |
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116 |
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31. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES |
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123 |
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32. SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES |
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123 |
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33. PAYMENT MECHANICS |
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124 |
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34. SET-OFF |
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127 |
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35. NOTICES |
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128 |
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36. CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES |
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130 |
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37. PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
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131 |
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38. REMEDIES AND WAIVERS |
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131 |
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39. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
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131 |
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40. CONFIDENTIALITY |
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135 |
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41. COUNTERPARTS |
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137 |
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42. GOVERNING LAW |
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137 |
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43. ENFORCEMENT |
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137 |
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SCHEDULE 1 |
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139 |
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THE ORIGINAL PARTIES |
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139 |
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Part I The Original Obligors |
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139 |
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Part II I The Original Lenders |
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140 |
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SCHEDULE 2 |
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141 |
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
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141 |
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Part I Conditions precedent to first Utilisation |
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141 |
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Part II Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Obligor |
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146 |
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Part III |
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150 |
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Transaction Security Documents of Initial Obligors |
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150 |
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SCHEDULE 3 UTILISATION REQUEST LOANS |
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152 |
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SCHEDULE 4 MANDATORY COST FORMULA |
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153 |
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SCHEDULE 5 FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE |
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156 |
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SCHEDULE 6 FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT |
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160 |
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SCHEDULE 7 FORM OF ACCESSION DEED |
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164 |
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SCHEDULE 8 FORM OF RESIGNATION LETTER |
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167 |
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SCHEDULE 9 FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE |
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169 |
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SCHEDULE 10 TIMETABLES |
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171 |
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Part I Loans |
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171 |
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Part II Letters of Credit |
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172 |
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SCHEDULE 11 AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES |
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173 |
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SCHEDULE 12 FORM OF INCREASE CONFIRMATION |
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176 |
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THIS AGREEMENT is dated 17 September 2010
BETWEEN:
(1) |
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MRC TRANSMARK GROUP B.V. (incorporated in the Netherlands with registered number
39062651) (the “Parent”); |
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(2) |
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MRC TRANSMARK HOLDINGS UK LIMITED (incorporated in England with registered number
05436123) as an Original Borrower and the Obligor’s Agent (the “Company”); |
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(3) |
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THE COMPANIES listed in Part I of Schedule 1 (The Original Parties) as original
guarantors (the “Original Guarantors”); |
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(4) |
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HSBC BANK plc as arranger, (the “Arranger”); |
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(5) |
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HSBC BANK plc as the original lender (the “Original Lender”); |
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(6) |
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HSBC BANK plc as hedge counterparty (the “Original Hedge Counterparty”); |
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(7) |
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HSBC BANK plc as agent of the other Finance Parties (the “Agent”); |
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(8) |
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HSBC BANK plc as security trustee for the Secured Parties (the “Security Agent”); |
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(9) |
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HSBC BANK plc as Issuing Bank; and |
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(10) |
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HSBC Bank plc as MOF Lender (the “Original MOF Lender”). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1. |
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
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1.1 |
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Definitions |
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In this Agreement: |
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“Acceding Obligors” means the Subsidiaries of the Parent listed in Part II of Schedule 1 (The
Original Parties). |
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“Acceptable Bank” means: |
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(a) |
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a bank or financial institution duly authorised under applicable loans to carry on the business
of banking (including, without limitation, the business of taking deposits) which has a rating for
its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A or higher by Standard &
Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or A2 or higher by Xxxxx’x Investor Services Limited or
a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency; or |
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(b) |
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any other bank or financial institution approved by the Agent. |
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“Accession Deed” means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Form of
Accession Deed). |
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“Accounting Principles” means, in respect of an Obligor, generally accepted accounting principles
in the jurisdiction of incorporation of that Obligor, including IFRS. |
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“Accounting Reference Date” means 31 December. |
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“Additional Borrower” means a company which becomes an Additional Borrower in accordance with
Clause 29 (Changes to the Obligors). |
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“Additional Cost Rate” has the meaning given to it in Schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost Formula). |
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“Additional Guarantor” means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with
Clause 29 (Changes to the Obligors). |
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“Additional Obligor” means an Additional Borrower or an Additional Guarantor. |
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“Affiliate” means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of
that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company. |
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“Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange” means the Agent’s spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the
relevant currency with the Base Currency in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11:00
a.m. on a particular day. |
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“Aggregate Total Acquisition Price” has the meaning given to that term in paragraph (f) of the
definition of Permitted Acquisition. |
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“Aggregate Total Purchase Price” has the meaning given to that term paragraph (g) of the definition
of Permitted Acquisition. |
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“Agreed Security Principles” means the principles set out in Schedule 11 (Agreed Security
Principles). |
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“Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 24 (Information
undertakings). |
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“Approved Country” means any country which is not subject to OFAC sanctions or United Nations
sanctions under Article 41 of the UN Charter and any other country approved by all the Lenders. |
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“ASIC” means the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. |
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“Assignment Agreement” means an agreement substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of
Assignment Agreement) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee provided
that if that other form does not contain the undertaking set out in the form set out in Schedule 6
(Form of Assignment Agreement) it shall not be a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking as defined
in, and for the purposes of, the Security Trust Deed. |
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“Auditors” means one of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG or Deloitte & Touche or any
other firm approved in advance by the Majority Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed). |
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“Australian Dollars” means the lawful currency for the time being of Australia. |
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“Australian Obligor” means an Obligor incorporated in the Commonwealth of Australia. |
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“Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing,
notarisation or registration. |
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“Availability Period” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and
including the date falling one month prior to the Termination Date. |
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“Available Commitment” means a Lender’s Commitment minus: |
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(a) |
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the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any outstanding Utilisations; and |
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(b) |
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in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any
other Utilisations that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date. |
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For the purposes of calculating a Lender’s Available Commitment that Lender’s participation in any
Revolving Facility Utilisations that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed
Utilisation Date shall not be deducted from a Lender’s Commitment. |
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“Available Facility” means, in relation to the Revolving Facility, the aggregate for the time being
of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of that Facility. |
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“Base Currency” means euros. |
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“Base Currency Amount” means: |
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(a) |
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save as provided in paragraph (b) below, the amount specified in the Utilisation Request
delivered by a Borrower for that Utilisation (or, if the amount requested is not denominated in the
Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on
the date which is three Business Days before the Utilisation Date or, if later, on the date the
Agent receives the Utilisation Request in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) and, in the
case of a Letter of Credit, as adjusted under Clause 6.8 (Revaluation of Letters of Credit) at
six-monthly intervals; and |
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(b) |
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for the purposes only of paragraph (a) of the definition of Available Commitment in relation to
the amount of any outstanding Utilisations, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the
Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is three Business Days before the proposed
Utilisation Date for the proposed Utilisation or, if later, the date the Agent receives the
Utilisation Request for the proposed Utilisation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), |
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as adjusted to reflect any repayment, prepayment, consolidation or division of a Utilisation. |
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“Base Reference Bank Rate” means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal
places) as supplied to the Agent at its request by the Base Reference Banks: |
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(a) |
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in relation to LIBOR, as the rate at which the relevant Base Reference Bank could borrow funds
in the London interbank market; and |
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(b) |
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in relation to EURIBOR, as the rate at which the relevant Base Reference Bank could borrow
funds in the European interbank market, |
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in the relevant currency and for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then
accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that
period. |
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“Base Reference Banks” means, in relation to LIBOR, the principal London offices of HSBC Bank plc,
Barclays Bank PLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and, in relation to EURIBOR, the principal
office in Paris of HSBC Bank plc, BNP Paribas and Société Générale or such other banks as may be
appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Company. |
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“Belgian Obligor” means an Obligor incorporated in Belgium. |
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“Borrower” means an Original Borrower or an Additional Borrower unless it has ceased to be a
Borrower in accordance with Clause 29 (Changes to the Obligors). |
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“Borrowings” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25.1 (Financial definitions). |
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“Break Costs” means the amount (if any) by which: |
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(a) |
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the interest (excluding the Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the
date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of
the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or
Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period; |
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(b) |
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the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the
principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the Relevant
Interbank Market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending
on the last day of the current Interest Period. |
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(a) |
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in relation to the Financial Year ending on 31 December 2010, the Group’s budget for that
Financial Year to be delivered by the Parent to the Agent pursuant to Clause 4.1 (Initial
conditions precedent) (the “2010 Budget”); and |
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(b) |
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in relation to any other period, any budget delivered by the Parent to the Agent in respect of
that period pursuant to Clause 24.4 (Budget). |
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“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general
business in London, and: |
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(a) |
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(in relation to any date for payment or purchase of a currency other than euro) the principal
financial centre of the country of that currency; or |
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(b) |
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(in relation to any date for payment or purchase of euro) any TARGET Day. |
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“Cash” means, at any time, cash in hand or at bank and (in the latter case) credited to an account
in the name of a member of the Group and to which a member of the Group is alone (or together with
other members of the Group) beneficially entitled and for so long as: |
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(a) |
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that cash is repayable within 90 days after the relevant date of calculation; |
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(b) |
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repayment of that cash is not contingent on the prior discharge of any other indebtedness of
any member of the Group or of any other person whatsoever or on the satisfaction of any other
condition; |
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(c) |
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there is no Security over that cash except for Transaction Security or any Permitted Security
constituted by a netting or set-off arrangement entered into by members of the Group in the
ordinary course of their banking arrangements; and |
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(d) |
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(except for cash subject to the security described in paragraph (c) above) the cash is freely
and (except as mentioned in paragraph (a) above) immediately available to be applied in repayment
or prepayment of the Facility without any condition other than the lapse of time and notice being
given having to be fulfilled. |
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“Cash Equivalent Investments” means at any time: |
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(a) |
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certificates of deposit maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and
issued by an Acceptable Bank; |
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(b) |
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any investment in marketable debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the government of the
United States of America, the United Kingdom, any member state of the European Economic Area or any
Participating Member State or by an instrumentality or agency of any of them having an equivalent
credit rating, maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and not convertible
or exchangeable to any other security; |
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(c) |
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commercial paper not convertible or exchangeable to any other security: |
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(i) |
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for which a recognised trading market exists; |
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(ii) |
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issued by an issuer incorporated in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, any
member state of the European Economic Area or any Participating Member State; |
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(iii) |
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which matures within one year after the relevant date of calculation; and |
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(iv) |
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which has a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1
or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Xxxxx’x Investor Services Limited, or, if no
rating is available in respect of the commercial paper, the issuer of which has, in respect of its
long-term unsecured and non-credit enhanced debt obligations, an equivalent rating; |
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(d) |
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sterling bills of exchange eligible for rediscount at the Bank of England and accepted by an
Acceptable Bank (or their dematerialised equivalent); |
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(e) |
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any investment in money market funds which (i) have a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by
Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Xxxxx’x
Investor Services Limited, (ii) which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the
types described in paragraphs (a) to (d) above and (iii) can be turned into cash on not more than
30 days’ notice; or |
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(f) |
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any other debt security approved by the Majority Lenders, |
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in each case, denominated in euro, Sterling or US Dollars (or any currency of a country in which a
member of the Group has operations provided that such currency is freely convertible into one or
more of euro, Sterling or US Dollars) to which any member of the Group is alone or together with
other members of the Group beneficially entitled at that time and which is not issued or guaranteed
by any member of the Group or subject to any Security (other than Security arising under the
Transaction Security Documents). |
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“Cash Pooling Agreement” means any agreement entered into between HSBC Bank plc and any members of
the Group in respect of cash pooling and/or cash management services. |
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“Change of Control” means any person or group of persons acting in concert gains direct or indirect
control of the Parent or XxXxxxxx UK. For the purposes of this definition: |
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(i) |
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the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to: |
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(A) |
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cast, or control the casting of, more than 50% of the maximum number of votes that might be
cast at a general meeting of the Parent or XxXxxxxx UK (as appropriate); or |
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(B) |
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appoint or remove all, or the majority, of the directors or other equivalent officers of the
Parent or XxXxxxxx UK (as appropriate); or |
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(C) |
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give directions with respect to the operating and financial policies of the Parent or XxXxxxxx
UK (as appropriate) with which the directors or other equivalent officers of the Parent are obliged
to comply; or |
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(ii) |
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the holding beneficially of more than 50% of the issued share capital of the Parent or
XxXxxxxx UK (as appropriate) (excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right
to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital); and |
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(b) |
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“acting in concert” means, a group of persons who, pursuant to an agreement or understanding
(whether formal or informal), actively co-operate, through the acquisition directly or indirectly
of shares in the Parent or XxXxxxxx UK (as appropriate) by any of them, either directly or
indirectly, to obtain or consolidate control of the Parent or XxXxxxxx UK (as appropriate). |
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“Charged Property” means all of the assets of the Obligors which from time to time are, or are
expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security. |
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“Commitment” means a Revolving Facility Commitment. |
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“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 (Form
of Compliance Certificate). |
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“Confidential Information” means all information relating to the Parent, any Obligor, the Group,
the XxXxxxxx Group, the Finance Documents or a Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in
its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance
Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents
or a Facility from either: |
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(a) |
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any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
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(b) |
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another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or
indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers, |
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in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any
other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such
information but excludes information that: |
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(i) |
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is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by
that Finance Party of Clause 40 (Confidentiality); or |
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(iii) |
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is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the
Group or any of its advisers; or |
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(iv) |
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is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in
accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after
that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the
Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in
breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality. |
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“Confidentiality Undertaking” means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended
form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Parent and the Agent. |
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“Constitutional Documents” means the up-to-date memorandum and articles of association of the
Parent. |
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“Corporations Act” means the Australian Corporations Xxx 0000 (Cth) |
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“CTA” means the Corporation Tax Xxx 0000. |
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“Default” means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 27 (Events of
Default) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any
determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event
of Default. |
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“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender (other than a Lender which is a Sponsor Affiliate): |
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(a) |
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which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available or has notified the Agent that
it will not make its participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in
accordance with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation) or has failed to provide cash collateral (or
has notified the Issuing Bank that it will not provide cash collateral) in accordance with Clause
7.4 (Cash collateral by Non-Acceptable L/C Lender); |
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(b) |
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which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
with respect to which an
Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, |
|
|
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above: |
|
(i) |
|
its failure to pay is caused by: |
|
(A) |
|
administrative or technical error; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
a Disruption Event; and |
|
|
|
payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment
in question. |
|
|
“Delegate” means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Agent. |
|
|
|
“Disruption Event” means either or both of: |
|
(a) |
|
a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets
which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with
the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions |
7
|
|
|
contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is
beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or
systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any
other Party: |
|
(i) |
|
from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents, |
|
|
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose
operations are disrupted. |
|
|
|
“Distributable Net Profit” means, in any Financial Year of the Group, Group’s net income (post tax
and minority interests) for that Financial Year (as set out in the corresponding Annual Financial
Statements of the Parent). |
|
|
|
“Dormant Subsidiary” means: |
|
(a) |
|
Transmark Valves Limited; |
|
|
(b) |
|
Xxxxxx Valve Corporation Limited; |
|
|
(c) |
|
Transmark Projects Limited; |
|
|
(d) |
|
Xxxxxx Valves Limited; |
|
|
(e) |
|
Transmark Xxxxxx Limited; |
|
|
(f) |
|
Delta
Pacific Valves Limited; |
|
|
(g) |
|
Transmark Scotland Limited; |
|
|
(h) |
|
Transmark International Limited; |
|
|
(i) |
|
Transmark Fortim Engineering Pte. Ltd; |
|
|
(j) |
|
Pegler Xxxxxxxxxx Holdings Pty Limited; |
|
|
(k) |
|
Pegler
Beacon Australia Pty Limited; and |
|
|
(l) |
|
any other member of the Group (other than an Obligor) which does not trade (for itself or as
agent for any person), as is confirmed in writing by the Parent to the Agent. |
|
|
“Dormant Subsidiary Loan” means any loan made by a Dormant Subsidiary to any member of the Group
that is not a Dormant Subsidiary. |
|
|
|
“Dutch Obligor” means an Obligor incorporated in the Netherlands. |
|
|
|
“ECB Rates” means the European Central Bank Eurosystem Euro foreign exchange reference rates
displayed on the relevant page of the European Central Bank website after 2.00 pm (UK time on the
relevant day) or if such page is replaced or ceases to be available, such other page displaying
such rates as agreed as soon as possible by the Agent and the Company (acting reasonably and in
good faith). |
8
|
|
“Environment” means humans, animals, plants and all other living organisms including the ecological
systems of which they form part and the following media: |
|
(a) |
|
air (including, without limitation, air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or
below ground); |
|
|
(b) |
|
water (including, without limitation, territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or
within land and water in drains and sewers); and |
|
|
(c) |
|
land (including, without limitation, land under water). |
|
|
“Environmental Claim” means any claim, proceeding, formal notice or investigation by any person in
respect of any Environmental Law. |
|
|
|
“Environmental Law” means any applicable law or regulation which relates to: |
|
(a) |
|
the pollution or
protection of the Environment; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the conditions of the workplace; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
the generation, handling, storage, use, release or spillage of any substance which, alone or in
combination with any other, is capable of causing harm to the Environment, including, without
limitation, any waste. |
|
|
“Environmental Permits” means any permit and other Authorisation and the filing of any
notification, report or assessment required under any Environmental Law for the operation of the
business of any member of the Group conducted on or from the properties owned or used by any member
of the Group. |
|
|
|
“EURIBOR” means, in relation to any Loan in euro: |
|
(a) |
|
the applicable Screen Rate; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
(f no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan) the Base Reference Bank
Rate, |
|
|
as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for euro and for a period comparable to the Interest
Period of that Loan. |
|
|
|
“Event of Default” means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 27 (Events of
Default). |
|
|
|
“Expiry Date” means, for a Letter of Credit, the last day of its Term. |
|
|
|
“Facility” means the Revolving Facility. |
|
|
|
“Facility Office” means: |
|
(a) |
|
in respect of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, the office or offices notified by that Lender or
the Issuing Bank to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender or the Issuing
Bank (or, following that date,
by not less than five Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
in respect of any other Finance Party, the office in the jurisdiction in which it is resident
for tax purposes. |
9
|
|
“Finance Document” means this Agreement, any Accession Deed, any Compliance Certificate, any
Hedging Agreement, any MOF Document, any Resignation Letter, the Security Trust Agreement, any
Transaction Security Document, any Utilisation Request and any other document designated as a
“Finance Document” by the Agent and the Parent, provided that where the term “Finance Document” is
used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Security Trust Agreement, a
Hedging Agreement or MOF Document shall be a Finance Document only for the purposes of: |
|
(a) |
|
the definition of “Material Adverse Effect”; |
|
|
(b) |
|
paragraph (a) of the definition of “Permitted Transaction”; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the definition of “Transaction
Security Document”; |
|
|
(d) |
|
paragraph (a)(iv) of Clause 1.2 (Construction); |
|
|
(e) |
|
Clause 22 (Guarantee
and Indemnity); and |
|
|
(f) |
|
Clause 27 (Events of Default) (other than Clause 27.17 (Acceleration)). |
|
|
“Finance Party” means the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, a Lender, the Issuing Bank, a
Hedge Counterparty or MOF Lender provided that where the term “Finance Party” is used in, and
construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Security Trust Agreement, a Hedge Counterparty
or MOF Lender shall be a Finance Party only for the purposes of: |
|
(a) |
|
the definition of “Secured Parties”; |
|
|
(b) |
|
paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 1.2 (Construction); |
|
|
(c) |
|
paragraph (c) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect; |
|
|
(d) |
|
Clause 22 (Guarantee and
Indemnity); and |
|
|
(e) |
|
Clause 31 (Conduct of business by the Finance Parties). |
|
|
“Financial Assistance Memo” means the “MRC Transmark Group Financial Assistance Summary” delivered
to the Agent pursuant to Schedule 2 Part I (Conditions precedent to first Utilisation). |
|
|
|
“Financial Indebtedness” means (without double counting) any indebtedness for or in respect of: |
|
(a) |
|
moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any acceptance under any acceptance credit or xxxx discounting facility (or dematerialised
equivalent); |
|
|
(c) |
|
any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds (but not Trade Instruments), notes,
debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the amount of any liability in respect of Finance Leases; |
|
|
(e) |
|
receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a
non-recourse basis); |
|
|
(f) |
|
any Treasury Transaction (and, when calculating the value of that Treasury Transaction, only
the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount (on a net |
10
|
|
|
basis) is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that Treasury Transaction, that
amount) shall be taken into account); |
|
|
(g) |
|
any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or documentary letter
of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of an
underlying liability (but not, in any case, Trade Instruments) of an entity which is not a member
of the Group which liability would fall within one of the other paragraphs of this definition; |
|
|
(h) |
|
any amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable (other than at the
option of the issuer) before the Termination Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under
the Accounting Principles; |
|
|
(i) |
|
any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if the primary
reason behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance the acquisition or
construction of the asset or service in question and payment is due more than 180 days after the
date of supply or is deferred by more than 180 days; |
|
|
(j) |
|
any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase, sale and
sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing and which is
classified as borrowings under the Accounting Principles; and |
|
|
(k) |
|
the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in
paragraphs (a) to (j) above, |
|
|
but excluding for the avoidance of doubt all pension-related and intra-group liabilities. |
|
|
|
“Financial Quarter” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25.1 (Financial definitions). |
|
|
|
“Financial Year” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25.1 (Financial definitions). |
|
|
|
“French Guarantor” means any Guarantor incorporated in France. |
|
|
|
“Group” means the Parent and each of its
Subsidiaries for the time being. |
|
|
|
“Group Structure Chart” means the group structure chart in the
agreed form. |
|
|
|
“Guarantor” means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor, unless it has ceased to be a
Guarantor in accordance with Clause 29 (Changes to the Obligors). |
|
|
|
“Guarantor Coverage Test” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 26.24 (Guarantor). |
|
|
|
“Hedge Counterparty” means: |
|
(a) |
|
any Original Hedge Counterparty ; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any Lender which has become a Party as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with Clause 28.9
(Accession of Hedge Counterparties and MOF Lenders) |
|
|
which, in each case, is or has become, a party to the Security Trust Agreement as a Hedge
Counterparty in accordance with the provisions of the Security Trust Agreement. |
|
|
|
“Hedging Agreement” means any master agreement, confirmation, schedule or other agreement entered
into or to be entered into by any Obligor and a Hedge Counterparty |
11
|
|
including, without limitation, for the purpose of hedging interest rate and/or currency exposures
under the Finance Documents or such other types of liabilities and/or risks in relation to the
hedging transactions permitted under Clause 26.23 (Treasury Transactions). |
|
|
|
“Holding Company” means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation
in respect of which it is a Subsidiary. |
|
|
|
“IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to
the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements. |
|
|
|
“Impaired Agent” means the Agent at any time when: |
|
(a) |
|
it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be
made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document; |
|
|
(c) |
|
(if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the
definition of “Defaulting Lender”; or |
|
|
(d) |
|
an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent; |
|
|
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above: |
|
(i) |
|
its failure to pay is caused by: |
|
(A) |
|
administrative or technical
error; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
a Disruption Event; and |
|
|
|
payment is made within three Business Days of its due date;
or |
|
(ii) |
|
the Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment
in question. |
|
|
“Increase Confirmation” means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 12 (Form
of Increase Confirmation). |
|
|
|
“Increase Lender” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 2.2 (Increase). |
|
|
|
“Initial Obligors”
means the Original Obligors and the Acceding Obligors. |
|
|
|
“Insolvency Event” in relation to a Finance
Party means that the Finance Party: |
|
(a) |
|
is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation,
amalgamation or merger); |
|
|
(b) |
|
becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability
generally to pay its debts as they become due; |
|
|
(c) |
|
makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its
creditors; |
|
|
(d) |
|
institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official
with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of
its incorporation or organisation
or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or
bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law
affecting creditors’ rights, or a |
12
|
|
|
petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or
similar official; |
|
|
(e) |
|
has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any
other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’
rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up, or liquidation, and, in the case of any such
proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is
instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and: |
|
(i) |
|
results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the
making of an order for its winding-up, or liquidation; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the
institution or presentation thereof; |
|
(f) |
|
has exercised in respect of it one or more of the stabilisation powers pursuant to Part 1 of
the Banking Xxx 0000 and/or has instituted against it a bank insolvency proceeding pursuant to Part
2 of the Banking Act 2009 or a bank administration proceeding pursuant to Part 3 of the Banking Xxx
0000; |
|
|
(g) |
|
has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management, or liquidation (other than
pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
|
|
(h) |
|
seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator,
conservator, receiver, manager, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or
substantially all its assets; |
|
|
(i) |
|
has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress,
execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against
all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such
process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; |
|
|
(j) |
|
causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any
jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (i)
above; or |
|
|
(k) |
|
takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence
in, any of the foregoing acts. |
|
|
“Intellectual Property” means: |
|
(a) |
|
any patents, trade marks, service marks, designs, business names, copyrights, database rights,
design rights, domain names, moral rights, inventions, confidential information, knowhow and other
intellectual property rights and interests, whether registered or unregistered; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the benefit of all applications and rights to use such assets of each member of the Group. |
|
|
“Interest Period” means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 14
(Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with
Clause 13.3 (Default interest). |
|
|
|
“Issuing Bank” means each Lender identified above as an issuing bank and any other Lender which has
notified the Agent that it has agreed to the Company’s request to be an |
13
|
|
Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement [(and if more than one Lender has so agreed,
such Lenders shall be referred to, whether acting individually or together, as the “Issuing Bank”)
provided that, in respect of a Letter of Credit issued or to be issued pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, the “Issuing Bank” shall be the Issuing Bank which has issued or agreed to issue
that Letter of Credit. |
|
|
|
“ITA” means the Income Tax Xxx 0000. |
|
|
|
“Joint Venture” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm,
undertaking, association, joint venture or partnership or any other entity. |
|
|
|
“Joint Venture Investment” has the meaning given to it in the definition of “Permitted Joint
Venture”. |
|
|
|
“L/C Proportion” means in relation to a Lender in respect of any Letter of Credit, the proportion
(expressed as a percentage) borne by that Lender’s Available Commitment to the relevant Available
Facility immediately prior to the issue of that Letter of Credit, adjusted to reflect any
assignment or transfer under this Agreement to or by that Lender. |
|
|
|
“Legal Opinion” means any legal opinion delivered to the Agent under Clause 4.1 (Initial conditions
precedent) or Clause 29 (Changes to the Obligors). |
|
|
|
“Legal Reservations” means: |
|
(a) |
|
the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court
and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws
generally affecting the rights of creditors; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the time barring of claims under the Limitation Acts, the possibility that an undertaking to
assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of UK stamp duty may be void and
defences of set-off or counterclaim; |
|
|
(c) |
|
similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of
general application in the Legal Opinions. |
|
(a) |
|
any Original Lender; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party as a
Lender in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders), |
|
|
which in each case has not ceased to be a Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
|
|
|
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit, guarantee, bond, indemnity or other instrument in
the latest standard form of the Issuing Bank (if any) or a form requested by a Borrower (or the
Company on its behalf) and agreed by the Agent with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders and
the Issuing Bank. |
14
|
|
“Leverage” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25.1 (Financial Definitions). |
|
|
|
“LIBOR” means, in relation to any Loan: |
|
(a) |
|
the applicable Screen Rate; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
(if no Screen Rate is available for the currency or Interest Period of that Loan) the Base
Reference Bank Rate, |
|
|
as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan and a period comparable
to the Interest Period of that Loan. |
|
|
|
“Limitation Acts” means the Limitation Xxx 0000 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Xxx 0000. |
|
|
|
“Listing” means a successful application being made for the admission of all or part of the share
capital of any member of the Group on any recognised investment exchange (as defined in the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) or any other public exchange or public market in any
jurisdiction or country or any other sale or issue by way of flotation or public offering or any
equivalent circumstances in relation to any member of the Group in any jurisdiction or country. |
|
|
|
“LMA” means the Loan Market Association. |
|
|
|
“Loan” means a Revolving Facility Loan. |
|
|
|
“Majority Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than
662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero,
aggregated more than 662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments immediately prior to that reduction). |
|
|
|
“Mandatory Cost” means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in accordance with
Schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost formula). |
|
|
|
“Mandatory Prepayment Account” means an interest-bearing account: |
|
(a) |
|
held in the England by a Borrower with the Agent or Security Agent; |
|
|
(b) |
|
identified in a letter between the Company and the Agent, or in the name of the account, as a
Mandatory Prepayment Account; |
|
|
(c) |
|
subject to Security in favour of the Security Agent which Security is in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent and Security Agent; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
from which no withdrawals may be made by any members of the Group except as contemplated by
this Agreement, |
|
|
(as the same may be redesignated, substituted or replaced from time to time). |
|
|
|
“Margin” means: |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to any Loan, 1.50 per cent. per annum; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to any other Unpaid Sum, the highest rate specified in the table below, |
|
|
but where Leverage in respect of the most recently completed Relevant Period (starting with the
Relevant Period ending on or about 31 December 2010) is within a range in the table set |
15
|
|
out below, then the Margin for each Loan will be the percentage per annum set out below in the
column opposite that range: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Margin |
Leverage |
|
% p.a. |
Greater than 2.00:1 |
|
|
2.50 |
|
Greater than 1.50:1 but less than or equal to 2.00:1 |
|
|
2.25 |
|
Greater than 1.00:1 but less than or equal to 1.50:1 |
|
|
2.00 |
|
Greater than 0.75:1 but less than or equal to 1.00:1 |
|
|
1.75 |
|
Less than or equal to 0.75:1 |
|
|
1.50 |
|
|
(i) |
|
any increase or decrease in the Margin for a Loan shall take effect on the date (the “reset
date”) which is the 5 Business Days after receipt by the Agent of the Compliance Certificate for
that Relevant Period pursuant to Clause 24.2 (Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if, following receipt by the Agent of the annual audited financial statements of the Group and
related Compliance Certificate, those statements and Compliance Certificate do not confirm the
basis for a reduced Margin, then the provisions of Clause 13.2 (Payment of interest) shall apply
and the Margin for that Loan shall be the percentage per annum determined using the table above and
the revised ratio of Leverage calculated using the figures in the Compliance Certificate; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
while an Event of Default is continuing, the Margin for each Loan shall be the highest
percentage per annum set out in the table above; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
for the purpose of determining the Margin, Leverage and Relevant Period shall be determined in
accordance with Clause 25.1 (Financial definitions). |
|
|
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on: |
|
(a) |
|
the business, assets or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the
Finance Documents and/or their obligations under Clause 25.2 (Financial condition) of this
Agreement; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security granted or
purporting to be granted pursuant to any of, the Finance Documents or the right or remedies of any
Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents. |
|
|
“Material Company” means, at any time: |
|
(a) |
|
the Parent; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
any other Obligor; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
a wholly-owned member of the Group that holds shares in an Obligor; or |
16
|
(d) |
|
a Subsidiary of the Parent which has earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortisation (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA on an unconsolidated basis and
excluding intra-group items and investments in Subsidiaries) representing 5 per cent. or more of
Consolidated EBITDA, or has gross assets, net assets or turnover (calculated on an unconsolidated
basis and excluding intra-group items and investments in Subsidiaries) representing 5 per cent., or
more of the gross assets, net assets or turnover of the Group, calculated on a consolidated basis. |
|
|
Compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph (d) shall be determined by reference to the
most recent Compliance Certificate supplied by the Parent and/or the latest audited financial
statements of that Subsidiary (consolidated in the case of a Subsidiary which itself has
Subsidiaries) and the latest Annual Financial Statements of the Parent. However, if a Subsidiary
has been acquired since the date as at which the latest Annual Financial Statements of the Parent
were prepared, those financial statements shall be deemed to be adjusted in order to take into
account the acquisition of that Subsidiary (that adjustment (if requested by the Agent acting on
the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall be certified by the Group’s Auditors as
representing an accurate reflection of the revised Consolidated EBITDA, consolidated gross assets,
consolidated net assets and/or consolidated turnover of the Group). |
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|
A report by the Auditors of the Parent that a Subsidiary is or is not a Material Company shall, in
the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
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“XxXxxxxx Group” means XxXxxxxx Red Man Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries from time to time. |
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|
“XxXxxxxx Loan Notes” means the 10 year, fixed coupon loan notes issued by the XxXxxxxx UK in
favour of XxXxxxxx Red Man Corporation pursuant to: |
|
(a) |
|
a loan note instrument dated 30 October 2009 constituting loan notes with an aggregate
principal amount of £24,600,000; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
a loan note instrument dated 30 October 2009 constituting loan notes with an aggregate
principal amount of £59,400,000. |
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“XxXxxxxx UK” means XxXxxxxx Red Man UK Limited a company incorporated in England with registered
number 7010190. |
|
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|
“MOF” means any overdraft or other bilateral facility made available by a MOF Lender to a Debtor. |
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|
“MOF Agreements” means the MOF Facility Agreement and each other agreement or letter pursuant to
which a MOF is made available. |
|
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|
“MOF Document” means all MOF Agreements and any other agreement or document entered into or
pursuant to such MOF Agreement. |
|
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|
“MOF Facility Agreement” means any agreement entered into by any member of the Group and HSBC Bank
plc in relation to the provision of overdraft and other ancillary facilities. |
|
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“MOF Lender” means: |
|
(a) |
|
the Original MOF Lender; and |
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|
(b) |
|
any Lender which becomes a MOF Lender pursuant to Clause 28.9 (Accession of Hedge
Counterparties and MOF Lenders), |
17
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|
which, in each case is or has become a party to the Security Trust Agreement as a MOF Lender in
accordance with the provisions of the Security Trust Agreement. |
|
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“Month” means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically
corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that: |
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(a) |
|
(subject to paragraph (c) below) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day,
that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to
end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day; |
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(b) |
|
if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to
end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and |
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|
(c) |
|
if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period
shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end. |
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The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period. |
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|
“New Lender” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders). |
|
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|
“New Zealand
Dollars” means the lawful currency for the time being of New Zealand. |
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|
“New Zealand Obligor” means
an Obligor incorporated in New Zealand. |
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|
“Non-Acceptable L/C Lender” means a Lender under the
Revolving Facility which: |
|
(a) |
|
is not an Acceptable Bank within the meaning of paragraph (a) of the definition of “Acceptable
Bank” (other than a Lender which each Issuing Bank has agreed is acceptable to it notwithstanding
that fact); or |
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(b) |
|
is a Defaulting Lender; or |
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(c) |
|
has failed to make (or has notified the Agent that it will not make) a payment to be made by it
under Clause 7.3 (Indemnities) or Clause 30.10 (Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent) or any other
payment to be made by it under the Finance Documents to or for the account of any other Finance
Party in its capacity as Lender by the due date for payment unless the failure to pay falls within
the description of any of those items set out at (i)-(ii) of the definition of Defaulting Lender. |
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“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 39.3 (Replacement of Lender). |
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“Obligor” means a Borrower or a Guarantor. |
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“Obligors’ Agent” means the Company, appointed to act on behalf of each Obligor in relation to the
Finance Documents pursuant to Clause 2.4 (Obligors’ Agent). |
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“Optional Currency” means: |
|
(a) |
|
Australian Dollars, New Zealand Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Sterling and US Dollars (together
the “Pre-Approved Currencies”); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
a currency (other than the Base Currency) which complies with the conditions set out in Clause
4.3 (Conditions relating to Optional Currencies). |
18
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“Original Borrower” means the company listed in Part I of Schedule 1 (The
Original Parties) as the Original Borrower. |
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“Original Financial Statements” means: |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to each Obligor its audited financial statements (or in the case of
MRC Transmark B.V., its unaudited financial statements) for its Financial Year ended
2009; |
|
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(b) |
|
the consolidated financial statements of the Parent in respect of the financial
period ending on or about 30 June 2010. |
|
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“Original New Zealand Obligor” means MRC Transmark Limited incorporated in New
Zealand. |
|
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|
“Original Obligor” means an Original Borrower or an Original Guarantor. |
|
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|
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Communities that
adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation
of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union. |
|
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“Party” means a party to this Agreement. |
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|
“Perfection Requirements” means the making or the procuring of the necessary
registrations, filings, endorsements, notarisations, stampings and/or notifications
of the Transaction Security Documents and/or the Transaction Security created
thereunder. |
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|
“Permitted Acquisition” means: |
|
(a) |
|
an acquisition by a member of the Group of an asset sold, leased, transferred or
otherwise disposed of by another member of the Group in circumstances constituting a
Permitted Disposal; |
|
|
(b) |
|
an acquisition of shares or securities pursuant to a Permitted Share Issue; |
|
|
(c) |
|
an acquisition of securities which are Cash Equivalent Investments so long as
those Cash Equivalent Investments become subject to the Transaction Security as soon
as is reasonably practicable; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the incorporation of a company which on incorporation becomes a member of the
Group, but only if: |
|
(i) |
|
that company is incorporated in an Approved Country with limited liability; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if the shares in the company are owned by an Obligor, Security over the shares of that company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is
created in favour of the Security Agent within 30 days of the date of its
incorporation if incorporated in England or within 60 days if incorporated
elsewhere; |
|
(e) |
|
an acquisition by way of investment permitted pursuant to Clause 26.9 (Joint
Ventures); |
|
|
(f) |
|
to the extent not permitted in paragraph (h) below, an acquisition by a member
of the Group of shares or equity securities (the “Minority Shares”) in a member of
the Group that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary and/or in a Permitted Joint Venture
(the “Joint Venture Shares”), in each case owned by any other shareholder that is
not a member of the Group where: |
19
|
(i) |
|
no Default is continuing at the time of that acquisition or would occur as
a result of that acquisition; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
subject to the Agreed Security Principles, if the Minority Shares or the
Joint Venture Shares are to be owned by an Obligor, Security is given over
such the Minority Shares or Joint Venture Shares acquired (as applicable) as
soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 30 days if such shares are
in a company incorporated in England or 60 days if in a company incorporated
in another jurisdiction, after the date of their acquisition in favour of (and
in form and substance satisfactory to) the Security Agent (acting reasonably)
for the Finance Parties by the member of the Group that acquired those
Minority Shares or Joint Venture Shares (as applicable); and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the consideration (including associated cost and expenses) for the
Minority Shares or Joint Venture Shares being acquired and any Financial
Indebtedness remaining in any such Joint Venture at the date of acquisition to
the extent such Financial Indebtedness is not prior to such acquisition
accounted for as Borrowings of a member of the Group (the “Total Acquisition
Price”) does not exceed €15,000,000 (or its equivalent) and the Total
Acquisition Price and when aggregated with the Total Acquisition Price for any
other Minority Shares and Joint Venture Shares acquired by all members of the
Group pursuant to this paragraph (f) in any rolling 12 month period (ending on
the scheduled date of such acquisition) (together the “Aggregate Total
Acquisition Price”) and the Aggregate Total Purchase Price for such period,
does not in that rolling 12 month period exceed €30,000,000 (or its
equivalent); and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
in relation to the acquisition only of any Joint Venture Shares, the
Parent has delivered to the Agent not later than 2 Business Days before
legally completing such acquisition, a certificate signed by the CFO of the
Parent (in a form reasonably acceptable to the Agent) confirming that the
Parent reasonably believes (with supporting calculations) that Leverage in
respect of any Relevant Period ending on the next 4 Financial Quarters
following such acquisition, will be no greater than 2.0:1. |
|
(g) |
|
an acquisition of (A) at least 50.1% of the issued share capital of a limited
liability company or (B) (if the acquisition is made by a limited liability company
whose sole purpose is to make the acquisition) a business or undertaking carried on
as a going concern, but only if: |
|
(i) |
|
no Default is continuing on the closing date for the acquisition or would
occur as a result of the acquisition; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the acquired company, business or undertaking is engaged in a business
substantially the same as that carried on by the XxXxxxxx Group; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for the
acquisition and any Financial Indebtedness remaining in the acquired company
(or any such business) at the date of acquisition (the “Total Purchase Price”)
does not exceed €15,000,000 (or its equivalent) and the Total Purchase Price
when aggregated with the Total Purchase Price for all other Permitted
Acquisitions by all members of the Groups pursuant to this paragraph (g) in
any rolling 12 month period (ending on the scheduled date of such acquisition)
(the “Aggregate Total Purchase Price”) and the Aggregate Total Acquisition
Price for such period does not in that rolling 12 month period exceed in
aggregate €30,000,000 (or its equivalent); and |
20
|
(iv) |
|
the Parent has delivered to the Agent not later than 2 Business Days
before completing such acquisition, a certificate signed by the CFO of the
Parent, (in a form reasonably acceptable to the Agent) confirming that the
Parent reasonably believes (with supporting calculations) that Leverage in
respect of any Relevant Period ending on the next 4 Financial Quarters
following such acquisition, will be no greater than 2.0:1; and |
|
(h) |
|
the acquisition by the Parent of all of the shares not owned by it in Transmark
DRW GmbH provided that consideration (including associated costs and expenses) and
any Financial Indebtedness (to the extent not prior to such acquisition accounted
for as Borrowings of a member of the Group) remaining in such company at the date of
such acquisition does not exceed €5,000,000 (or its equivalent). |
|
|
“Permitted Disposal” means any sale, lease, licence, transfer or other disposal
which, except in the case of paragraph (b), is on arm’s length terms: |
|
(a) |
|
of assets made by any member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading of
the disposing entity; |
|
|
(b) |
|
of any asset by a member of the Group (the “Disposing Company”) to another
member of the Group (the “Acquiring Company”), but if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Disposing Company is an Obligor, the Acquiring Company must also be an
Obligor; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Disposing Company had given Security over the asset, the Acquiring
Company must give equivalent Security over that asset; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Disposing Company is a Guarantor, the Acquiring Company must be a
Guarantor guaranteeing at all times an amount no less than that guaranteed by
the Disposing Company; |
|
(c) |
|
of assets (other than shares and businesses) in exchange for other assets
reasonably comparable or superior as to type, value and quality; |
|
|
(d) |
|
of obsolete, surplus or redundant vehicles, plant and equipment or real estate
not required for the operation of the business of the Group as it is being
conducted; |
|
|
(e) |
|
of Cash Equivalent Investments for cash or in exchange for other Cash Equivalent
Investments; |
|
|
(f) |
|
constituted by a licence of intellectual property rights permitted by Clause
26.21 (Intellectual Property); |
|
|
(g) |
|
to a Joint Venture, to the extent permitted by Clause 26.9 (Joint
ventures); |
|
|
(h) |
|
arising as a result of any Permitted Security; |
|
|
(i) |
|
arising as a result of the Permitted Sale and Leaseback; |
|
|
(j) |
|
of the Singapore Property substantially on the terms disclosed by the Company to
the Agent prior to the Signing Date; and |
|
|
(k) |
|
of assets (other than shares and businesses) for cash where the higher of market
value and the net consideration receivable (when aggregated with the net
consideration receivable for any other sale, lease, licence, transfer or other
disposal |
21
|
|
|
not allowed under the preceding paragraphs) does not exceed in aggregate
€2,000,000 (or its equivalent) for the Group in any Financial Year of the
Parent. |
|
|
“Permitted Distribution” means |
|
(a) |
|
the payment of a dividend to the Parent or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
|
|
(i) |
|
the payment of a dividend by the Parent or a reduction of share capital of
the Parent; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
save as otherwise permitted to be made as a Permitted Payment, the
payment to any members of the XxXxxxxx Group of fees for corporate, M&A and/or
transaction advice in relation to any restructuring or reorganisation of the
Group; and/or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the making of any loan by any member of the Group to XxXxxxxx UK; |
|
(iv) |
|
such payment is a dividend or loan to XxXxxxxx UK to be applied by
XxXxxxxx UK in payment of interest (but not principal) due and payable on the
XxXxxxxx Loan Notes (each a “Loan Notes Distribution”) and: |
|
(A) |
|
the amount of such Loan Notes Distribution made in any Financial
Year of the Parent when aggregated with all other such Loan Notes
Distributions made in such Financial Year of the Parent as permitted
under this paragraph (b) (iv), does not exceed a maximum aggregate
amount of £5,880,000 (or its equivalent); |
|
|
(B) |
|
the Parent has delivered to the Agent not later than 2 Business
Days before making or legally committing to make any such Loan Notes
Distribution, a certificate signed by the CFO of the Parent
confirming (i) the amount of such Loan Notes Distribution and
compliance with paragraph (iv) (A) above and (ii) that the Parent
reasonably believes (with supporting calculations) that it will be
in compliance with the financial covenants in Clause 25.2 (Financial
condition) in respect of each Relevant Period ending on the next 4
Financial Quarters following the making of such Loan Notes
Distribution; |
|
|
(C) |
|
on the date of payment of such Loan Notes Distribution, no Event
of Default is continuing under Clause 27.2 (Financial covenants and
other obligations) as a result of a breach of Clause 25 (Financial
Covenants); and |
|
|
(D) |
|
such Loan Notes Distribution is promptly applied by XxXxxxxx UK
in payment of interest due and payable on the XxXxxxxx Loan Notes; |
|
(v) |
|
in respect of any such payment, reduction or loan other than a Loan Notes
Distribution permitted under paragraph (b) (iv) above: |
|
(A) |
|
on the date of payment of such payment, reduction or loan (each a
“XxXxxxxx Distribution”), no Event of Default is continuing |
22
|
|
|
under Clause 27.2 (Financial covenants and other
obligations) as a result of a breach of Clause 25
(Financial Covenants); |
|
|
(B) |
|
the amount of such XxXxxxxx Distribution when aggregated with
all other such XxXxxxxx Distributions permitted under this paragraph
(b) (v) and made during the 12 month period (the “Payment Period”)
starting from the date of the delivery of the Annual Financial
Statements of the Parent for a Financial Year of the Parent (the
“Payment Year”) does not exceed an amount equal to 25% of the
balance of the Distributable Net Profits for the relevant Payment
Year after deducting the aggregate amount of Loan Note Distributions
made during such Payment Year; |
|
|
(C) |
|
the Parent has delivered to the Agent not later than 2 Business
Days before making or legally committing to make any such XxXxxxxx
Distribution, a certificate signed by the CFO of the Parent
confirming (i) the amount of such XxXxxxxx Distribution, (ii) the
Distributable Net Profits for relevant Payment Year and compliance
with paragraph (v) (B) above and (iii) that the Parent reasonably
believes (with supporting calculations) that it will be in
compliance with the financial covenants in Clause 25.2 (Financial
condition) in respect of each Relevant Period ending on the next 4
Financial Quarters following the making of such XxXxxxxx
Distribution; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
such XxXxxxxx Distribution is made during the relevant Payment
Period. |
|
|
“Permitted Financial Indebtedness” means Financial Indebtedness: |
|
(a) |
|
arising under any of the Finance Documents; |
|
|
(b) |
|
to the extent covered by a Letter of Credit or letter of credit, bond, guarantee
or indemnity issued under any MOF Agreement; |
|
|
(c) |
|
arising under a foreign exchange transaction for spot or forward delivery
entered into in connection with protection against fluctuation in currency rates
where that foreign exchange exposure arises in the ordinary course of trade or in
respect of Utilisations made in Optional Currencies, but not a foreign exchange
transaction for investment or speculative purposes; |
|
|
(d) |
|
arising under a Permitted Loan or a Permitted Guarantee or as permitted by
Clause 26.23 (Treasury Transactions); |
|
|
(e) |
|
arising under or relating to letters of credit, bank guarantees or other
documentary credits issued in the ordinary course of trading where such Financial
Indebtedness is unsecured (save in respect of the underlying assets and related
rights as permitted under paragraph (j) of the definition of Permitted Security) and
the aggregate outstanding principal amount does not at any time exceed €5,000,000
for the Group; |
|
|
(f) |
|
arising under the Cash Pooling Agreement; |
|
|
(g) |
|
of any person acquired by a member of the Group after the first Utilisation Date
which is incurred under arrangements in existence at the date of acquisition, but
not incurred or increased or having its maturity date extended in contemplation of,
or since, that |
23
|
|
|
acquisition, and outstanding only for a period of three months following the
date of acquisition; |
|
|
(h) |
|
under the Rabobank Facility Agreement and in relation to the Singapore DBS Term
Loan provided that, in each case, they are repaid and irrevocably and
unconditionally cancelled in full by no later than the first Utilisation Date; |
|
|
(i) |
|
made available by the relevant vendor in connection with any Permitted
Acquisition provided that such Financial Indebtedness is fully subordinated behind
the Finance Parties on terms satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably); |
|
|
(j) |
|
under: |
|
(i) |
|
any Finance Leases; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any factoring, sale or discounting on arm’s length terms of receivables; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any local facilities provided to any member of the Group by a financial
institution on an unsecured basis save as permitted under paragraph (p) of the
definition of Permitted Security, |
|
|
|
provided that the aggregate capital value of all such items so leased under
outstanding leases by all members of the Group (calculated in accordance with
the Accounting Principles) and/or the aggregate Financial Indebtedness so
raised does not in aggregate for the Group exceed €10,000,000 (or its
equivalent in other currencies) at any time; and |
|
(k) |
|
not permitted by the preceding paragraphs or as a Permitted Transaction and the
outstanding principal amount of which does not exceed €1,000,000 (or its equivalent)
in aggregate for the Group at any time. |
|
|
“Permitted Guarantee” means: |
|
(a) |
|
the endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of trade; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any performance or similar bond guaranteeing performance by a member of the
Group under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of trade; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any guarantee of a Joint Venture to the extent permitted by Clause 26.9 (Joint
ventures); |
|
|
(d) |
|
any guarantee of Permitted Financial Indebtedness; |
|
|
(e) |
|
guarantees (not being guarantees of Financial Indebtedness) guaranteeing
performance by a member of the Group under any contract entered into in the ordinary
course of the trading including, without limitation, any rental payments of any
member of the Group under a lease on arm’s length terms and in the ordinary course
of business; |
|
|
(f) |
|
given by an Obligor in respect of obligations of another Obligor; |
|
|
(g) |
|
any guarantee or indemnity given to any liquidator or similar officer in
connection with a liquidation, winding up or dissolution occurring as part of a
Permitted Transaction, in a customary form; |
|
|
(h) |
|
given by a non-Obligor in respect of obligations of another member of the Group; |
24
|
(i) |
|
any guarantee of any transaction permitted under Clause 26.23 (Treasury
Transactions); |
|
|
(j) |
|
any guarantee given in respect of the netting or set-off arrangements permitted
pursuant to paragraph (b) of the definition of Permitted Security; |
|
|
(k) |
|
any indemnity given in the ordinary course of the documentation of an
acquisition or disposal transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted
Disposal which indemnity is in a customary form and subject to customary
limitations; |
|
|
(l) |
|
any joint and several liability arising as a result of (the establishment of) a
fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) between the Dutch Obligors; |
|
|
(m) |
|
any guarantee granted pursuant to a declaration of joint and several liability
used for the purpose of Section 2:403 of the Dutch Civil Code (and any residual
liability under such declaration pursuant to section 2:404(2) of the Dutch Civil
Code); or |
|
|
(n) |
|
any guarantee not permitted by the preceding paragraphs or as a Permitted
Transaction provided that the total aggregate amount permitted under this paragraph
(o) may not exceed €1,000,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate for the Group at any
time. |
|
|
“Permitted Joint Venture” means any investment in any Joint Venture where: |
|
(a) |
|
the Joint Venture is incorporated, or established, and carries on its principal
business, in an Approved Country; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Joint Venture is engaged in a business substantially the same as that
carried on by the Group; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
the aggregate in respect of all such Joint Ventures (“Joint Venture Investment”) of: |
|
(iv) |
|
all amounts subscribed for shares in, lent to, or invested in such Joint
Ventures by all members of the Group; |
|
|
(v) |
|
the contingent liabilities of all members of the Group under any guarantee
given in respect of the liabilities of such Joint Ventures; and |
|
|
(vi) |
|
the market value of any assets transferred by all members of the Group to
such Joint Ventures, |
|
|
(including all associated costs and expenses) does not exceed €2,000,000 (or
its equivalent) in any Financial Year of the Parent. |
|
(a) |
|
any trade credit extended by any member of the Group to its customers on normal
commercial terms and in the ordinary course of its trading activities; |
|
|
(b) |
|
Financial Indebtedness which is referred to in the definition of, or otherwise
constitutes, Permitted Financial Indebtedness (except under paragraph (d) of that
definition); |
|
|
(c) |
|
a loan made to a Joint Venture to the extent permitted under Clause 26.9 (Joint
ventures); |
25
|
(d) |
|
a loan made by an Obligor to another Obligor or made by a member of the Group
which is not an Obligor to another member of the Group; |
|
|
(e) |
|
any loan made by an Obligor to a member of the Group which is not an Obligor so
long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness under all such loans does
not exceed €5,000,000 (or its equivalent) for the Group at any time; |
|
|
(f) |
|
a loan made by a member of the Group to an employee or director of any member of
the Group if the amount of that loan when aggregated with the amount of all loans to
employees and directors by all members of the Group does not exceed €500,000 (or its
equivalent) at any time; |
|
|
(g) |
|
a loan permitted as a Permitted Distribution; |
|
|
(h) |
|
any loan not permitted under the preceding paragraphs so long as the aggregate
amount of the Financial Indebtedness under all such loans does not exceed €1,000,000
(or its equivalent) for the Group at any time. |
|
|
“Permitted Payment” means: |
|
(a) |
|
any payment to any member of the XxXxxxxx Group (other than a member of the
Group itself) in respect of and/or in reimbursement of costs and expenses for (i)
corporate, M&A and/or transaction advice or any other advice in relation to any
restructuring or reorganisation of the Group or (ii) the provision to any member of
the Group of shared back office or front office services (including, but not limited
to services in connection with insurance, IT, marketing, royalties), in each case on
bona fide arm’s length commercial terms at market value (or on terms that are more
favourable to the relevant member of the Group); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any payment to XxXxxxxx UK to fund and/or reimburse its administrative costs,
director’s fees, tax and professional fees and any regulatory costs or in respect of
any payment of a management fee and (ii) any payment to any member of the XxXxxxxx
Group (other than a member of the Group itself) to fund and/or reimburse costs and
expenses incurred in connection with any other services provided to (or incurred in
respect of) a member of the Group and not covered by paragraph (a)(ii) above,
subject to a maximum aggregate amount in respect of all such payments of €1,000,000
(or its equivalent) in any Financial Year of the Parent |
|
|
“Permitted Sale and Leaseback” means the sale and lease back of the property located
at Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 0, X-00000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx owned by Transmark DRW GmbH for a
maximum aggregate consideration of no more than €2,000,000 (or its equivalent). |
|
|
|
“Permitted Security” means: |
|
(a) |
|
any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading and
not as a result of any default or omission by any member of the Group; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by any member of the Group in
the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and
credit balances of members of the Group but only so long as (i) such arrangement
does not permit credit balances of Obligors to be netted or set off against debit
balances of members of the Group which are not Obligors and (ii) such arrangement
does not give rise to other Security over the assets of Obligors in support of
liabilities of members of the Group which are not Obligors except, in the case of
(i) and (ii) above, to the extent such netting, set-off or Security relates to, or
is granted in support of, a loan permitted |
26
|
|
|
pursuant to paragraph (d) of the definition of “Permitted Loan” or is
otherwise permitted under the Cash Pooling Agreement; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any payment or close out netting or set-off arrangement pursuant to any Treasury
Transaction or foreign exchange transaction entered into by a member of the Group
which constitutes Permitted Financial Indebtedness excluding any Security or Quasi
Security under a credit support arrangement; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security over or affecting any asset acquired by a member
of the Group after the first Signing Date if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Security or Quasi-Security was not created in contemplation of the
acquisition of that asset by a member of the Group; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the principal amount secured has not been increased in contemplation of
or since the acquisition of that asset by a member of the Group; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Security or Quasi-Security is removed or discharged within three
months of the date of acquisition of such asset; |
|
(e) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security over or affecting any asset of any company which
becomes a member of the Group after the Signing Date, where the Security or
Quasi-Security is created prior to the date on which that company becomes a member
of the Group if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Security or Quasi-Security was not created in contemplation of the
acquisition of that company; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the principal amount secured has not increased in contemplation of or
since the acquisition of that company; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Security or Quasi-Security is removed or discharged within three
months of that company becoming a member of the Group; |
|
(f) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security arising under any retention of title, hire
purchase or conditional sale arrangement or arrangements having similar effect in
respect of goods supplied to a member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading
and on the supplier’s standard or usual terms and not arising as a result of any
default or omission by any member of the Group and relating only to the goods
supplied; |
|
|
(g) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security (existing as at the date of this Agreement) over
assets of any member of the Group so long as the Security or Quasi-Security is
irrevocably removed or discharged by no later than the first Utilisation Date; |
|
|
(h) |
|
any security or Quasi-Security as a result of customary escrow arrangements
using no more than 20% of the disposal proceeds arising as a result of a disposal
which is a Permitted Disposal; |
|
|
(i) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security arising as a consequence of any finance or
capital lease permitted pursuant to paragraph (j) of the definition of Permitted
Financial Indebtedness provided such Security or Quasi-Security relates only to the
assets the subject of the relevant lease; |
|
|
(j) |
|
any Security over goods or documents of title to goods arising in the ordinary
course of letter of credit transactions entered into in the ordinary course of
trading; |
27
|
(k) |
|
the Transaction Security and any other Security arising under the Finance
Documents; |
|
|
(l) |
|
payments into court or any Security arising under any court order or injunction
in relation to costs arising in connection with any litigation or court proceedings
being contested by any member of the Group in good faith (which do not otherwise
constitute or give rise to an Event of Default); |
|
|
(m) |
|
Security by way of set-off or pledge over bank accounts (in favour of the
account-holding bank) arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of its
banking arrangements or under standard banking terms and conditions; |
|
|
(n) |
|
any Security arising on rental deposits in connection with the occupation of
leasehold premises in the ordinary course of business provided that the aggregate
principal amount deposited at any time does not exceed an amount which is customary
for such rental deposits provided such Security relates only to the rental deposit; |
|
|
(o) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security arising in connection with a Permitted
Acquisition over any amount held under an escrow arrangement in respect of a
Permitted Acquisition up to a maximum amount of 20% of the purchase price payable in
respect of such acquisition; |
|
|
(p) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security granted by a member of the Group which is not an
Obligor to a financial institution to support local facilities made available
directly to it and which are permitted under sub-paragraph (iii) of paragraph (j) of
the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness; |
|
|
(q) |
|
all security granted in favour of Cooperatieve Centrale
Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. in respect of the Rabobank Facility Agreement
provided that in each case the same is unconditionally discharged and released to
the satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably) on or before the first Utilisation
Date; |
|
|
(r) |
|
any Security or Quasi-Security arising over cash cover (which at no time is in
an aggregate amount in excess of €350,000 (or its equivalent)) provided by MRC
Transmark Pte. Ltd. to DBS Bank Ltd. in respect of facilities provided to MRC
Transmark Pte. Ltd. (other than the Singapore DBS Term Loan) provided that it
relates only to such cash cover; |
|
|
(s) |
|
subject to Clause 26.27(b), the Singapore Mortgage; and |
|
|
(t) |
|
any Security not permitted under the proceeding paragraphs securing indebtedness
to the outstanding principal amount of which in aggregate for the Group does not at
any time exceed €1,000,000 (or its equivalent). |
|
|
“Permitted Share Issue” means an issue of: |
|
(a) |
|
ordinary shares by the Parent, paid for in full in cash upon issue and which by
their terms are not redeemable and where (i) such shares are of the same class and
on the same terms as those issued by the Parent before the Signing Date and (ii)
such issue does not lead to a Change of Control of the Parent; |
|
|
(b) |
|
shares by a member of the Group which is a Subsidiary to its immediate Holding
Company where (if the existing shares of the Subsidiary are the subject of the
Transaction Security) the newly-issued shares also become subject to the Transaction
Security on the same terms, |
28
|
|
|
and in respect of both paragraphs (a) and (b) above, which do not constitute
or form part of a Listing; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
any other issue of shares to which the Majority Lenders have given their consent. |
|
|
“Permitted Transaction” means: |
|
(a) |
|
any disposal required, Financial Indebtedness incurred, guarantee, indemnity or
Security or Quasi-Security given, or other transaction arising, under the Finance
Documents; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the solvent liquidation or reorganisation (including de-registration) of any
member of the Group which is not an Obligor so long as any payments or assets
distributed (following settlement of all liabilities to creditors) as a result of
such liquidation or reorganisation are distributed to other members of the Group
(provided that if the member of the Group which is the subject of the liquidation or
reorganisation (including de-registration) is not wholly owned not greater than a
pro rata proportion of such payments or assets may be distributed to it minority
shareholders); |
|
|
(c) |
|
transactions (other than (i) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other
disposal and (ii) the granting or creation of Security or the incurring or
permitting to subsist of Financial Indebtedness) conducted in the ordinary course of
trading on arm’s length terms; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any payments or other transactions required, permitted and/or contemplated by
any Cash Pooling Agreement; or |
|
|
(e) |
|
a liquidation or re-organisation on a solvent basis of the Parent where: |
|
(i) |
|
no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such
liquidation or re-organisation; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Agent, is given 30 days prior notice of such liquidation or
re-organisation and acting reasonably, is satisfied prior to the date of such
liquidation or reorganisation that the Finance Parties will enjoy at least the
same or equivalent Transaction Security over the same assets of that new
member of the Group and the shares in it and the same or equivalent guarantee
in an amount not less than that guaranteed by the Parent, in each case as
enjoyed by them prior to such liquidation or re-organisation; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
all of its business and assets are retained by a new wholly owned
Subsidiary of XxXxxxxx UK which is incorporated in England and which has
become, or at the same time as such liquidation or re-organisation becomes, an
Additional Guarantor and the “Parent” under this Agreement and the Security
Trust Agreement and the Agent has received any other documents in a form
acceptable to it (acting reasonably) as is required in connection with such
Additional Guarantor becoming the “Parent” and to satisfy the Agent under
paragraph (ii) above; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
to the extent required under paragraph (f) of Clause 24.3 (Requirements
as to financial statements) the Agent has received 30 days prior to the date
of such liquidation or reorganisation a Reconciliation Statement as required
under such Clause 24.3(f) and is satisfied (acting reasonably) with its
content; |
|
(f) |
|
the merger of MRC Transmark France SAS and MRC Transmark France EURL where MRC
Transmark France SAS is the surviving entity and: |
|
(i) |
|
no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such merger; |
29
|
(ii) |
|
the merger is completed in accordance with all applicable laws and
regulations and the Agent is provided with, promptly following such merger,
evidence of the completion of the merger including without limitation a K-bis
extract from the “Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés” of Rouen showing that
MRC Transmark France EURL has been deleted from such register; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
all financial instruments held by the Parent in MRC Transmark France SAS
immediately following the merger of MRC Transmark France EURL into MRC
Transmark France SAS are immediately credited on the financial
instruments account pledged under the Share Pledge Agreement given by
the Parent to the Agent under Part I of Schedule 2 (Conditions
Precedent) and the Agent and the Security Agent are provided at that
time with (i) a confirmation of pledge (attestation de nantissement de
compte de titres financiers) issued by MRC Transmark France SAS and (ii)
copies of MRC Transmark France SAS’ shareholder register (registre de
movements de titres) and shareholder’s individual accounts (comptes
individuels d’actionnaires), evidencing the transfer of such financial
instruments held by the Parent on the financial instruments account
pledged under the Share Pledge Agreement. |
|
|
“Qualifying Lender” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17 (Tax gross-up
and indemnities). |
|
|
|
“Quarter Date” means the last day of a Financial Quarter. |
|
|
|
“Quarterly Financial Statements” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 24
(Information Undertakings). |
|
|
|
“Quasi-Security” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 26.12 (Negative pledge). |
|
|
|
“Quotation Day” means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be
determined: |
|
(a) |
|
(if the currency is sterling) the first day of that period; |
|
|
(b) |
|
(if the currency is euro) two TARGET Days before the first day of that period; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
(for any other currency) two Business Days before the first day of that period, |
|
|
unless market practice differs in the Relevant Interbank Market for a currency, in
which case the Quotation Day for that currency will be determined by the Agent in
accordance with market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market (and if quotations
would normally be given by leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market on more
than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days). |
|
|
|
“Rabobank Facility Agreement” means the term and revolving credit facilities
agreement dated 6 July 2005 between, among others, MRC Transmark Group B.V. and
Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., as amended from time to time. |
|
|
|
“Receiver” means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver (or
its equivalent in any jurisdiction) of the whole or any part of the Charged
Property. |
|
|
|
“Reduction Date” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.2 (Reduction of
Revolving Facility). |
|
|
|
“Reduction Installment” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.2 (Reduction
of Revolving Facility). |
30
|
|
“Related Fund” in relation to a fund (the “first fund”), means a fund which is
managed or advised by the same investment manager or investment adviser as the first
fund or, if it is managed by a different investment manager or investment adviser, a
fund whose investment manager or investment adviser is an Affiliate of the
investment manager or investment adviser of the first fund. |
|
|
|
“Relevant Interbank Market” means in relation to euro, the European interbank market
and, in relation to any other currency, the London interbank market. |
|
|
|
“Relevant Jurisdiction” means, in relation to an Obligor: |
|
(a) |
|
its jurisdiction of incorporation; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any jurisdiction where any asset subject to or intended to be subject to the
Transaction Security to be created by it is situated; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
the jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Transaction
Security Documents entered into by it. |
|
|
“Relevant Period” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25.1 (Financial definitions). |
|
|
|
“Renewal Request” means a written notice delivered to the Agent in accordance with
Clause 6.6 (Renewal of a Letter of Credit). |
|
|
|
“Repayment Date” means the last day of an Interest Period for a Revolving Facility Loan. |
|
|
|
“Repeating Representations” means each of the representations set out in Clause 23.2
(Status) to Clause 23.7 (Governing law and enforcement), Clause 23.11 (No default),
paragraph (e) and (f) of Clause 23.13 (Original Financial Statements), Clause 23.19
(Ranking) to Clause 23.21 (Shares) and Clause 23.25 (Centre of main interests and
establishments). |
|
|
|
“Representative” means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee,
attorney, trustee or custodian. |
|
|
|
“Resignation Letter” means a letter substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8
(Form of Resignation Letter). |
|
|
|
“Revolving Facility” means the revolving credit facility made available under this
Agreement as described in paragraph (a) of Clause 2.1 (The Facility). |
|
|
|
“Revolving Facility Commitment” means: |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in the Base Currency set opposite
its name under the heading “Revolving Facility Commitment” in Part III of Schedule 1
(The Original Parties) and the amount of any other Revolving Facility Commitment
transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause
2.2 (Increase); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to any other Lender, the amount in the Base Currency of any
Revolving Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by
it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase), |
|
|
|
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement. |
31
|
|
“Revolving Facility Loan” means a loan made or to be made under the Revolving
Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan. |
|
|
|
“Revolving Facility Utilisation” means a Revolving Facility Loan or a Letter of Credit. |
|
|
|
“Rollover Loan” means one or more Revolving Facility Loans: |
|
(a) |
|
made or to be made on the
same day that: |
|
(i) |
|
a maturing Revolving Facility Loan is due to be repaid; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a demand by the Agent pursuant to a drawing in respect of a Letter of
Credit is due to be met; |
|
(b) |
|
the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the
maturing Revolving Facility Loan or the relevant claim in respect of that Letter of
Credit; |
|
|
(c) |
|
in the same currency as the maturing Revolving Facility Loan (unless it arose as
a result of the operation of Clause 8.2 (Unavailability of a currency)) or the
relevant claim in respect of that Letter of Credit; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
made or to be made to the same Borrower for the purpose of: |
|
(i) |
|
refinancing that
maturing Revolving Facility Loan; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
satisfying the relevant claim in respect of that
Letter of Credit. |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to LIBOR, the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate
for the relevant currency and period; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to EURIBOR, the percentage rate per annum determined by the Banking
Federation of the European Union for the relevant period, |
|
|
displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen. If the agreed page is
replaced or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or
service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Company and the
Lenders. |
|
|
|
“Secured Parties” has the meaning given to it in the Security Trust Agreement. |
|
|
|
“Security” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest
securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a
similar effect. |
|
|
|
“Security Trust Agreement” means the security trust agreement dated on or about the
first Utilisation Date and made between, among others, the Original Obligors and
HSBC Bank plc in various capacities. |
|
|
|
“Separate Loan” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.1 (Repayment of
Revolving Facility Loans). |
|
|
|
“Signing Date” means the date of this Agreement. |
|
|
|
“Singapore Dollars” means the lawful currency for the time being of Singapore. |
|
|
|
“Singapore DBS Term Loan” means the term loan facility of up to SGD1,897,000
extended by DBS Bank Ltd. to MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd. pursuant to, among other
things, the facility |
32
|
|
|
letter dated 11 June 2009 from DBS Bank Ltd. to Transmark FCX Pte. Ltd. (now known
as MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd.). |
|
|
|
|
“Singapore Mortgage” means the mortgage granted by MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd. in favour
of DBS Bank Ltd. (formerly known as the Development Bank of Singapore Limited) over
the Singapore Property. |
|
|
|
|
“Singapore Obligor” means an Obligor incorporated in Singapore. |
|
|
|
|
“Singapore Property” means Lot 363 of Mukim 14 comprising premises known as 00
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 000000 owned by MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd.. |
|
|
|
|
“Specified Time” means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 10 (Timetables). |
|
|
|
|
“Sterling” means the lawful currency for the time being of the United Kingdom. |
|
|
|
|
“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies
Xxx 0000. |
|
|
|
|
“TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express
Transfer payment system which utilises a single shared platform and which was
launched on 19 November 2007. |
|
|
|
|
“TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments
in euro. |
|
|
|
|
“Tax” means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar
nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to
pay or any delay in paying any of the same). |
|
|
|
|
“Term” means each period determined under this Agreement for which the Issuing Bank
is under a liability under a Letter of Credit. |
|
|
|
|
“Termination Date” means the date falling three years from the Signing Date. |
|
|
|
|
“Total Commitments” means the Total Revolving Facility Commitments. |
|
|
|
|
“Total Revolving Facility Commitments” means the aggregate of the Revolving Facility
Commitments, being €60,000,000 at the date of this Agreement. |
|
|
|
|
“Trade Instruments” means any performance bonds, advance payment bonds or
documentary letters of credit issued in respect of the obligations of any member of
the Group arising in the ordinary course of trading of that member of the Group. |
|
|
|
|
“Transaction Security” means the Security created or expressed to be created in
favour of the Security Agent pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents. |
|
|
|
|
“Transaction Security Documents” means each of the documents listed in Part III of
Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) and any document required to be delivered to the
Agent under paragraph 17 of Part II of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) together
with any other document entered into by any Obligor creating or expressed to create
any Security over all or any part of its assets in respect of the obligations of any
of the Obligors under any of the Finance Documents or by its Holding Company
creating or expressed to create any Security over all or any of the shares in an
Obligor. |
|
|
|
|
“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in
Schedule 5 (Form of Transfer Certificate) or any other form agreed between the Agent
and the Parent. |
33
|
|
“Transfer Date” means, in relation to an assignment or a transfer, the later of: |
|
(a) |
|
the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or
Transfer Certificate; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the date on which the Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or
Transfer Certificate. |
|
|
“Treasury Transactions” means any derivative transaction entered into in connection
with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price. |
|
|
|
“Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the
Finance Documents. |
|
|
|
“US Dollars” means the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of America. |
|
|
|
“Utilisation” means a Loan or a Letter of Credit. |
|
|
|
“Utilisation Date” means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the
relevant Loan is to be made or the relevant Letter of Credit is to be issued. |
|
|
|
“Utilisation Request” means: |
|
(a) |
|
in respect of a Loan a notice substantially in the relevant form set out in
Schedule 3 (Utilisation Request Loans); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in respect of a Letter of Credit, the relevant standard form required by the
Issuing Bank in relation to the issue of guarantees, letters of credit and/or bonds
or (if not appropriate) such other form as the Issuing Bank may reasonably require. |
|
|
“VAT” means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Xxx 0000 and any
other tax of a similar nature imposed in any jurisdiction. |
|
|
|
“Whitewash Completion Date” means the date which is 14 clear days after all
Whitewash Documents are lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission. |
|
|
|
“Whitewash Documents” means the documents, in a form approved by the Agent, required
to be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under section
260B of the Corporations Act for the purposes of approving the financial assistance
being given by MRC Transmark Pty Ltd under the Finance Documents to which it is
proposed to be a party in accordance with section 260A(1)(b) of the Corporations
Act. |
|
(a) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, a reference in this Agreement to: |
|
(i) |
|
the “Agent”, the “Arranger”, any “Finance Party”, any “Hedge Counterparty”
any “Issuing Bank”, any “Lender”, any “MOF Lender”, any “Obligor”, any
“Party”, any “Secured Party”, the “Security Agent” or any other person shall
be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and
permitted transferees and, in the case of the Security Agent, any person for
the time being appointed as Security Agent or Security Agents in accordance
with the Finance Documents; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a document in “agreed form” is a document which is previously agreed in
writing by or on behalf of the Parent and the Agent or, if not so agreed, is
in the form specified by the Agent; |
34
|
(iii) |
|
“assets” includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of
every description; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
a “Finance Document” or any other agreement or instrument is a reference
to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated,
supplemented, extended or restated; |
|
|
(v) |
|
“guarantee” means (other than in Clause 22 (Guarantee and Indemnity)) any
guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against
loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase
or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan
to any person or to purchase assets of any person where, in each case, such
obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such
person to meet its indebtedness; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
“indebtedness” includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or
as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future,
actual or contingent; |
|
|
(vii) |
|
a Lender’s “participation” in relation to a letter of credit, shall be
construed as a reference to the relevant amount that is or may be payable by a
Lender in relation to that Letter of Credit; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
a “person” includes any individual, firm, company, corporation,
government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint
venture, consortium or partnership (whether or not having separate legal
personality); |
|
|
(ix) |
|
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 one with which it is the practice of the relevant person to
comply) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency,
department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or
organisation; |
|
|
(x) |
|
a “security interest” includes, in the case of a New Zealand Obligor, a
“security interest” as that term is defined in section 17(1)(a) of the
Personal Property Securities Act 1999 (NZ); |
|
|
(xi) |
|
a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or
re-enacted; and |
|
|
(xii) |
|
a time of day is a reference to London time. |
|
(b) |
|
Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document
or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same
meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement. |
|
|
(d) |
|
A Borrower providing “cash cover” for a Letter of Credit means a Borrower paying
an amount in the currency of the Letter of Credit to an interest-bearing account in
the name of the Borrower and the following conditions being met: |
|
(i) |
|
the account is with the Security Agent or with the Issuing Bank for which
that cash cover is to be provided; |
35
|
(ii) |
|
subject to paragraph (b) of Clause 7.5 (Cash Cover by Borrower), until no
amount is or may be outstanding under that Letter of Credit withdrawals from
the account may only be made to pay a Finance Party amounts due and payable to
it under this Agreement in respect of that Letter of Credit; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Borrower has executed a security document over that account, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Security Agent or the Issuing Bank with
which that account is held, creating a first ranking security interest over
that account. |
|
(e) |
|
An Event of Default arising under Clause 27.1 (Non-Payment), Clause 27.2
(Financial covenants and other obligations) as a result of a breach of clause 25
(Financial covenants), Clause 27.6 (Insolvency) and/or 27.7 (Insolvency proceedings)
is “continuing” if it has not been waived and any Default or any other Event of
Default is “continuing” if it has not been remedied or waived. |
|
|
(f) |
|
A Borrower “repaying” or “prepaying” a Letter of Credit means: |
|
(i) |
|
that Borrower providing cash cover for that Letter of Credit; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the maximum amount payable under the Letter of Credit being reduced or
cancelled in accordance with its terms; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Issuing Bank being satisfied that it has no further liability under
that Letter of Credit, |
|
|
and the amount by which a Letter of Credit is repaid or prepaid under
paragraphs (f)(i) and (f)(ii) above is the amount of the relevant cash cover
or reduction. |
|
(g) |
|
A Lender funding its participation in a Utilisation includes a Lender
participating in a Letter of Credit. |
|
|
(h) |
|
An outstanding amount of a Letter of Credit at any time is the maximum amount
that is or may be payable by the relevant Borrower in respect of that Letter of
Credit at that time. |
|
|
Insofar as it applies to a Belgian Obligor or any other member of the Group
incorporated in Belgium, a reference in this Agreement to: |
|
(a) |
|
a “liquidator”, “compulsory manager”, “receiver”, “administrative receiver”,
“administrator” or similar officer includes any curator/curateur,
vereffenaar/liquidateur, gedelegeerd rechter/juge délégué, gerechtsmandataris/
mandataire de justice, voorlopig bewindvoerder/administrateur provisoire,
gerechtelijk bewindvoerder/administrateur judiciaire, mandataris ad hoc/mandataire
ad hoc and sekwester/séquestre; |
|
|
(b) |
|
“Security” includes a mortgage (hypotheek/hypothèque), a pledge (pand/gage), a
transfer by way of security (overdracht ten titel van zekerheid/transfert à titre de
garantie), any other proprietary security interest (zakelijke zekerheid/sûreté
réelle), a mandate to grant a mortgage, a pledge or any other real surety, a
privilege (voorrecht/privilège) and a retention of title
(eigendomsvoorbehoud/réserve de propriété); |
|
|
(c) |
|
a person being “unable to pay its debts” is that person being in a state of
cessation of payments (staking van betaling/cessation de paiements); |
36
|
(d) |
|
“commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to
rescheduling any of its indebtedness” includes any negotiations conducted with a
view to reaching a settlement agreement (minnelijk akkoord/accord amiable) with two
or more of its creditors pursuant to the Belgian Act of 31 January 2009 on the
continuity of enterprises; |
|
|
(e) |
|
a “composition” includes any gerechtelijke reorganisatie/réorganisation judiciaire; |
|
|
(f) |
|
“winding-up”, “administration” or “dissolution” includes any
vereffening/liquidation, ontbinding/dissolution and faillissement/faillite; and |
|
|
(g) |
|
“attachment”, “sequestration”, “distress”, “execution” or analogous procedures
includes any uitvoerend beslag/saisie-exécution and bewarend beslag/saisie
conservatoire. |
1.4 |
|
Dutch Terms |
|
|
|
In this Agreement, where it relates to a Dutch entity, a reference to: |
|
|
(a) |
|
a necessary action to authorise where applicable, includes without limitation: |
|
(i) |
|
any action required to comply with the Works Councils Act of the
Netherlands (Wet op de ondernemingsraden); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
obtaining an unconditional positive advice (advies) from the competent
works council(s); |
|
(b) |
|
a security interest includes any mortgage (hypotheek), pledge (pandrecht),
retention of title arrangement (eigendomsvoorbehoud), privilege (voorrecht), right
of retention (recht van retentie), right to reclaim goods (recht van reclame), and,
in general, any right in rem (beperkt recht), created for the purpose of granting
security (goederenrechtelijk zekerheidsrecht); |
|
|
(c) |
|
|
|
(i) |
|
a winding-up, administration or dissolution includes a Dutch entity being
declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard) or dissolved (ontbonden); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a moratorium includes surseance van betaling and a moratorium is declared
or occurs includes surseance verleend; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a suspension of payments includes a “including emergency regulations
(noodregeling) under the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het
financieel toezicht); |
|
|
(iv) |
|
any step or procedure taken in connection with insolvency proceedings
includes a Dutch entity having filed a notice under article 36 of the Tax
Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990) or article 60 of the
Social Insurance Financing Act of the Netherlands (Wet Financiering Sociale
Verzekeringen) in conjunction with article 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the
Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990); |
|
|
(v) |
|
a trustee in bankruptcy includes a curator; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
an administrator includes a bewindvoerder; and |
|
|
(vii) |
|
an attachment includes a beslag.” |
37
|
(a) |
|
a PPS Law applies, or will apply at a future date, to any of the Finance
Documents or any of the transactions contemplated by them, or the Agent determines
(based on legal advice) that a PPS Law applies or will apply at a future date in
this manner; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in the opinion of the Agent (based on legal advice), the PPS Law: |
|
(i) |
|
adversely affects or would adversely affect a Finance Party’s security
position or the rights or obligations of the Finance Party under or in
connection with the Finance Documents; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
enables or would enable a Finance Party’s security position to be
improved without adversely affecting any Obligor’s business in a material
respect, |
|
|
the Agent may give notice to each Obligor requiring each Obligor to do anything
(including amending any Finance Document or executing any new Finance Document) that
in the Agent’s opinion is necessary to ensure that, to the maximum possible extent,
each Finance Party’s security position, and rights and obligations, are not
adversely affected as contemplated by clause 1.5(b)(i) (or that any such adverse
effect is overcome), or that a Finance Party’s security position is improved as
contemplated in clause 1.5(b)(ii). Each Obligor must comply with the requirements
of that notice within the time stipulated in the notice. |
|
(c) |
|
In this clause 1.5, “PPS Law” means: |
|
(i) |
|
the Personal Property Securities Xxx 0000 (Cth) (the “PPS Act”); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any amendment made at any time to any other law or regulation as a
consequence of the PPS Act. |
1.6 |
|
Singapore Terms |
|
|
|
Insofar as it applies to any Material Company incorporated in Singapore, a reference
in Clause 27.7(a) of this Agreement to such “analagous procedure or step” shall
include (i) any application made or petition presented for an order to place such
Material Company under judicial management of a judicial manager pursuant to the
Singapore Companies Act (Cap. 50) or under any other law, and (ii) such Material
Company becoming insolvent or becoming unable or deemed unable to pay its debts
within the meaning of Section 254(2) of the Singapore Companies Act (Cap. 50) or
under any other law. |
1.7 |
|
Effective date — Australian Obligor |
|
(a) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than clause
1.7(b)), neither this Agreement nor any Accession Deed has any force or effect
against or in respect of MRC Transmark Pty Ltd ACN 080 156 378 prior to the
Whitewash Completion Date to the extent that performance of the obligations under
this Agreement or any such Accession Deed by MRC Transmark Pty Ltd ACN 080 156 378
would breach section 260A of the Corporations Act. |
|
|
(b) |
|
On and from the Whitewash Completion Date, this Agreement and any Accession Deed
is automatically in full force and effect against and in respect of MRC Transmark
Pty Ltd ACN 080 156 378 without the need for any further action or notice by any
person. |
38
|
(a) |
|
Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document a person who is
not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 (the
“Third Parties Act”) to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who
is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time. |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available a
multicurrency revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount the Base Currency
Amount of which is equal to the Total Revolving Facility Commitments. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Facility will be available to all the Borrowers. |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date
falling three Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of: |
|
(i) |
|
the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause
10.6 (Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender); or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with Clause 10.1 (Illegality), |
|
|
|
request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments
under that Facility shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount in the Base
Currency of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments so
cancelled as follows: |
|
(iii) |
|
the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or
other banks, financial institutions, trusts, funds or other entities (each an
“Increase Lender”) selected by the Parent and each of which confirms its
willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender
corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume,
as if it had been an Original Lender; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations
towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors
and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase
Lender been an Original Lender; |
|
|
(v) |
|
each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender” and any Increase
Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards
one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and
those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase
Lender been an Original Lender; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and
effect; and |
|
|
(vii) |
|
any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date
specified by the Parent in the notice referred to above or any later date on
which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied. |
39
|
(b) |
|
An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on: |
|
(i) |
|
the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant
Increase Lender; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior
to the relevant increase: |
|
(A) |
|
the Increase Lender entering into the documentation required for it
to accede as a party to the Security Trust Agreement; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the performance by the Agent of all necessary “know your customer”
or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in
relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase
Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the
Parent, the Increase Lender and the Issuing Bank; and |
|
(iii) |
|
in the case of an increase in the Total Revolving Facility Commitments,
the Issuing Bank consenting to that increase. |
|
(c) |
|
Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the
avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any
amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender
or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the
increase becomes effective. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Unless the Agent otherwise agrees or the increased Commitment is assumed by an
existing Lender, the Parent shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect,
promptly on demand pay the Agent and the Security Agent the amount of all costs and
expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by either of them and, in the
case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate in connection with any
increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The Parent may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times
agreed between the Parent and the Increase Lender in a Fee Letter. |
|
|
(f) |
|
Clause 28.5 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders) shall apply
mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if
references in that Clause to: |
|
(i) |
|
an “Existing Lender” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior
to the relevant increase; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the “New Lender” were references to that “Increase Lender”; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a “re-transfer” and “re-assignment” were references to respectively a
“transfer” and “assignment”. |
2.3 |
|
Finance Parties’ rights and obligations |
|
(a) |
|
The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several.
Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance
Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance
Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other
Finance Party under the Finance Documents. |
40
|
(b) |
|
The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance
Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance
Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent
debt. |
|
|
(c) |
|
A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents,
separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor (other than the Company) by its execution of this Agreement or an
Accession Deed irrevocably appoints the Company to act on its behalf as its agent in
relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises: |
|
(i) |
|
the Company on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself
contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices
and instructions (including, in the case of a Borrower, Utilisation Requests),
to execute on its behalf any Accession Deed, to make such agreements and to
effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations capable of being
given, made or effected by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect
the Obligor, without further reference to or the consent of that Obligor; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to
that Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Company, |
|
|
|
and in each case the Obligor shall be bound as though the Obligor itself had
given the notices and instructions (including, without limitation, any
Utilisation Requests) or executed or made the agreements or effected the
amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant notice, demand
or other communication. |
|
(b) |
|
Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment,
supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the Obligors’
Agent or given to the Obligors’ Agent under any Finance Document on behalf of
another Obligor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to
any other Obligor and whether occurring before or after such other Obligor became an
Obligor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that
Obligor as if that Obligor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the
event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors’
Agent and any other Obligor, those of the Obligors’ Agent shall prevail. |
3.1 |
|
Purpose |
|
|
|
Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Revolving Facility towards: |
|
(a) |
|
refinancing any amounts payable under the Rabobank Facility Agreement in full; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
otherwise each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the
Revolving Facility, any Letter of Credit (funded out of the Revolving Facility)
towards the general corporate and working capital purposes of the Group (including
any Permitted Acquisition). |
3.2 |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
|
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount
borrowed pursuant to this Agreement. |
41
4. |
|
CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION |
4.1 |
|
Initial conditions precedent |
|
|
|
The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation)
in relation to any Utilisation if on or before the Utilisation Date for that
Utilisation, the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed
in Part I of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Parent and the Lenders promptly upon being so
satisfied. If the Agent has not received (or waived the right to receive) such
documents and evidence by the date being 90 days from the date of this Agreement,
the Facility shall be automatically cancelled in full. |
4.2 |
|
Further conditions precedent |
|
|
|
Subject to Clause 4.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent), the Lenders will only be
obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation), if on the date of the
Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
|
(a) |
|
in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is continuing or would
result from the proposed Loan, and in the case of any other Utilisation, no Default
is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to the first Utilisation Date, all the representations and warranties in
Clause 23 (Representations) or, in relation to any other Utilisation, the Repeating
Representations to be made by each Obligor are true in all material respects. |
4.3 |
|
Conditions relating to Optional Currencies |
|
(a) |
|
A currency will constitute an Optional Currency in relation to a Revolving
Facility Utilisation if: |
|
(i) |
|
it is a Pre-Approved Currency; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
it is readily available in the amount required and freely convertible
into the Base Currency in the Relevant Interbank Market on the Quotation Day
and the Utilisation Date for that Utilisation and has been approved by the
Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) on or prior to receipt
by the Agent of the relevant Utilisation Request for that Utilisation. |
|
(b) |
|
If the Agent has received a written request from the Company for a currency to
be approved under paragraph (a)(ii) above, the Agent will confirm to the Company by
the Specified Time: |
|
(i) |
|
whether or not the Lenders have granted their approval; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if approval has been granted, the minimum amount for any subsequent
Utilisation of a Revolving Facility Loan in that currency. |
4.4 |
|
Maximum number of Utilisations |
|
(a) |
|
A Borrower (or the Company) may not deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result
of the proposed Utilisation 20 or more Revolving Facility Loans would be
outstanding. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Any Loan made by a single Lender under Clause 8.2 (Unavailability of a currency)
shall not be taken into account in this Clause 4.4. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Any Separate Loan shall not be taken into account in this Clause 4.4. |
42
5.1 |
|
Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
|
|
|
A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may utilise a Facility by delivery to the
Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time. |
5.2 |
|
Completion of a Utilisation Request for Loans |
|
(a) |
|
Each Utilisation Request for a Loan is irrevocable and will not be regarded as
having been duly completed unless: |
|
(i) |
|
it identifies the Facility to be utilised; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability
Period applicable to that Facility; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3
(Currency and amount); and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 14 (Interest Periods). |
|
(b) |
|
Only one Utilisation may be requested in each Utilisation Request. |
|
(a) |
|
The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be the Base Currency or an
Optional Currency. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The amount of the proposed Utilisation must be: |
|
(i) |
|
if the currency selected is the Base Currency, a minimum of €250,000 or,
if less, the Available Facility; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if the currency selected is a Pre-Approved Currency, a minimum of
USD300,000, AUD350,000, GBP200,000, NZD450,000, SGD400,000 or, if less, the
Available Facility; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
if the currency selected is an Optional Currency, the minimum amount
specified by the Agent pursuant to paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 4.3 (Conditions
relating to Optional Currencies) or, if less, the Available Facility. |
5.4 |
|
Lenders’ participation |
|
(a) |
|
If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, and subject to Clause
9.1 (Repayment of Revolving Facility Loans), each Lender shall make its
participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility
Office. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The amount of each Lender’s participation in each Loan will be equal to the
proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately
prior to making the Loan. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Agent shall determine the Base Currency Amount of each Revolving Facility
Loan which is to be made in an Optional Currency and notify each Lender of the
amount, currency and the Base Currency Amount of each Loan, the amount of its
participation in that Loan and, if different, the amount of that participation to be
made available in cash by the Specified Time. |
43
5.5 |
|
Limitations on Utilisations |
|
|
|
The maximum aggregate Base Currency Amount of all Letters of Credit shall not exceed
€20,000,000. |
5.6 |
|
Cancellation of Commitment |
|
|
|
The Revolving Facility Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be
immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for the Revolving
Facility. |
6. |
|
UTILISATION — LETTERS OF CREDIT |
6.1 |
|
The Revolving Facility |
|
(a) |
|
The Revolving Facility may be utilised by way of Letters of Credit. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Other than Clause 5.5 (Limitations on Utilisations), Clause 5 (Utilisation —
Loans) does not apply to utilisations by way of Letters of Credit. |
6.2 |
|
Delivery of a Utilisation Request for Letters of Credit |
|
|
|
A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may request a Letter of Credit to be
issued by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later
than the Specified Time. |
6.3 |
|
Completion of a Utilisation Request for Letters of Credit |
|
|
|
Each Utilisation Request for a Letter of Credit is irrevocable and will not be
regarded as having been duly completed unless: |
|
(a) |
|
it identifies the Borrower of the Letter of Credit; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period
applicable to the Revolving Facility; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the currency and amount of the Letter of Credit comply with Clause 6.4 (Currency
and amount); |
|
|
(d) |
|
if the Letter of Credit is not in the Issuing Bank’s standard form, the form of
Letter of Credit is attached; |
|
|
(e) |
|
the Expiry Date of the Letter of Credit is no more than 3 years from the date of
issue; and |
|
|
(f) |
|
the identity of the beneficiary is approved by all the Lenders (acting reasonably). |
|
(a) |
|
The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be the Base Currency or an
Optional Currency. |
44
|
(b) |
|
Subject Clause 5.5 (Limitations on Utilisations), the amount of the proposed
Letter of Credit must be an amount whose Base Currency Amount is not more than the
Available Facility. |
6.5 |
|
Issue of Letters of Credit |
|
(a) |
|
If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, the Issuing Bank
shall issue the Letter of Credit on the Utilisation Date. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Subject to Clause 4.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent), the Issuing Bank will only
be obliged to comply with paragraph (a) above, if on the date of the Utilisation
Request or Renewal Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
|
(i) |
|
in the case of a Letter of Credit to be renewed in accordance with Clause
6.6 (Renewal of a Letter of Credit) no Event of Default is continuing or would
result from the proposed Utilisation and, in the case of any other
Utilisation, no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed
Utilisation; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in relation to any Utilisation on the first Utilisation Date, all the
representations and warranties in Clause 23 (Representations) or, in relation
to any other Utilisation, the Repeating Representations to be made by each
Obligor are true in all material respects. |
|
(c) |
|
The amount of each Lender’s participation in each Letter of Credit will be equal
to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility (in
each case in relation to the Revolving Facility) immediately prior to the issue of
the Letter of Credit. |
|
|
(d) |
|
The Agent shall determine the Base Currency Amount of each Letter of Credit
which is to be issued in an Optional Currency and shall notify the Issuing Bank and
each Lender of the details of the requested Letter of Credit and its participation
in that Letter of Credit by the Specified Time. |
6.6 |
|
Renewal of a Letter of Credit |
|
(a) |
|
A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may request that any Letter of Credit
issued on behalf of that Borrower be renewed by delivery to the Agent of a Renewal
Request in substantially similar form to a Utilisation Request for a Letter of
Credit by the Specified Time. |
|
(b) |
|
The Finance Parties shall treat any Renewal Request in the same way as a
Utilisation Request for a Letter of Credit except that the conditions set out in
paragraph (d) of Clause 6.3 (Completion of a Utilisation Request for Letters of
Credit) shall not apply. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The terms of each renewed Letter of Credit shall be the same as those of the
relevant Letter of Credit immediately prior to its renewal, except that: |
|
(i) |
|
its amount may be less than the amount of the Letter of Credit immediately
prior to its renewal; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
its Term shall start on the date which was the Expiry Date of the Letter
of Credit immediately prior to its renewal, and shall end on the proposed
Expiry Date specified in the Renewal Request. |
|
(d) |
|
If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, the Issuing Bank
shall amend and re-issue any Letter of Credit pursuant to a Renewal Request. |
45
6.7 |
|
Reduction of a Letter of Credit |
|
(a) |
|
If, on the proposed Utilisation Date of a Letter of Credit, any of the Lenders
under the Revolving Facility is a Non-Acceptable L/C Lender and: |
|
(i) |
|
that Lender has failed to provide cash collateral to the Issuing Bank in
accordance with Clause 7.4 (Cash collateral by Non-Acceptable L/C Lender); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
either: |
|
(A) |
|
the Issuing Bank has not required the relevant Borrower to provide
cash cover pursuant to Clause 7.5 (Cash cover by Borrower); or |
|
|
(B) |
|
the relevant Borrower has failed to provide cash cover to the
Issuing Bank in accordance with Clause 7.5 (Cash cover by Borrower), |
|
|
|
the Issuing Bank may reduce the amount of that Letter of Credit by an amount
equal to the amount of the participation of that Non-Acceptable L/C Lender in
respect of that Letter of Credit and that Non-Acceptable L/C Lender shall be
deemed not to have any participation (or obligation to indemnify the Issuing
Bank) in respect of that Letter of Credit for the purposes of the Finance
Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
The Issuing Bank shall notify the Agent of each reduction made pursuant to this
Clause 6.7. |
|
|
(c) |
|
This Clause 6.7 shall not affect the participation of each other Lender in that
Letter of Credit. |
6.8 |
|
Revaluation of Letters of Credit |
|
(a) |
|
If any Letters of Credit are denominated in an Optional Currency, the Agent
shall at six monthly intervals after the date of the Letter of Credit recalculate
the Base Currency Amount of each Letter of Credit by notionally converting into the
Base Currency the outstanding amount of that Letter of Credit on the basis of the
Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date of calculation. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall, if requested by the Agent within three days of any calculation
under paragraph (a) above, ensure that within three Business Days sufficient
Revolving Facility Utilisations are prepaid to prevent the Base Currency Amount of
the Revolving Facility Utilisations exceeding the Total Revolving Facility
Commitments following any adjustment to a Base Currency Amount under paragraph (a)
of this Clause 6.8. |
7.1 |
|
Immediately payable |
|
|
|
If a Letter of Credit or any amount outstanding under a Letter of Credit is
expressed to be immediately payable, the Borrower that requested (or on behalf of
which the Company requested) the issue of that Letter of Credit shall repay or
prepay that amount immediately. |
7.2 |
|
Claims under a Letter of Credit |
|
(a) |
|
Each Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally authorises the Issuing Bank to pay
any claim made or purported to be made under a Letter of Credit requested by it (or
requested by the Company on its behalf) and which appears on its face to be in order
(in this Clause 7, a “claim”). |
46
|
(b) |
|
Each Borrower shall immediately on demand pay to the Agent for the Issuing Bank
an amount equal to the amount of any claim. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Each Borrower acknowledges that the Issuing Bank: |
|
(i) |
|
is not obliged to carry out any investigation or seek any confirmation
from any other person before paying a claim; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
deals in documents only and will not be concerned with the legality of a
claim or any underlying transaction or any available set-off, counterclaim or
other defence of any person. |
|
(d) |
|
The obligations of a Borrower under this Clause 7 will not be affected by: |
|
(i) |
|
the sufficiency, accuracy or genuineness of any claim or any other
document; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any incapacity of, or limitation on the powers of, any person signing a
claim or other document. |
|
(a) |
|
Each Borrower shall immediately on demand indemnify the Issuing Bank against any
cost, loss or liability incurred by the Issuing Bank (otherwise than by reason of
the Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as the Issuing
Bank under any Letter of Credit requested by (or on behalf of) that Borrower. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Each Lender shall (according to its L/C Proportion) immediately on demand
indemnify the Issuing Bank against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the
Issuing Bank (otherwise than by reason of the Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or
wilful misconduct) in acting as the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit (unless
the Issuing Bank has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document). |
|
|
(c) |
|
If any Lender is not permitted (by its constitutional documents or any
applicable law) to comply with paragraph (b) above, then that Lender will not be
obliged to comply with paragraph (b) and shall instead be deemed to have taken, on
the date the Letter of Credit is issued (or if later, on the date the Lender’s
participation in the Letter of Credit is transferred or assigned to the Lender in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement), an undivided interest and
participation in the Letter of Credit in an amount equal to its L/C Proportion of
that Letter of Credit. On receipt of demand from the Agent, that Lender shall pay to
the Agent (for the account of the Issuing Bank) an amount equal to its L/C
Proportion of the amount demanded. |
|
|
(d) |
|
The Borrower which requested (or on behalf of which the Company requested) a
Letter of Credit shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment it
makes to the Issuing Bank under this Clause 7.3 in respect of that Letter of Credit. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The obligations of each Lender or Borrower under this Clause are continuing
obligations and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by that Lender
or Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit, regardless of any intermediate
payment or discharge in whole or in part. |
|
|
(f) |
|
The obligations of any Lender or Borrower under this Clause will not be affected
by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause, would reduce,
release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause (without limitation
and whether or not known to it or any other person) including: |
47
|
(i) |
|
any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor,
any beneficiary under a Letter of Credit or any other person; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of
any composition or arrangement with any creditor or any member of the Group; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or
refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or
security over assets of, any Obligor, any beneficiary under a Letter of Credit
or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or
other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the
full value of any security; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or
dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor, any beneficiary
under a Letter of Credit or any other person; |
|
|
(v) |
|
any amendment (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document,
any Letter of Credit or any other document or security; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any
person under any Finance Document, any Letter of Credit or any other document
or security; or |
|
|
(vii) |
|
any insolvency or similar proceedings. |
7.4 |
|
Cash collateral by Non-Acceptable L/C Lender |
|
(a) |
|
If, at any time, a Lender under the Revolving Facility is a Non-Acceptable L/C
Lender, the Issuing Bank may, by notice to that Lender, request that Lender to pay
and that Lender shall pay, on or prior to the date falling three Business Days after
the request by the Issuing Bank, an amount equal to that Lender’s L/C Proportion of
the outstanding amount of a Letter of Credit and in the currency of that Letter of
Credit to an interest-bearing account held in the name of that Lender with the
Issuing Bank. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Non-Acceptable L/C Lender to whom a request has been made in accordance with
paragraph (a) above shall enter into a security document or other form of collateral
arrangement over the account, in form and substance satisfactory to the Issuing
Bank, as collateral for any amounts due and payable under the Finance Documents by
that Lender to the Issuing Bank in respect of that Letter of Credit. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Until no amount is or may be outstanding under that Letter of Credit,
withdrawals from the account may only be made to pay to the Issuing Bank amounts due
and payable to the Issuing Bank by the Non-Acceptable L/C Lender under the Finance
Documents in respect of that Letter of Credit. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Each Lender under the Revolving Facility shall notify the Agent and the Company: |
|
(i) |
|
on the date of this Agreement or on any later date on which it becomes
such a Lender in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 28 (Changes
to the Lenders) whether it is a Non-Acceptable L/C Lender; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
as soon as practicable upon becoming aware of the same, that it has
become a Non-Acceptable L/C Lender, |
|
|
|
and an indication in Schedule 1 (The Original Parties), in a Transfer
Certificate, in an Assignment Agreement or in an Increase Confirmation to that
effect will constitute a |
48
|
|
|
notice under paragraph (d)(i) to the Agent and, upon delivery in accordance
with Clause 28.8 (Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or
Increase Confirmation to Parent), to the Parent. |
|
(e) |
|
Any notice received by the Agent pursuant to paragraph (d) above shall
constitute notice to the Issuing Bank of that Lender’s status and the Agent shall,
upon receiving each such notice, promptly notify the Issuing Bank of that Lender’s
status as specified in that notice. |
|
|
(f) |
|
If a Lender who has provided cash collateral in accordance with this Clause
7.4: |
|
(i) |
|
ceases to be a Non-Acceptable L/C Lender; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
no amount is due and
payable by that Lender in respect of a Letter of Credit, |
|
|
|
that Lender may, at any time it is not a Non-Acceptable L/C Lender, by notice
to the Issuing Bank request that an amount equal to the amount of the cash
provided by it as collateral in respect of that Letter of Credit (together
with any accrued interest) standing to the credit of the relevant account held
with the Issuing Bank be returned to it and the Issuing Bank shall pay that
amount to the Lender within three Business Days after the request from the
Lender (and shall cooperate with the Lender in order to procure that the
relevant security or collateral arrangement is released and discharged). |
7.5 |
|
Cash cover by Borrower |
|
(a) |
|
If a Lender which is a Non-Acceptable L/C Lender fails to provide cash
collateral (or notifies the Issuing Bank that it will not provide cash collateral)
in accordance with Clause 7.4 (Cash collateral by Non-Acceptable L/C Lender) and the
Issuing Bank notifies the Obligors’ Agent (with a copy to the Agent) that it
requires the Borrower of the relevant Letter of Credit or proposed Letter of Credit
to provide cash cover to an account with the Issuing Bank in an amount equal to that
Lender’s L/C Proportion of the outstanding amount of that Letter of Credit and in
the currency of that Letter of Credit then that Borrower shall do so within three
Business Days after the notice is given. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Notwithstanding paragraph (d) of Clause 1.2 (Construction), the Issuing Bank may
agree to the withdrawal of amounts up to the level of that cash cover from the
account if: |
|
(i) |
|
it is satisfied that the relevant Lender is no longer a Non-Acceptable L/C
Lender; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the relevant Lender’s obligations in respect of the relevant Letter of
Credit are transferred to a New Lender in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
an Increase Lender has agreed to undertake the obligations in respect of
the relevant Lender’s L/C Proportion of the Letter of Credit. |
|
(c) |
|
To the extent that a Borrower has complied with its obligations to provide cash
cover in accordance with this Clause 7.5, the relevant Lender’s L/C Proportion in
respect of that Letter of Credit will remain (but that Lender’s obligations in
relation to that Letter of Credit may be satisfied in accordance with paragraph
(d)(ii) of Clause 1.2 (Construction). However, the relevant Borrower’s obligation
to pay any Letter of Credit fee in relation to the relevant Letter of Credit to the
Agent (for the account of that Lender) in accordance with paragraph (b) of Clause
16.4 (Fees payable in |
49
|
|
|
respect of Letters of Credit) will be reduced proportionately as from the date
on which it complies with that obligation to provide cash cover (and for so
long as the relevant amount of cash cover continues to stand as collateral). |
|
|
(d) |
|
The relevant Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Agent of the extent to which
a Borrower provides cash cover pursuant to this Clause 7.5 and of any change in the
amount of cash cover so provided. |
7.6 |
|
Rights of contribution |
|
|
|
No Obligor will be entitled to any right of contribution or indemnity from any
Finance Party in respect of any payment it may make under this Clause 7. |
8.1 |
|
Selection of currency |
|
|
|
A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) shall select the currency of a Revolving
Facility Utilisation in a Utilisation Request. |
8.2 |
|
Unavailability of a currency |
|
|
|
If before the Specified Time on any Quotation Day: |
|
(a) |
|
a Lender notifies the Agent that the Optional Currency requested is not readily
available to it in the amount required; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
a Lender notifies the Agent that compliance with its obligation to participate
in a Loan in the proposed Optional Currency would contravene a law or regulation
applicable to it, |
|
|
the Agent will give notice to the relevant Borrower to that effect by the Specified
Time on that day. In this event, any Lender that gives notice pursuant to this
Clause 8.2 will be required to participate in the Loan in the Base Currency (in an
amount equal to that Lender’s proportion of the Base Currency Amount, or in respect
of a Rollover Loan, an amount equal to that Lender’s proportion of the Base Currency
Amount of the Rollover Loan that is due to be made) and its participation will be
treated as a separate Loan denominated in the Base Currency during that Interest
Period. |
8.3 |
|
Agent’s calculations |
|
|
|
Each Lender’s participation in a Loan will be determined in accordance with
paragraph (b) of Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation). |
9.1 |
|
Repayment of Revolving Facility Loans |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Borrower which has drawn a Revolving
Facility Loan shall repay that Loan on the last day of its Interest Period. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Without prejudice to each Borrower’s obligation under paragraph (a) above, if
one or more Revolving Facility Loans are to be made available to a Borrower: |
|
(i) |
|
on the same day that a maturing Revolving Facility Loan is due to be
repaid by that Borrower; |
50
|
(ii) |
|
in the same currency as the maturing Revolving Facility Loan (unless it
arose as a result of the operation of Clause 8.2 (Unavailability of a
currency)); and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing
Revolving Facility Loan; |
|
|
|
the aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loans shall be treated as
if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan so
that: |
|
(A) |
|
if the amount of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan exceeds the
aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loans: |
|
(aa) |
|
the relevant Borrower will only be required to pay an amount
in cash in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and |
|
|
(bb) |
|
each Lender’s participation (if any) in the new Revolving
Facility Loans shall be treated as having been made available and
applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s
participation (if any) in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan
and that Lender will not be required to make its participation in
the new Revolving Facility Loans available in cash; and |
|
(B) |
|
if the amount of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan is equal to or
less than the aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loans: |
|
(aa) |
|
the relevant Borrower will not be required to make any
payment in cash; and |
|
|
(bb) |
|
each Lender will be required to make its participation in
the new Revolving Facility Loans available in cash only to the
extent that its participation (if any) in the new Revolving
Facility Loans exceeds that Lender’s participation (if any) in
the maturing Revolving Facility Loan and the remainder of that
Lender’s participation in the new Revolving Facility Loans shall
be treated as having been made available and applied by the
Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation
in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan. |
|
(c) |
|
At any time when a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the maturity date of each
of the participations of that Lender in the Revolving Facility Loans then
outstanding will be automatically extended to the Termination Date in relation to
the Revolving Facility and will be treated as separate Revolving Facility Loans (the
“Separate Loans”) denominated in the currency in which the relevant participations
are outstanding. |
|
|
(d) |
|
A Borrower to whom a Separate Loan is outstanding may prepay that Loan by giving
three Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent. The Agent will forward a copy of a
prepayment notice received in accordance with this paragraph (d) to the Defaulting
Lender concerned as soon as practicable on receipt. |
|
|
(e) |
|
Interest in respect of a Separate Loan will accrue for successive Interest
Periods selected by the Borrower by the time and date specified by the Agent (acting
reasonably) and will be payable by that Borrower to the Defaulting Lender on the
last day of each Interest Period of that Loan. |
51
|
(f) |
|
The terms of this Agreement relating to Revolving Facility Loans generally shall
continue to apply to Separate Loans other than to the extent inconsistent with
paragraphs (c) to (e) above, in which case those paragraphs shall prevail in respect
of any Separate Loan. |
|
|
(g) |
|
This Clause shall be read and construed subject to the provisions of Clause 9.2
(Reduction of Revolving Facility). |
9.2 |
|
Reduction of Revolving Facility |
|
|
|
The Revolving Facility Commitments will be reduced in installments by: |
|
(a) |
|
firstly, to the extent required, the cancellation of any Available Commitments
under the Revolving Facility; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
second, once all Available Commitments at that time have been cancelled, to the
extent required, prepayment of any Revolving Utilisations, |
|
|
in each case, on each date specified in the table below (each a “Reduction Date”)
and to the extent required to reduce the Revolving Facility Commitments by the
corresponding reduction installment (each a “Reduction Installment”) set out in that
table: |
|
|
|
|
|
Reduction Date |
|
Reduction Installment (€) |
|
31 December 2010 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
31 March 2011 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
30 June 2011 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
30 September 2011 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
31 December 2011 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
31 March 2012 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
30 June 2012 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
30 September 2012 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
31 December 2012 |
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
31 March 2013 |
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
30 June 2013 |
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
30 September 2013 |
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
9.3 |
|
Effect of cancellation and prepayment on scheduled repayments and reductions |
|
(a) |
|
If the Company cancels the whole or any part of the Revolving Facility
Commitments in accordance with Clause 10.5 (Right of cancellation and repayment in
relation to a single Lender or Issuing Bank) or Clause 10.6 (Right of cancellation
in relation to a Defaulting Lender) or if the Revolving Facility Commitment of any
Lender is reduced under Clause 10.1 (Illegality) then (other than, in any relevant
case, to the extent that |
52
|
|
|
any part of the relevant Commitment(s) is subsequently increased pursuant to
Clause 2.2 (Increase)) in the case of the Revolving Facility Commitments, the
amount of the Reduction Installment for each Reduction Date falling after that
cancellation will reduce pro rata by the amount cancelled. |
|
|
(b) |
|
If the Company cancels the whole or any part of the Revolving Facility
Commitments in accordance with Clause 10.3 (Voluntary cancellation) then the amount
of the Reduction Installment for each Reduction Date falling after that cancellation
will reduce pro rata by the amount cancelled. |
|
|
(c) |
|
If any of the Revolving Facility Utilisations are prepaid in accordance with
Clause 10.4 (Voluntary prepayment of Revolving Facility Utilisations), or Clause
11.2 (Disposal and Insurance Proceeds) then under Clause 11.2 (Disposal and
Insurance Proceeds) only, the amount of the Reduction Installment for each Reduction
Date falling after that prepayment will reduce pro rata by the amount of the
Revolving Facility Loan prepaid. |
10. |
|
ILLEGALITY, VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION |
10.1 |
|
Illegality |
|
|
|
If it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of
its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund, issue or maintain its
participation in any Utilisation: |
|
(a) |
|
that Lender, shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
|
|
(b) |
|
upon the Agent notifying the Company, the Commitment of that Lender will be
immediately cancelled; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
each Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in the Utilisations made
to that Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period for each Utilisation
occurring after the Agent has notified the Company or, if earlier, the date
specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than
the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). |
10.2 |
|
Illegality in relation to Issuing Bank |
|
|
|
If it becomes unlawful for an Issuing Bank to issue or leave outstanding any Letter
of Credit, then: |
|
(a) |
|
that Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
|
|
(b) |
|
upon the Agent notifying the Company, the Issuing Bank shall not be obliged to
issue any Letter of Credit; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Parent shall procure that the relevant Borrower shall use its best
endeavours to procure the release of each Letter of Credit issued by that Issuing
Bank and outstanding at such time; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
unless any other Lender has agreed to be an Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement, the Revolving Facility shall cease to be available for the issue
of Letters of Credit. |
10.3 |
|
Voluntary cancellation |
|
(a) |
|
The Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than five Business Days’ (or
such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the
whole or |
53
|
|
|
any part (being a minimum amount of €1,000,000 of an Available Facility). Any
cancellation under this Clause 10.3 shall reduce the Commitments of the
Lenders rateably under that Facility. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Any notice of cancellation of the Available Commitments with respect to the
Revolving Facility delivered at any time while Loans under any other Facility remain
outstanding and/or other Commitments remain uncancelled must be accompanied by
evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Lenders, that the Group
will have sufficient working capital facilities available to it following such
cancellation. |
10.4 |
|
Voluntary prepayment of Revolving Facility Utilisations |
|
|
|
A Borrower to which a Revolving Facility Utilisation has been made may, if it or the
Company gives the Agent not less than five Business Days’ (or such shorter period as
the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of a
Revolving Facility Utilisation (but if in part, being an amount that reduces the
Base Currency Amount of the Revolving Facility Utilisation by a minimum amount of
€1,000,000). |
10.5 |
|
Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender or Issuing Bank |
|
(i) |
|
any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased
under paragraph (c) of Clause 17.2 (Tax gross-up); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any Lender or Issuing Bank claims indemnification from the Parent or an
Obligor under Clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) or Clause 18.1 (Increased costs), |
|
|
|
the Company may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for
that increase or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice: |
|
(i) |
|
(if such circumstances relate to a Lender) of cancellation of the
Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that
Lender’s participation in the Utilisations; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
(if such circumstances relate to the Issuing Bank) of repayment of any
outstanding Letter of Credit issued by it and cancellation of its appointment
as an Issuing Bank under this Agreement in relation to any Letters of Credit
to be issued in the future. |
|
(b) |
|
On receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above in relation to a
Lender, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
|
|
(c) |
|
On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Company has given
notice under paragraph (a) above in relation to a Lender (or, if earlier, the date
specified by the Company in that notice), each Borrower to which a Utilisation is
outstanding shall repay that Lender’s participation in that Utilisation together
with all interest and other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents. |
10.6 |
|
Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender |
|
(a) |
|
If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Company may, at any time whilst
the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent three Business Days’
notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender. |
|
|
(b) |
|
On the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above becoming effective, each
Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
54
|
(c) |
|
The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in
paragraph (a) above, notify all the Lenders. |
|
(a) |
|
any Listing; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
a Change of Control; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Group whether in a
single transaction or a series of related transactions, |
|
|
the Facility will be cancelled and all outstanding Utilisations together with
accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents, shall
become immediately due and payable. |
11.2 |
|
Disposal and Insurance Proceeds |
|
(a) |
|
For the purposes of this Clause 11.2, Clause 11.3 (Application of mandatory
prepayments) and Clause 11.4 (Mandatory Prepayment Accounts): |
|
|
|
|
“Disposal” means a sale, lease, licence, transfer, loan or other disposal by a
person of any asset, undertaking or business (whether by a voluntary or
involuntary single transaction or series of transactions). |
|
|
|
|
“Disposal Proceeds” means the consideration receivable by any member of the
Group (including any amount receivable in repayment of intercompany debt) for
any Disposal made by any member of the Group except for Excluded Disposal
Proceeds and after deducting: |
|
(i) |
|
any reasonable expenses which are incurred by any member of the Group with
respect to that Disposal to persons who are not members of the Group; and |
|
|
(i) |
|
any Tax incurred and required to be paid by the seller in connection with
that Disposal (as reasonably determined by the seller, on the basis of
existing rates and taking account of any available credit, deduction or
allowance). |
|
|
|
“Excluded Disposal Proceeds” means the consideration receivable by any member
of the Group (including any amount receivable in repayment of intercompany
debt) for any Disposal: |
|
(i) |
|
to the extent that the Aggregate Net Disposal Proceeds for a Financial
Year of the Parent do not exceed €1,000,000 (or its equivalent) and for the
avoidance of doubt only the amount by which the Aggregate Net Disposal
Proceeds exceed €1,000,000 in any such Financial Year shall not be Excluded
Disposal Proceeds (where “Aggregate Net Disposal Proceeds” means, for any
Financial Year, the Disposal Proceeds of a disposal, aggregated with the
Disposal Proceeds of all other disposals made in the same Financial Year, less
any Disposal Proceeds which are, or are to be, reinvested and/or are exempted
pursuant to paragraphs (ii) and (iii) below); |
55
|
(ii) |
|
which is received from a Disposal permitted under paragraphs (c), (d), (f) or (k) of the
definition of Permitted Disposal and which the Parent certifies upon receipt are to be (and
subsequently are): |
|
(A) |
|
reinvested within 365 days of receipt in an asset or assets of a similar type and value
required for the business of the recipient member of the Group or an Obligor; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
committed to be so invested by a binding contract being entered into by the recipient of
the Group or an Obligor and are so invested within 18 months of receipt; or |
|
(ii) |
|
which is received from a Disposal under paragraphs (a), (b), (e), (g), (h), (i) and (j) of the
definition of “Permitted Disposals”. |
“Excluded Insurance Proceeds” means any Insurance Proceeds:
|
(i) |
|
to the extent that the Aggregate Net Insurance Proceeds for a Financial Year of the Parent do
not exceed €1,000,000 (or its equivalent) and for the avoidance of doubt only the amount by which
the Aggregate Net Insurance Proceeds exceed €1,000,000 in any such Financial Year shall not be
Excluded Insurance Proceeds (where “Aggregate Net Insurance Proceeds” means, for any Financial
Year, the Insurance Proceeds of any claim received, aggregated with the Insurance Proceeds of all
other claims received in the same Financial Year, less and Insurance Proceeds which are, or are to
be, applied pursuant to paragraphs (ii) and (iii) below); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
|
|
(A) |
|
which the Parent certifies in writing to the Agent upon receipt are to be (and
subsequently are) applied to meet a third party claim; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
which the Parent certifies in writing to the Agent upon receipt are to be (and
subsequently are) applied to cover loss of revenue in respect of which the relevant insurance
claim was made, |
|
|
|
in each case as soon as possible (but in any event within 180 days or such longer period as
the Majority Lenders may agree) after receipt; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
|
|
(A) |
|
which the Parent certifies in writing to the Agent upon receipt are to be (and
subsequently are) applied to the replacement, reinstatement and/or repair of the assets or
otherwise in amelioration of the loss in respect of which the relevant insurance claim was
made within 365 days of receipt of such proceeds; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
which the Parent certifies in writing to the Agent upon receipt are to be (and
subsequently are) committed to be so applied by a binding contract being entered into by the
recipient member of the Group or an Obligor and so applied within 18 months of receipt. |
“Insurance Proceeds” means the proceeds of any insurance claim under any insurance maintained by
any member of the Group except for Excluded Insurance Proceeds and after deducting any reasonable
expenses in relation to that claim which are incurred by any member of the Group to persons who are
not members of the Group.
56
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall ensure that the Borrowers prepay Utilisations in the following amounts
at the times and in the order of application contemplated by Clause 11.3 (Application of
mandatory prepayments): |
|
(i) |
|
the amount of Disposal Proceeds; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the amount of Insurance Proceeds. |
11.3 |
|
Application of mandatory prepayments |
|
(a) |
|
A prepayment made under Clause 11.2 (Disposal and Insurance Proceeds) shall be applied in
the following order: |
|
(i) |
|
first, in cancellation of Available Commitments under the Revolving Facility (and
the Available Commitment of the Lenders under the Revolving Facility will be cancelled
rateably); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
secondly, in prepayment of Revolving Facility Utilisations (such that outstanding
Revolving Facility Loans shall be prepaid before outstanding Letters of Credit) and
cancellation of Revolving Facility Commitments. |
|
(b) |
|
Unless the Company makes an election under paragraph (c) below, the Borrowers shall
prepay Loans promptly upon receipt of those proceeds. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Subject to paragraph (d) below, the Company may elect that any prepayment under Clause
11.2 (Disposal and Insurance Proceeds) be applied in prepayment of a Loan on the last day of
the Interest Period relating to that Loan. If the Company makes that election then a
proportion of the Loan equal to the amount of the relevant prepayment will be due and payable
on the last day of its Interest Period. |
|
|
(d) |
|
If the Company has made an election under paragraph (c) above but a Default has occurred
and is continuing, that election shall no longer apply and a proportion of the Loan in
respect of which the election was made equal to the amount of the relevant prepayment shall
be immediately due and payable (unless the Majority Lenders otherwise agree in writing). |
11.4 |
|
Mandatory Prepayment Accounts |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall ensure that (i) Disposal Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds in respect of
which the Company has made an election under paragraph (c) of Clause 11.3 (Application of
mandatory prepayments) are paid into a Mandatory Prepayment Account as soon as reasonably
possible after receipt by a member of the Group. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Company and each Borrower irrevocably authorise the Agent to apply amounts credited
to the Mandatory Prepayment Account to pay amounts due and payable under Clause 11.3
(Application of mandatory prepayments) and otherwise under the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(c) |
|
A Lender, Security Agent or Agent with which a Mandatory Prepayment Account or Holding
Account is held acknowledges and agrees that (i) interest shall accrue at normal commercial
rates on amounts credited to those accounts and that the account holder shall be entitled to
receive such interest (which shall be paid in accordance with the mandate relating to such
account) unless a Default is continuing and (ii) each such account is subject to the
Transaction Security. |
57
|
(a) |
|
Where Excluded Disposal Proceeds and Excluded Insurance Proceeds include amounts which
are intended to be used for a specific purpose within a specified period (as set out in the
relevant definition of Excluded Disposal Proceeds or Excluded Insurance Proceeds), the Parent
shall ensure that those amounts are used for that purpose and, if requested to do so by the
Agent, shall promptly deliver a certificate to the Agent at the time of such application and
at the end of such period confirming the amount (if any) which has been so applied within the
requisite time periods provided for in the relevant definition. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Excluded Disposal Proceeds and Excluded Insurance Proceeds must be held in bank accounts
that are subject to the Transaction Security. |
|
|
(c) |
|
If: |
|
(i) |
|
monies are required to be applied in prepayment or repayment of the Facility under
this Clause 11 but in order to be so applied need to be upstreamed or otherwise
transferred from one member of the Group to another member of the Group to effect such
prepayment or repayment; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
such monies cannot be so upstreamed or transferred without breaching a financial
assistance prohibition or without breaching some other applicable law or without the
Group incurring a material cost (whether as a result of paying additional Taxes or
otherwise), |
there will be no obligation to make such payment or prepayment to the extent of such
impediment until such impediment no longer applies or such cost is no longer material
and the Parent will (and will procure that the relevant members of the Group will) use
all reasonable endeavours to avoid, reduce or overcome such impediment or avoid or
reduce such cost, as soon as possible.
12. |
|
RESTRICTIONS |
|
12.1 |
|
Notices of Cancellation or Prepayment |
|
|
|
Any notice of cancellation, prepayment, authorisation or other election given by any Party
under Clause 10 (Illegality, voluntary prepayment and cancellation), paragraph (c) of Clause
11.3 (Application of mandatory prepayments) or Clause 11.4 (Mandatory Prepayment Accounts)
shall (subject to the terms of those Clauses) be irrevocable and, unless a contrary
indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant
cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
|
12.2 |
|
Interest and other amounts |
|
|
|
Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the
amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty. |
|
12.3 |
|
Reborrowing of Facilities |
|
|
|
Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, any part of the Revolving Facility
which is prepaid or repaid may be reborrowed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
58
12.4 |
|
Prepayment in accordance with Agreement |
|
|
|
No Borrower shall repay or prepay all or any part of the Utilisations or cancel all or any
part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this
Agreement. |
|
12.5 |
|
No reinstatement of Commitments |
|
|
|
Subject to Clause 2.2 (Increase), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this
Agreement may be subsequently reinstated. |
|
12.6 |
|
Agent’s receipt of Notices |
|
|
|
If the Agent receives a notice under Clause 10 (Illegality, voluntary prepayment and
cancellation) or an election under paragraph (c) of Clause 11.3 (Application of mandatory
prepayments), it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice or election to either the
Company or the affected Lender, as appropriate. |
|
12.7 |
|
Effect of Repayment and Prepayment on Commitments |
|
|
|
If all or part of a Utilisation under a Facility is repaid or prepaid and is not available
for redrawing (other than by operation of Clause 4.2 (Further conditions precedent)), an
amount of the Commitments (equal to the Base Currency Amount of the amount of the Utilisation
which is repaid or prepaid) in respect of that Facility will be deemed to be cancelled on the
date of repayment or prepayment. Any cancellation under this Clause 12.7 shall reduce the
Commitments of the Lenders rateably under that Facility. |
|
13. |
|
INTEREST |
|
13.1 |
|
Calculation of interest |
|
|
|
The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum
which is the aggregate of the applicable: |
|
(a) |
|
Margin; |
|
|
(b) |
|
LIBOR or, in relation to any Loan in euro, EURIBOR; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
Mandatory Cost, if any. |
|
(a) |
|
The Borrower to which a Loan has been made shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the
last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on
the dates falling at six Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period). |
|
|
(b) |
|
If the annual audited financial statements of the Group and related Compliance
Certificate received by the Agent show that a higher Margin should have applied during a
certain period, then the Parent shall (or shall ensure the relevant Borrower shall) promptly
pay to the Agent any amounts necessary to put the Agent and the Lenders in the position they
would have been in had the appropriate rate of the Margin applied during such period. |
59
|
(a) |
|
If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due
date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual
payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (b) below, is
1.00 per cent. higher than 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 successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting
reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 13.3 shall be immediately payable by
the Obligor on demand by the Agent. |
|
|
(b) |
|
If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which
was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan: |
|
(i) |
|
the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the
unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest
Period shall be 1.00 per cent. higher than the rate which would have applied if the
overdue amount had not become due. |
|
(c) |
|
Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the
overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will
remain immediately due and payable. |
13.4 |
|
Notification of rates of interest |
|
|
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the relevant Borrower (or the Company) of the
determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement. |
14.1 |
|
Selection of Interest Periods and Terms |
|
(a) |
|
A Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) may select an Interest Period for a
Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan. |
|
(b) |
|
Subject to this Clause 14, a Borrower (or the Company) may select an Interest Period of
one, two, three or six Months or any other period agreed between the Company and the Agent
(acting on the instructions of all the Lenders in relation to the relevant Loan). In addition
a Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may select an Interest Period of a period of less
than one Month, if necessary to ensure that (when aggregated with the Available Facility)
there are Revolving Facility Loans (with an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to or
greater than the Reduction Installment) which have an Interest Period ending on a Reduction
Date for the scheduled reduction to occur. |
|
(c) |
|
An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date applicable to
its Facility. |
|
(d) |
|
A Revolving Facility Loan has one Interest Period only. |
14.2 |
|
Changes to Interest Periods |
|
(a) |
|
Prior to determining the interest rate for a Revolving Facility Loan, the Agent may
shorten the Interest Period for any Revolving Facility Loan to ensure that, when aggregated
with the Available Facility for the Revolving Facility, there are sufficient |
60
|
|
|
Revolving Facility Loans (with an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to or greater
than the Reduction Installment) which have an Interest Period ending on a Reduction Date
for the scheduled reduction to occur. |
|
(b) |
|
If the Agent makes any of the changes to an Interest Period referred to in this Clause
14.2, it shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders. |
|
|
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest
Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or
the preceding Business Day (if there is not). |
15. |
|
CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST |
15.1 |
|
Absence of quotations |
|
|
Subject to Clause 15.2 (Market disruption), if LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR is to be
determined by reference to the Base Reference Banks but a Base Reference Bank does not supply
a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR or EURIBOR shall
be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Base Reference Banks. |
|
(a) |
|
If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then
the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the
percentage rate per annum which is the sum of: |
|
(ii) |
|
the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any
event by close of business on the date falling three Business Days after the Quotation
Day (or, if earlier, on the date falling three Business Days prior to the date on which
interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period), to be that which
expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its
participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and |
|
(iii) |
|
the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s participation in the Loan. |
|
(i) |
|
the percentage rate per annum notified by a Lender pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
above is less than LIBOR or, in relation to any Loan in euro, EURIBOR; or |
|
(ii) |
|
a Lender has not notified the Agent of a percentage rate per annum pursuant to
paragraph (a)(ii) above, |
|
|
the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan for that Interest
Period shall be deemed, for the purposes of paragraph (a) above, to be LIBOR or in
relation to a loan in euro, EURIBOR. |
61
|
(c) |
|
In this Agreement: |
|
|
|
|
“Market Disruption Event” means: |
|
(i) |
|
at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Screen
Rate is not available and none or only one of the Base Reference Banks supplies a rate
to the Agent to determine LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR for the relevant currency and
Interest Period; or |
|
(i) |
|
before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest
Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations
in a Loan exceed 40 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it of funding its
participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in
excess of LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR. |
15.3 |
|
Alternative basis of interest or funding |
|
(a) |
|
If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Company so requires, the Agent
and the Company shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty days)
with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
|
(b) |
|
Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall, with the prior
consent of all the Lenders and the Company, be binding on all Parties. |
|
(a) |
|
Each Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that
Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being
paid by that Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or
Unpaid Sum. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide
a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they
accrue. |
|
(a) |
|
The Company shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in the Base
Currency computed at the rate of 40 per cent. of the applicable Margin subject to a minimum
at any time of 0.70% per annum, on that Lender’s Available Commitment for the Availability
Period. |
|
(b) |
|
The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three
Months which ends during the relevant Availability Period, on the last day of the relevant
Availability Period and on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Commitment at the
time the cancellation is effective. |
|
(c) |
|
No commitment fee is payable to the Agent (for the account of a Lender) on any Available
Commitment of that Lender for any day on which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender. |
62
16.2 |
|
Arrangement fee |
|
|
|
The Company shall pay to the Arranger an arrangement fee of €600,000 (in respect of the
Facility) on the first Utilisation Date. |
|
16.3 |
|
Agency and Security Agent fee |
|
|
|
In the event that there is more than one Lender at any time, the Agent and Security Agent
reserve the right to charge an agency fee and security agency fee respectively (for their own
account) in amounts and at times required by the Agent and Security Agent (acting reasonably
within the range of normal rates at that time of UK and European clearing banks for borrowers
and facilities of a similar size and nature) as set out in a separate fee letter entered into
between the Agent and/or Security Agent and the Company at that time. |
16.4 |
|
Fees payable in respect of Letters of Credit |
|
(a) |
|
The Company or each Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee at the rate of
0.125 per cent. per annum (or such other rate as the Issuing Bank may require by written
notice to the Company within 10 Business Days of the first person other than the Original
Lender becoming a Lender, provided that such rate is within the range of normal rates at that
time of UK and European clearing banks for borrowers and facilities of a similar size and
nature) on the outstanding amount which is counter-indemnified by the other Lenders of each
Letter of Credit requested by it for the period from the issue of that Letter of Credit until
its Expiry Date. |
|
(b) |
|
The Company or each Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a
Letter of Credit fee in the Base Currency (computed at the rate equal to the Margin
applicable to a Loan) on the outstanding amount of each Letter of Credit requested by it for
the period from the issue of that Letter of Credit until its Expiry Date. This fee shall be
distributed according to each Lender’s L/C Proportion of that Letter of Credit. |
|
(c) |
|
The accrued fronting fee and Letter of Credit fee on a Letter of Credit shall be payable
on the last day of each successive period of three Months (or such shorter period as shall
end on the Expiry Date for that Letter of Credit) starting on the date of issue of that
Letter of Credit. The accrued fronting fee and Letter of Credit fee is also payable to the
Agent on the cancelled amount of any Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitment at the time the
cancellation is effective if that Commitment is cancelled in full and the Letter of Credit is
prepaid or repaid in full. |
17. |
|
TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES |
17.1 |
|
Definitions |
|
|
|
In this Agreement: |
|
|
|
“Protected Party” means a Finance Party which is or will be subject to any liability or
required to make any payment for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or
receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a
Finance Document. |
|
|
|
“Qualifying Lender” means: |
|
(a) |
|
a Lender (other than a Lender within paragraph (b) below) which is beneficially entitled
to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document and is: |
63
|
(A) |
|
which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) making an
advance under a Finance Document; or |
|
(B) |
|
in respect of an advance made under a Finance Document by a person that was a bank
(as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) at the time that that advance was
made, |
|
|
|
and which is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments
of interest made in respect of that advance; |
|
(A) |
|
a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; |
|
(B) |
|
a partnership each member of which is: |
|
(aa) |
|
a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or |
|
(bb) |
|
a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the
United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in
computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the
whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it
by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; |
|
(C) |
|
a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the
United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest
payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the
meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or |
|
(iii) |
|
a Treaty Lender; or |
|
(b) |
|
a building society (as defined for the purposes of section 880 of the ITA) making an advance
under a Finance Document). |
“Tax Confirmation” means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to
interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:
|
(a) |
|
a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; |
|
|
(b) |
|
a partnership each member of which is: |
|
(i) |
|
a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or |
|
(ii) |
|
a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United
Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its
chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of
interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA;
or |
|
(c) |
|
a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom
through a permanent establishment and which brings into account |
64
|
|
|
interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within
the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company. |
|
|
“Tax Credit” means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of, any Tax. |
|
|
|
“Tax Deduction” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment
under a Finance Document. |
|
|
|
“Tax Payment” means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party
under Clause 17.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity). |
|
|
|
“Treaty Lender” means a Lender which: |
|
(a) |
|
is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty; |
|
(b) |
|
does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with
which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected; and |
|
(c) |
|
to whom a payment of interest by an Obligor under a Finance Document may be made without
deduction or withholding of United Kingdom income tax subject only to the completion of the
relevant procedural formalities. |
|
|
“Treaty State” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a “Treaty”) with the
United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United
Kingdom on interest. |
|
|
“UK Non-Bank Lender” means: |
|
(a) |
|
where a Lender becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into, a
Lender listed in Part III of Schedule 1 (The Original Parties); and |
|
(b) |
|
where a Lender becomes a Party after the day on which this Agreement is entered into, a
Lender which gives a Tax Confirmation in the Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate
which it executes on becoming a Party. |
|
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 17 a reference to “determines” or
“determined” means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the
determination. |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a
Tax Deduction is required by law. |
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction
(or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent
accordingly. Similarly, a Lender or Issuing Bank shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware
in respect of a payment payable to that Lender or Issuing Bank. If the Agent receives such
notification from a Lender or Issuing Bank it shall notify the Parent and that Obligor. |
|
(c) |
|
If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment
due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction)
leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been
required. |
65
|
(d) |
|
A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (c) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on
account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom, if on the date on which the payment falls due: |
|
(i) |
|
the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a Tax Deduction if the
Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a
Qualifying Lender other than as a result 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
Treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority; or |
|
(ii) |
|
the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (i)(B) of the
definition of Qualifying Lender and: |
|
(A) |
|
an officer of H.M. Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a
“Direction”) under section 931 of the ITA which relates to the payment and that Lender
has received from the Obligor making the payment or from the Parent a certified copy of
that Direction; and |
|
(B) |
|
the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if that
Direction had not been made; or |
|
(iii) |
|
the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (i)(B) of the
definition of Qualifying Lender and: |
|
(A) |
|
the relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation to the Parent; and |
|
(B) |
|
the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if the
Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the Parent, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation
would have enabled the Parent to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an
“excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the ITA; or |
|
(iv) |
|
the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to
demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had
that Lender complied with its obligations under paragraph (g) below. |
|
(e) |
|
If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction
and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the
minimum amount required by law. |
|
|
(f) |
|
Within thirty days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with
that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for the
Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence
reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as
applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority. |
|
|
(g) |
|
A Treaty Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled
shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Obligor to obtain
authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction. |
|
|
(h) |
|
A UK Non-Bank Lender which becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into
gives a Tax Confirmation to the Parent by entering into this Agreement. |
66
|
(i) |
|
A UK Non-Bank Lender shall promptly notify the Parent and the Agent if there is any
change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation. |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Protected
Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines
(acting reasonably) will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account
of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
|
(i) |
|
with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party: |
|
(A) |
|
under the law of the jurisdiction in which 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 |
|
(B) |
|
under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party’s Facility Office
is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction, |
|
|
|
if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or
receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance
Party; or |
|
(ii) |
|
to the extent a loss, liability or cost: |
|
(A) |
|
is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 17.2 (Tax gross-up); or |
|
(B) |
|
would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 17.2 (Tax
gross-up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in
paragraph (d) of Clause 17.2 (Tax gross-up) applied. |
|
(c) |
|
A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under paragraph (a) above shall
promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim,
following which the Agent shall notify the Parent. |
|
(d) |
|
A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this Clause 17.3,
notify the Agent. |
|
|
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that: |
|
(a) |
|
a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment
forms part or to that Tax Payment; and |
|
(b) |
|
that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit, |
|
|
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will
leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the
Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor. |
67
17.5 |
|
Lender Status Confirmation |
|
|
|
Each Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall
indicate, in the Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation which it
executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any
Obligor, which of the following categories it falls in: |
|
(a) |
|
not a Qualifying Lender; |
|
(b) |
|
a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or |
|
|
If a New Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Clause 17.5 then such
New Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by each Obligor) as
if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Agent which category
applies (and the Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Company). For the
avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation
shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Clause 17.5. |
|
|
The Parent shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party
and Arranger against any cost, loss or liability that Secured Party or Arranger incurs in
relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes in any jurisdiction payable
in respect of any Finance Document. |
|
(a) |
|
All amounts set out or expressed in a Finance Document to be payable by any Party to a
Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or
supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on
such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or
becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance
Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as
paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT
(and such Finance Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party). |
|
(b) |
|
If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the “Supplier”)
to any other Finance Party (the “Recipient”) under a Finance Document, and any Party other
than the Recipient (the “Subject Party”) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to
pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being
required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration), such Party shall also
pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount
equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient will promptly pay to the Subject Party an
amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the Recipient from the relevant tax
authority which the Recipient reasonably determines is in respect of such VAT. |
|
(c) |
|
Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for
any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such
Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as
represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is
entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority. |
68
|
(d) |
|
Any reference in this Clause 17.7 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is
treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the
context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such
time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act
1994) (or (if applicable) any other comparable meaning in any relevant legislation in any
other jurisdiction). |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to Clause 18.3 (Exceptions) the Parent shall, within three Business Days of a
demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs
incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction
of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or
regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this
Agreement. |
|
(b) |
|
In this Agreement “Increased Costs” means: |
|
(i) |
|
a reduction in the rate of return from a Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its
Affiliate’s) overall capital; |
|
(ii) |
|
an additional or increased cost; or |
|
(iii) |
|
a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
|
|
|
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent
that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment -or
funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document or Letter of Credit. |
18.2 |
|
Increased cost claims |
|
(a) |
|
A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 18.1 (Increased Costs) shall
notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall
promptly notify the Parent. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a
certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs. |
|
(a) |
|
Clause 18.1 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
|
(i) |
|
attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor; |
|
(ii) |
|
compensated for by Clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) (or would have been compensated for
under Clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the
exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) applied); |
|
(iii) |
|
compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost; or |
|
(iv) |
|
attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates
of any law or regulation; or |
69
|
(v) |
|
attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the
“International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised
Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking 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). |
|
(b) |
|
In this Clause 18.3 reference to a “Tax Deduction” has the same meaning given to the term
in Clause 17.1 (Definitions). |
|
(a) |
|
If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a “Sum”), or any order,
judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency
(the “First Currency”) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the “Second
Currency”) for the purpose of: |
|
(i) |
|
making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or |
|
(ii) |
|
obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or
arbitration proceedings, |
|
|
that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand,
indemnify the Arranger and each other Secured Party to whom that Sum is due against any
cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any
discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First
Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to
that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the
Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to
be payable. |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall (or shall procure that an Obligor will), within three Business Days of
demand, indemnify the Arranger and each other Secured Party against any cost, loss or
liability incurred by it as a result of: |
|
(i) |
|
the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
|
(ii) |
|
a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due
date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of
Clause 32 (Sharing among the Finance Parties); |
|
(iii) |
|
funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Utilisation
requested by a Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation
of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default
or negligence by that Finance Party alone); |
|
(iv) |
|
issuing or making arrangements to issue a Letter of Credit requested by the Parent
or a Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not issued by reason of the operation of any
one or more of the provisions of this Agreement; or |
70
|
(v) |
|
a Utilisation (or part of a Utilisation) not being prepaid in accordance with a
notice of prepayment given by a Borrower or the Parent. |
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party, each Affiliate of a Finance Party
and each officer or employee of a Finance Party or its Affiliate, against any cost, loss or
liability incurred by that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or officer or employee of that
Finance Party or Affiliate) in connection with or arising out of the Acquisition or the
funding of the Acquisition (including but not limited to those incurred in connection with
any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or regulatory enquiry concerning
the Acquisition), unless such loss or liability is caused by the gross negligence or wilful
misconduct of that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or employee or officer of that Finance
Party or Affiliate). Any Affiliate or any officer or employee of a Finance Party or its
Affiliate may rely on this Clause 19.2 subject to Clause 1.8 (Third party rights) and the
provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
19.3 |
|
Indemnity to the Agent |
|
|
|
The Parent shall promptly indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by
the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of: |
|
(a) |
|
investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; or |
|
(b) |
|
acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to
be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised. |
19.4 |
|
Indemnity to the Security Agent |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall promptly indemnify the Security Agent and every Receiver and Delegate
against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them as a result of: |
|
(i) |
|
the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Transaction Security, |
|
(ii) |
|
the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies vested in the
Security Agent and each Receiver and Delegate by the Finance Documents or by law; or |
|
(iii) |
|
any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed
to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
The Security Agent may, in priority to any payment to the Secured Parties, indemnify
itself out of the Charged Property in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to
give effect to the indemnity in this Clause 19.4 and shall have a lien on the Transaction
Security and the proceeds of the enforcement of the Transaction Security for all monies
payable to it. |
20. |
|
MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS |
|
(a) |
|
Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Parent, take all reasonable steps to
mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable
under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 10.1 (Illegality) (or, in
respect of the Issuing Bank, Clause 10.2 (Illegality in relation to Issuing Bank)), Clause 17
(Tax gross-up and indemnities) or Clause 18 (Increased Costs) or paragraph 3 of Schedule 4
(Mandatory Cost formula) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and
obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office. |
71
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the
Finance Documents. |
20.2 |
|
Limitation of liability |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses
reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 20.1
(Mitigation). |
|
(b) |
|
A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 20.1 (Mitigation) if, in
the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
21.1 |
|
Transaction expenses |
|
|
The Parent shall promptly on demand pay the Agent, the Arranger, the Issuing Bank and the
Security Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees and related VAT and
disbursements as (i) set out in paragraph 1 of the Eversheds Fee Estimate emailed to Xxxx
Xxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx on 3 September 2010 by Xxxx Xxxxxx and (ii) otherwise as agreed by
the Company and the Agent) reasonably incurred by any of them (and, in the case of the
Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate) in connection with the negotiation, preparation,
printing, execution, syndication and perfection of: |
|
(a) |
|
this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement and the Transaction
Security; and |
|
(b) |
|
any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement. |
|
|
If (a) an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent or (b) an amendment is required
pursuant to Clause 33.10 (Change of currency), the Parent shall, within three Business Days
of demand, reimburse each of the Agent and the Security Agent for the amount of all costs and
expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent and the Security Agent (and,
in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate) in responding to, evaluating,
negotiating or complying with that request or requirement. |
21.3 |
|
Security Agent’s ongoing costs |
|
(a) |
|
In the event of (i) a Default or (ii) the Security Agent considering it necessary or
expedient or (iii) the Security Agent being requested by an Obligor or the Majority Lenders
to undertake duties which the Security Agent and the Parent agree to be of an exceptional
nature and/or outside the scope of the normal duties of the Security Agent under the Finance
Documents, the Parent shall pay to the Security Agent any additional remuneration that may be
agreed between them. |
|
(b) |
|
If the Security Agent and the Parent fail to agree upon the nature of the duties or upon
any additional remuneration, that dispute shall be determined by an investment bank (acting
as an expert and not as an arbitrator) selected by the Security Agent and approved by the
Parent or, failing approval, nominated (on the application of the Security Agent) by the
President for the time being of the Law Society of England and Wales (the costs of the
nomination and of the investment bank being payable by the Parent) and the determination of
any investment bank shall be final and binding upon the parties to this Agreement. |
72
21.4 |
|
Enforcement and preservation costs |
|
|
|
The Parent shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to the Arranger and each other
Secured 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 and the Transaction Security and any proceedings instituted by or against the
Security Agent as a consequence of taking or holding the Transaction Security or enforcing
these rights. |
22. |
|
GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY |
22.1 |
|
Guarantee and indemnity |
|
|
|
Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally: |
|
(a) |
|
guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each other Obligor of all that
Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents; |
|
(b) |
|
undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever another Obligor does not pay any amount
when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall immediately
on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and |
|
(c) |
|
agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes
unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation,
indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it
incurs as a result of an Obligor not paying any amount which would, but for such
unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by it under any Finance
Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Guarantor under
this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this Clause 22 if
the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee. |
22.2 |
|
Continuing Guarantee |
|
|
This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums
payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or
discharge in whole or in part. |
|
|
If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any
Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in
whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided
or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without
limitation, then the liability of each Guarantor under this Clause 22 will continue or be
reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred. |
|
|
The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 22 will not be affected by an act,
omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause 22, would reduce, release or prejudice
any of its obligations under this Clause 22 (without limitation and whether or not known to
it or any Finance Party) including: |
|
(a) |
|
any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person; |
73
|
(b) |
|
the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition
or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group; |
|
(c) |
|
the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect
to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor
or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other
requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any
security; |
|
(d) |
|
any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or
change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person; |
|
(e) |
|
any amendment, novation, supplement, extension restatement (however fundamental and
whether or not more onerous) or replacement of a Finance Document or any other document or
security including, without limitation, any change in the purpose of, any extension of or
increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or
other document or security; |
|
(f) |
|
any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any
Finance Document or any other document or security; or |
|
(g) |
|
any insolvency or similar proceedings. |
22.5 |
|
Guarantor Intent |
|
|
|
Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 22.4 (Waiver of Defences), each Guarantor
expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any
(however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Finance
Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Finance Documents for
the purposes of or in connection with any of the following: business acquisitions of any
nature; increasing working capital; enabling investor distributions to be made; carrying out
restructurings; refinancing existing facilities; refinancing any other indebtedness; making
facilities available to new borrowers; any other variation or extension of the purposes for
which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and any fees,
costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing. |
22.6 |
|
Immediate recourse |
|
|
|
Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any
trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or
claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 22. This
waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the
contrary. |
22.7 |
|
Appropriations |
|
|
|
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with
the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee
or agent on its behalf) may: |
|
(a) |
|
refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received
by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or
apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those
amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and |
74
|
(b) |
|
hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on
account of any Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 22. |
22.8 |
|
Deferral of Guarantors’ rights |
|
|
|
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with
the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise
directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by
it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable,
or liability arising, under this Clause 22: |
|
(a) |
|
to be indemnified by an Obligor; |
|
(b) |
|
to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligor’s obligations under the
Finance Documents; |
|
(c) |
|
to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise)
of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or
security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance
Party; |
|
(d) |
|
to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any
payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee,
undertaking or indemnity under Clause 22.1 (Guarantee and Indemnity); |
|
(e) |
|
to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or |
|
(f) |
|
to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party. |
|
|
If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it
shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all
amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in
connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Finance Parties
and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Agent or as the Agent may direct for
application in accordance with Clause 33 (Payment mechanics). |
22.9 |
|
Release of Guarantors’ right of contribution |
|
|
If any Guarantor (a “Retiring Guarantor”) ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with the
terms of the Finance Documents for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring
Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor: |
|
(a) |
|
that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether
past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other
Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations
under the Finance Documents; and |
|
(b) |
|
each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its
obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether
by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance
Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance
Document where such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the
Retiring Guarantor. |
75
22.10 |
|
Additional security |
|
|
|
This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or
security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party. |
22.11 |
|
Guarantee Limitations — France |
|
(a) |
|
In respect of the obligations of any French Guarantor, the joint and several liability of
such French Guarantor expressed to be assumed by it in its capacity as joint and several
guarantor shall be limited to, only with respect to obligations of any Obligor which is not a
Subsidiary of such French Guarantor, a maximum amount equal to the aggregate of all amounts
borrowed by the relevant French Guarantor and, if any, its subsidiaries (i) directly under
this Agreement and (ii) indirectly by way of intra group loans made available directly or
indirectly by any member of the Group, provided at all times that any French Guarantor’s
liability under this Agreement shall not in any event exceed 80% of its net assets (capitaux
propres). |
|
(b) |
|
In accordance with Article L.225-216 of the French Commercial Code, the joint and several
liability of any French Guarantor expressed to be assumed by it in its capacity as joint and
several guarantor shall not cover any obligation or liability under this Agreement incurred
for the purpose of (i) advancing funds, granting loans or consenting to a security interest
for the benefit of a third party with an intent to subscribe or purchase the shares of the
relevant French Guarantor or (ii) engaging the relevant French Guarantor’s assets in an
operation bearing on their own capital. |
22.12 |
|
Guarantee Limitations — The Netherlands |
|
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 22 the guarantee, indemnity and other
obligations of any Obligor expressed to be assumed in this Clause 22 shall be deemed not to
be assumed by such Obligor to the extent that the same would constitute unlawful financial
assistance within the meaning of Article 2:207(c) or 2:98(c) of the Dutch Civil Code or any
other applicable financial assistance rules under any relevant jurisdiction (the Netherlands
“Prohibition”) and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall be
construed accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt it is expressly acknowledged that the
relevant Obligors will continue to guarantee all such obligations which, if included, do not
constitute a violation of the Netherlands Prohibition. |
22.13 |
|
Guarantee Limitations — Singapore |
|
|
This guarantee does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in this
guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance under any applicable provisions under
the laws of Singapore (the “Singapore Prohibition”). For the avoidance of doubt it is
expressly acknowledged that the relevant Obligors who are providing a guarantee under this
Clause 22 will continue to guarantee all such obligations which, if included, do not
constitute a violation of the Singapore Prohibition. |
22.14 |
|
Guarantee limitation — Belgian Guarantor |
|
|
The total liability of each Belgian Guarantor under this Clause 22, shall at times be limited
to an aggregate amount (without double counting) not exceeding the sum of: |
|
(a) |
|
any amounts owed by it or its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, if any, to the Finance
Parties under the Finance Documents and the Belgian Guarantor shall guarantee such amounts in
full; |
|
(b) |
|
the aggregate of all amounts borrowed by a Belgian Guarantor (or its direct or indirect
Subsidiaries) under any intra-group arrangement (regardless of the form thereof) that |
76
|
|
|
have been financed directly or indirectly by borrowing under the Finance Documens
(without any reduction for any repayment thereof); and |
|
(i) |
|
€9,000,000 (or its equivalent); or |
|
(A) |
|
ninety per cent (90%) of such Belgian Guarantor’s own funds (eigen
vermogen/capitauc propres) as referred to in section 88 of the Belgian Royal
Decreee of 30 January 2001 implementing the Belgian Companies Code, as shown by its
most recent audited annual financial statements at the time the relevant demand is
made; and |
|
(B) |
|
an amount equal to any subordinated debt it may owe at the time a demand for
payment under this Clause 22 is made. |
|
|
The result of the calculation as described in (a), (b) and (c) above shall in relation to any
relevant Belgian Guarantor be referred to as the “Guaranteed Belgian Amount”. |
|
|
|
Each Belgian Guarantor shall provide the Agent with an update on the relevant Guaranteed
Belgian Amount upon the request of the Agent, with such information as the Agent may
reasonably require, provided that the own funds (eigen vermorgen/capitaux propres) as
specified under (ii) above may be derived from the latest audited financial statements of the
respective Belgian Guarantor. |
|
23. |
|
REPRESENTATIONS |
|
23.1 |
|
General |
|
|
|
Each Obligor (or, where indicated, the Parent or specified Obligor alone) makes the
representations and warranties set out in this Clause 23 to each Finance Party. |
|
23.2 |
|
Status |
|
(a) |
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries is a limited liability corporation, duly incorporated and
validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
|
(b) |
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business
as it is being conducted. |
|
(c) |
|
Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed a settlement agreement (minnelijk
akkoord/accord amiable) with two or more of its creditors pursuant to the Belgian Act of 31
January 2009 on the continuity of enterprises. |
23.3 |
|
Binding obligations |
|
|
|
Subject to the Legal Reservations and, in the case of any Transaction Security Document, the
Perfection Requirements: |
|
(a) |
|
the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Finance Document to which it is a
party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations; and |
|
(b) |
|
(without limiting the generality of paragraph (a) above), each Transaction Security
Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Transaction |
77
|
|
|
Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and
effective. |
23.4 |
|
Non-conflict with other obligations |
|
|
|
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance
Documents to which it is party and the granting of the Transaction Security does not and will
not conflict with: |
|
(a) |
|
any law or regulation applicable to it; |
|
(b) |
|
its constitutional documents; or |
|
(c) |
|
except as disclosed to the Agent prior to the Signing Date as regards facilities owed by
MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd. to DBS Bank Ltd.,_ any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any
of its Subsidiaries or any of its or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets or constitute a default
or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument where such
conflict in any such case would, or could reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse
Effect. |
|
(a) |
|
It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action
to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it
is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
No limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, grant of security
or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the Finance Documents to which it is a
party. |
|
(c) |
|
In respect of an Australian Obligor only, it is not a trustee of any trust or settlement,
and it is not entering into the Finance Documents in its capacity as trustee of any trust or
settlement, other than as disclosed to the Agent in writing prior to the date it became an
Obligor. |
23.6 |
|
Validity and admissibility in evidence |
|
(a) |
|
All Authorisations required: |
|
(i) |
|
to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its
obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and |
|
(ii) |
|
subject to the Legal Reservations and (in relation to the Transaction Security
Documents) Perfection Requirements, to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party
admissible in evidence in its Relevant Jurisdictions, |
|
|
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect except any Authorisation
referred to in paragraphs (a)-(c) of Clause 23.9 (No filing or stamp taxes), which
Authorisations will be promptly obtained or effected after the first Utilisation Date. |
|
(b) |
|
All Authorisations necessary for the conduct of its and its Subsidiaries, business, trade
and ordinary activities have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect if
failure to obtain or effect those Authorisations has or is reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect. |
78
23.7 |
|
Governing law and enforcement |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to the Legal Reservations, the choice of governing law of the Finance Documents
to which it is party will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions. |
|
(b) |
|
Subject to the Legal Reservations, any judgment obtained in relation to a Finance
Document to which it is party in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance
Document will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions. |
|
(a) |
|
corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in paragraph (a)
of Clause 27.7 (Insolvency proceedings); or |
|
(b) |
|
creditors’ process described in Clause 27.8 (Creditors’ process), |
|
|
has been taken or, to its knowledge, threatened in relation to it; and none of the
circumstances described in Clause 27.6 (Insolvency) applies to it. |
|
23.9 |
|
No filing or stamp taxes |
|
|
|
Under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdiction and subject to the Perfection Requirements, it is
not necessary that the Finance Documents to which it is party be filed, recorded or enrolled
with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration,
notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents to which
it is party or the transactions contemplated by such Finance Documents except: |
|
(a) |
|
in respect of the English Obligors, registration of particulars of certain of the
Transaction Security Documents at the Companies Registration Office in England and Wales
under section 860 of the Companies Xxx 0000 and payment of associated fees; |
|
(b) |
|
in respect of the Non-English Obligors, any similar or equivalent registrations required
to be made in their respective Relevant Jurisdictions; and |
|
(c) |
|
any other filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee which is referred to in any
Legal Opinion, |
|
|
each of which will be made or paid promptly and in any event within the period allowed by
applicable law or the relevant Finance Document. |
|
23.10 |
|
Deduction of Tax |
|
|
|
To the extent an Obligor is an Original Borrower under this Agreement it is not required to
make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance
Document to which it is party to a Lender which is a Qualifying Lender: |
|
(a) |
|
except where a Direction has been given under section 931 of the ITA in relation to the
payment concerned, falling within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender ;
or |
|
(b) |
|
subject in the case of a Treaty Lender to the completion of the relevant procedural
formalities and, where applicable, the payment is one specified in a direction given by the
Commissioners of Revenue & Customs under Regulation 2 of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on
Income) (General) Regulations 1970 (SI 1970/488). |
79
|
(a) |
|
No Event of Default and, on the date of this Agreement and on the first Utilisation
Date, no Default has occurred and is continuing. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes (or, with the expiry
of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any
combination of any of the foregoing, would constitute) a default or termination event
(however described) under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or
any of its Subsidiaries or to which its (or any of its Subsidiaries’) assets are subject
which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
23.12 |
|
No misleading information |
|
|
|
In respect of the Parent only: |
|
(a) |
|
any factual information contained in the Financial Assistance Memo is true and
accurate in all material respects; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
no event or circumstance has occurred or arisen and no information has been omitted
from the Financial Assistance Memo and no information has been given or withheld that
results in the material factual information contained in the Financial Assistance Memo
being untrue or misleading in any material respect. |
23.13 |
|
Original Financial Statements |
|
(a) |
|
Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the Accounting
Principles consistently applied unless expressly disclosed to the Agent in writing to
the contrary. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The unaudited Original Financial Statements of the Parent fairly represent the
financial condition and results of operations of the Group for the relevant month unless
expressly disclosed to the Agent in writing to the contrary prior to the date of this
Agreement. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Its audited Original Financial Statements give a true and fair view of its financial
condition and results of operations during the relevant financial year unless expressly
disclosed to the Agent in writing to the contrary prior to the date of this Agreement. |
|
|
(d) |
|
There has been no material adverse change in its assets, business or financial
conditions or, in respect of the Parent only, the assets, business or financial
condition of the Group, since the date of the Original Financial Statements. |
|
|
(e) |
|
Its most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 24.1 (Financial
Statements): |
|
(i) |
|
have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles as applied in
the Original Financial Statements, save to the extent dealt with in accordance with
Clause 24.3(c); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
give a true and fair view of (if audited) or fairly present (if unaudited) its
consolidated financial condition as at the end of, and consolidated results of
operations for, the period to which they relate. |
|
(f) |
|
In respect of the Parent only, the budgets and forecasts supplied under this
Agreement were arrived at after careful consideration and have been prepared in |
80
|
|
|
good faith on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of
assumptions which were reasonable as at the date they were prepared and supplied. |
23.14 |
|
No proceedings pending or threatened |
|
|
|
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations of, or
before, any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, are
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect have (to the best of its knowledge
and belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) been started or threatened against it
or any of its Subsidiaries. |
|
23.15 |
|
No breach of laws |
|
(a) |
|
It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation which
breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No labour disputes are current or, to the best of its knowledge and belief (having
made due and careful enquiry), threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries which
have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
|
(c) |
|
In respect of an Australian Obligor only, the execution and performance by it of its
obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party does not
breach or directly or indirectly result in a breach of the Corporations Act (including
Part 2E or Part 2J of the Corporations Act). |
|
(a) |
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with Clause 26.3 (Environmental
compliance) and to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful
enquiry) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance, in a manner
or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of its knowledge and
belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) is threatened against it or any of its
Subsidiaries where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if determined against that
member of the Group, to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The cost to it or any of its Subsidiaries of compliance with Environmental Laws
(including Environmental Permits) as to the first Utilisation Date is (to the best of
its knowledge and belief, having made due and careful enquiry) is adequately provided
for in the Budget 2010. |
|
(a) |
|
It is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) materially overdue in the filing of any
Tax returns and it is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) overdue in the payment of
any amount in respect of Tax of in excess of €1,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other
currency) or more. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No claims or investigations are being made or conducted against it (or any of its
Subsidiaries) where such claim or investigation has or is reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect. |
|
|
(c) |
|
It is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation. |
81
23.18 |
|
Security and Financial Indebtedness |
|
(a) |
|
No Security or Quasi-Security exists over all or any of its or its Subsidiaries
present or future assets other than as permitted by this Agreement. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Neither it nor its Subsidiaries have any Financial Indebtedness outstanding other
than as permitted by this Agreement. |
|
|
(c) |
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the
respective assets over which it purports to grant Security. |
23.19 |
|
Ranking |
|
|
|
Subject to the Legal Reservation and the Perfection Requirements, the Transaction
Security granted by it (or to be granted by it) has or will have the ranking in priority
which it is expressed to have in the Transaction Security Documents to which it is a
party and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security. |
|
23.20 |
|
Good title to assets |
|
|
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries has a good, valid and marketable title to, or valid
leases or licences of, and all appropriate Authorisations to use, the assets necessary
to carry on its business as presently conducted, save where failure to do so could not,
or could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
23.21 |
|
Shares |
|
(a) |
|
The shares of it and any of its Subsidiaries which are subject to the Transaction
Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. |
|
|
(b) |
|
In respect of: |
|
(i) |
|
all Obligors other than MRC Transmark Pty Ltd ACN 080 156 378, the
constitutional documents of it and any of its Subsidiaries do not and could not
restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the
Transaction Security; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
MRC Transmark Pty Ltd ACN 080 156 378, its constitutional documents do not and
could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or
enforcement of the Transaction Security unless any applicable stamp duty or other
taxes of a similar nature on the transfer are payable but unpaid. |
23.22 |
|
Intellectual Property |
|
|
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries: |
|
(a) |
|
is the sole legal and beneficial owner of or has licensed to it on normal commercial
terms all the Intellectual Property which is material in the context of its business and
which is required by it in order to carry on its business as it is being conducted; |
|
|
(b) |
|
does not in carrying on its businesses, infringe any Intellectual Property of any
third party in any respect which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
there has been no material infringement or (so far as it is aware) threatened or
suspected infringement of or challenge to the validity of any material Intellectual |
82
|
|
|
Property owned by or licensed to it or any of its Subsidiaries, where such
infringement would, or would reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse
Effect. |
23.23 |
|
Group Structure Chart |
|
|
|
In respect of the Parent only the Group Structure Chart delivered to the Agent pursuant
to Part I of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) is true, complete and accurate in all
material respects and shows the following information |
|
(a) |
|
each member of the Group, including current name and company registration number,
its jurisdiction of incorporation and/or establishment and indicating whether a company
is a Dormant Subsidiary or is not a company with limited liability; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
all minority interests in any member of the Group and any person in which any member
of the Group holds shares in its issued share capital or equivalent ownership interest
of such person. |
23.24 |
|
Accounting reference date |
|
|
|
The Accounting Reference Date of it and its Subsidiaries is 31 December. |
|
23.25 |
|
Centre of main interests and establishments |
|
|
|
In respect of Obligors incorporated in the European Union only, for the purposes of The
Council of the European Union Regulation No. 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (the
“Regulation”), its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the
Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it has no
“establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Regulations) in any other
jurisdiction. |
|
23.26 |
|
No adverse consequences |
|
(a) |
|
It is not necessary under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdictions: |
|
(i) |
|
in order to enable any Finance Party to enforce its rights under any Finance
Document to which that Obligor is a party; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
by reason of the execution of any Finance Document or the performance by it of
its obligations under any Finance Document to which that Obligor is party, |
|
|
|
that any Finance Party should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry
on business in any of its Relevant Jurisdictions. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No Finance Party is or will be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on
business in its Relevant Jurisdictions by reason only of the execution, performance
and/or enforcement of any Finance Document to which that Obligor is party. |
23.27 |
|
Dormant Companies |
|
|
|
In respect of the Parent only, each company referred to in the definition of “Dormant
Subsidiary” is a Dormant Subsidiary. |
|
23.28 |
|
Pensions |
|
|
|
Except for the pension schemes in Belgium and the Netherlands disclosed to the Agent by
the Company prior to the Signing Date, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has
at any time been liable in whatever capacity for liabilities under or in respect of a
defined benefit pension scheme (or its equivalent in other jurisdictions). |
83
23.29 |
|
Times when representations made |
|
(a) |
|
All the representations and warranties in this Clause 23 are made by each Original
Obligor on the date of this Agreement and on the first Utilisation Date. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of
each Utilisation Request, on each other Utilisation Date and on the first day of each
Interest Period. |
|
|
(c) |
|
All the representations and warranties in this Clause 23 except Clause 23.12 (No
misleading information), Clause 23.23 (Group Structure Chart) and Clause 23.27 (Dormant
Companies) are deemed to be made by each Additional Obligor on the day on which it
becomes (or it is proposed that it becomes) an Additional Obligor. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this Agreement
shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the
date the representation or warranty is deemed to be made. |
24. |
|
INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS |
|
|
|
The undertakings in this Clause 24 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for
so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in
force. |
|
|
|
In this Clause 24: |
|
|
|
“Annual Financial Statements” means the financial statements for a Financial Year
delivered pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 24.1 (Financial statements). |
|
|
|
“Quarterly Financial Statements” means the financial statements delivered pursuant to
paragraph (b) of Clause 24.1 (Financial statements). |
|
24.1 |
|
Financial statements |
|
|
|
The Parent shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders: |
|
(a) |
|
as soon as they are available, but in any event within 180 days after the end of
each of its Financial Years: |
|
(i) |
|
its audited consolidated financial statements for that Financial Year; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the audited financial statements (consolidated if appropriate) of each Obligor
for that Financial Year; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
if requested by the Agent, a year end stock and debtor report for the Group
prepared by the Auditors on terms acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably). |
|
(b) |
|
as soon as they are available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each
Financial Quarter of each of its Financial Years its consolidated financial statements
for that Financial Quarter (including cumulative management accounts for the year to
date); and |
|
|
(c) |
|
promptly following the end of each month, a current asset (broken down for debtors
by ageing) and stock report for the Group (in the agreed form), in each case, on a
country by country basis. |
84
24.2 |
|
Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall supply a Compliance Certificate to the Agent with each set of its
audited consolidated Annual Financial Statements and each set of the Quarterly Financial
Statements. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Compliance Certificate shall, amongst other things, set out (in reasonable
detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 25 (Financial Covenants). |
|
|
(c) |
|
Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by two directors of the Parent and, if
required to be delivered with the audited consolidated Annual Financial Statements of
the Parent and if requested by the Agent shall be reported on by the Auditors, in the
form agreed by the Parent and the Agent acting reasonably and in good faith. |
24.3 |
|
Requirements as to financial statements |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall procure that each set of Annual Financial Statements and Quarterly
Financial Statements includes a balance sheet, profit and loss account and cashflow
statement. In addition the Parent shall procure that: |
|
(i) |
|
each set of Annual Financial Statements shall be audited by the Auditors; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each set of Quarterly Financial Statements includes a cashflow forecast in
respect of the Group in respect of the remainder of that Financial Year. |
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to
Clause 24.1 (Financial statements): |
|
(i) |
|
shall give a true and fair view of (in the case of Annual Financial Statements
for any Financial Year), or fairly representing (in other cases), the financial
condition and operations of the relevant Obligor as at the date as at which those
financial statements were drawn up and, in the case of the Annual Financial
Statements, shall be accompanied by any letter addressed to the management of the
relevant company by the Auditors and accompanying those Annual Financial
Statements; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in the case of consolidated financial statements of the Group, shall be
accompanied by a statement by the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent comparing
actual performance for the period to which the financial statements relate to: |
|
(A) |
|
the projected performance for that period set out in the Budget; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the actual performance for the corresponding period in the preceding
Financial Year of the Group; and |
|
(iii) |
|
in the case of the Quarterly Financial Statements shall be accompanied by a
statement by the Chief Financial Officer commenting on the performance of the Group
for the month to which the financial statements relate and the Financial Year to
date and any material developments or proposals affecting the Group or its
business. |
|
(c) |
|
The Parent shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered under
Clause 24.1 (Financial statements), in the case of any member of the Group (other than
an Obligor), shall be prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles and, in the
case of any Obligor, shall be prepared using the Accounting Principles, accounting
practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the |
85
|
|
|
preparation of the Original Financial Statements of that Obligor, unless, in
relation to any set of financial statements of an Obligor, the Parent notifies the
Agent that there has been a change in the Accounting Principles or the accounting
practices and delivers to the Agent (together the “Reconciliation Statement”): |
|
(i) |
|
a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect
the Accounting Principles or accounting practices upon which that Obligor’s
Original Financial Statements were prepared; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
sufficient information, in such a form and substance as may be reasonably
required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders: |
|
|
(A) |
|
to determine whether Clause 25 (Financial covenants) has been complied with; |
|
|
(B) |
|
to determine the Margin as set out in the definition of “Margin”; |
|
|
(C) |
|
to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in
those financial statements and that Obligor’s Original Financial Statements; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
to verify the calculation of Distributable Net Profits is correct in any
certificate delivered under paragraph (v) of the definition of Permitted
Distribution. |
|
(d) |
|
If the Parent notifies the Agent of any change pursuant to paragraph (c) above the
Parent and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall consult
together for not more than 30 days in good faith to agree the changes referred to in
paragraph (c) and any other amendments to this Agreement which are necessary as a result
of the change so notified. Any changes or amendments so agreed in writing will take
effect and be binding on the Parties but until such changes are agreed any reference in
this Agreement to any financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those
financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial
Statements were prepared. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The Parent will procure that, if requested by the Agent, the Auditors shall as soon
as reasonably possible confirm to the Finance Parties that any Reconciliation Statement
complies with the requirements of this Clause 24.3. |
|
|
(f) |
|
The Parties agree that in the event of a reorganisation or liquidation permitted
under paragraph (e) of the definition of Permitted Transaction, the Parent will provide
a Reconciliation Statement in relation to the Accounting Principles and accounting
practices used in preparing the Original Financial Statements of the Parent and any
financial statements of the new Obligor: |
|
(i) |
|
between UK GAAP, IFRS and Dutch GAAP, if at that time in the reasonable opinion
of the Agent: |
|
|
(A) |
|
there are material differences between those accounting principles and/or
accounting practices or their application or interpretation (and the Parent will
procure, if requested by the Agent, the Auditors promptly confirm at that time
whether or not such material differences exist); or |
|
|
(B) |
|
it is needed to determine Distributable Net Profits of the new Obligor; and |
|
(ii) |
|
between Dutch GAAP and any other relevant accounting principles other than UK
GAAP or IFRS. |
86
|
(g) |
|
In the event that there is a change in the Accounting Principles used by any member
of the Group in relation to the accounting of leases, which has the effect that any
lease (each a “Non-Finance Lease”) which before such change is not accounted for by a
member of the Group under the Accounting Principles as a Finance Lease will, following
such change, be accounted for by such member of the Group under the Accounting
Principles as a Finance Lease, without prejudice to the obligations of the Obligors
under paragraphs (c) and (d) above and subject to any changes as may be agreed (if any)
under paragraph (d) above, to the extent that and for so long as such Non-Finance Leases
are accounted for under the Accounting Principles at that time as Finance Leases,
references in this Agreement to Finance Leases shall exclude any such Non-Finance
Leases. |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, as
soon as the same become available but in any event within 15 days before the start of
each of its Financial Years, an annual Budget for that financial year. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall ensure that each Budget: |
|
(i) |
|
is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Agent and includes a projected
consolidated profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow statement for the Group
and projected financial covenant calculations; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
is prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles and the accounting
practices and financial reference periods applied to financial statements under
Clause 24.1 (Financial statements); and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
has been approved by the board of directors of the Parent. |
|
(c) |
|
If the Company updates or changes the Budget, it shall promptly deliver to the
Agent, in sufficient copies for each of the Lenders, such updated or changed Budget
together with a written explanation of the main changes in that Budget. |
24.5 |
|
Group companies |
|
|
|
The Parent shall, in each Compliance Certificate delivered with the financial statements
required to be provided under Clause 24.1(a)(i) (Financial statements), report on which
of its Subsidiaries are Material Companies and confirm that the aggregate of earnings
before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as
Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in Clause 25 (Financial Covenants)) and that the
aggregate gross assets, aggregate net assets and aggregate turnover of the Guarantors
(calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-group items) exceeds 80%
of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Clause 25 (Financial Covenants)) and the
consolidated gross assets, net assets and turnover of the Group. |
|
24.6 |
|
Presentations |
|
|
|
Once in every Financial Year, at least two officers of the Parent and the Company (one
of whom shall be the chief financial officer) must give a presentation to the Finance
Parties about the on-going business and financial performance of the Group. |
|
24.7 |
|
Year-end |
|
|
|
The Parent shall procure that each Financial Year-end of each member of the Group falls
on 31 December. |
87
24.8 |
|
Information: miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Parent shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the
Agent so requests): |
|
(a) |
|
at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all documents dispatched by the
Parent to its shareholders generally (or any class of them) or dispatched by the Parent
or any Obligors to its creditors generally (or any class of them); |
|
|
(b) |
|
promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or
administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member
of the Group, and which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect or which would involve a liability, or a potential or alleged
liability, exceeding €1,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies); |
|
|
(c) |
|
promptly, such information as the Security Agent may reasonably require about the
Charged Property and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Transaction
Security Documents; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
promptly on request, such further information regarding the financial condition,
assets and operations of the Group and/or any member of the Group as any Finance Party
through the Agent may reasonably request including, without limitation, any actuarial
report prepared in respect of any pension scheme of a Belgian Obligor as soon as the
same is available. |
24.9 |
|
Notification of default |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being
taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless that Obligor
is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor). |
|
|
(b) |
|
Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Parent shall supply to the Agent a
certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying
that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and
the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it). |
24.10 |
|
“Know your customer” checks |
|
(i) |
|
the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration
or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any change in the status of an Obligor or the composition of the shareholders
of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and/or
obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such
assignment or transfer, |
|
|
|
obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any
prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar
identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not
already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of the Agent
or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other
evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any
Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in
paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any |
88
|
|
|
prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the
event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out
and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other
similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the
transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the
supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent
(for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with
all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and
regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Parent shall, by not less than 10 Business Days’ prior written notice to the
Agent, notify the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of its intention to
request that one of its Subsidiaries becomes an Additional Obligor pursuant to Clause 29
(Changes to the Obligors). |
|
|
(d) |
|
Following the giving of any notice pursuant to paragraph (c) above or at any other
time that a person is to become an Additional Obligor, if the accession of such
Additional Obligor obliges the Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer”
or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is
not already available to it, the Parent shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or
any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is
reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender
(for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or such
Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with
all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and
regulations pursuant to the accession of such Subsidiary to this Agreement as an
Additional Obligor. |
25. |
|
FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
|
25.1 |
|
Financial definitions |
|
|
|
In this Agreement: |
|
|
|
“Adjusted EBITDA” means, in relation to a Relevant Period, Consolidated EBITDA for that
Relevant Period adjusted by: |
|
(a) |
|
including the operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and
impairment charges (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA) of a member of
the Group for the Relevant Period (or attributable to a business or assets acquired
during the Relevant Period) prior to its becoming a member of the Group or (as the case
may be) prior to the acquisition of the business or assets; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
excluding operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and
impairment charges (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA) attributable to
any member of the Group (or to any business or assets) disposed of during the Relevant
Period. |
|
|
“Borrowings” means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal, capital or nominal
amount (and any fixed or minimum premium payable on prepayment or redemption) of any
indebtedness of members of the Group for or in respect of: |
|
(a) |
|
moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
89
|
(b) |
|
any acceptances under any acceptance credit or xxxx discount facility (or
dematerialised equivalent); |
|
|
(c) |
|
any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds (but not Trade Instruments), notes,
debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any Finance Lease; |
|
|
(e) |
|
receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are
sold on a non-recourse basis); |
|
|
(f) |
|
any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or
documentary letter of credit or any other instrument (but not, in any case, Trade
Instruments) issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of (i) an underlying
liability of an entity which is not a member of the Group which liability would fall
within one of the other paragraphs of this definition or (ii) any liabilities of any
member of the Group relating to any post-retirement benefit scheme; |
|
|
(g) |
|
any amount raised by the issue of shares which are redeemable (other than at the
option of the issuer) before the Termination Date or are otherwise classified as
borrowings under the Accounting Principles; |
|
|
(h) |
|
any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if the
primary reasons behind the entry into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance
the acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question and payment is due
more than 180 days after the date of supply or is deferred by more than 180 days; |
|
|
(i) |
|
any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or
purchase agreement, sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) which is
classified as borrowings under the Accounting Principles; and |
|
|
(j) |
|
(without double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or
indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i) above, |
|
|
but excluding for the avoidance of doubt all pension-related liabilities. |
|
|
|
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, EBIT for that Relevant
Period after adding back any amount attributable to amortisation, depreciation or
impairment of assets of members of the Group (and taking no account of the reversal of
any previous impairment charge made in the Relevant Period). |
|
|
|
“EBIT” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the consolidated operating profit of
the Group before taxation (including the results from discontinued operations): |
|
(a) |
|
before deducting any Finance Charges; |
|
|
(b) |
|
not including any accrued interest owing to any member of the Group; |
|
|
(c) |
|
before taking into account any Exceptional Items; |
|
|
(d) |
|
plus or minus the Group’s
share of the profits or losses of Non-Group Entities; |
|
|
(e) |
|
before taking into account any unrealised gains or losses on any financial
instrument; |
|
|
(f) |
|
before taking into account any gain or loss arising from an upward or downward
revaluation of any other asset; |
90
|
(g) |
|
before taking into account any Pension Items; and |
|
|
(h) |
|
before deducting any Transaction Costs, |
|
|
in each case, to the extent added, deducted or taken into account, as the case may be,
for the purposes of determining operating profits of the Group before taxation. |
|
|
|
“Exceptional Items” means any exceptional, one off, non-recurring or extraordinary items. |
|
|
|
“Finance Charges” means, for any Relevant Period, the aggregate amount of the accrued
interest, commission, fees, discounts, prepayment fees, premiums or charges and other
finance payments in respect of Borrowings whether paid, payable by any member of the
Group (calculated on a consolidated basis) in respect of that Relevant Period: |
|
(a) |
|
excluding any upfront fees or costs which are included as part of the effective
interest rate adjustments; |
|
|
(b) |
|
including the interest (but not the capital) element of payments in respect of
Finance Leases; |
|
|
(c) |
|
including any commission, fees, discounts and other finance payments payable by
(and deducting any such amounts payable to) any member of the Group under any interest
rate hedging arrangement except upon the close out of any interest rate hedging
arrangement, in which case any payments or receipts by members of the Group in relation
to such hedging arrangements arising only on such close out will be amortised over the
period that the interest rate hedging arrangement related to and will constitute
Finance Charges in the Relevant Period only to the extent amortised in such Relevant
Period; |
|
|
(d) |
|
excluding any Transaction Costs; |
|
|
(e) |
|
excluding any interest cost in relation to any post-employment benefit schemes; |
|
|
(f) |
|
if a Joint Venture is accounted for on a proportionate consolidation basis, after
adding the Group’s share of the finance costs or interest receivable of the Joint
Venture; |
|
|
(g) |
|
taking no account of any unrealised gains or losses on any financial instruments;
and |
|
|
(h) |
|
excluding any capitalised interest, |
|
|
and so that no amount shall be added (or
deducted) more than once. |
|
|
|
“Finance Lease” means any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance
with the Accounting Principles, be treated as a finance or capital lease. |
|
|
“Financial Quarter” means the period commencing on the day after one Quarter Date and
ending on the next Quarter Date. |
|
|
|
“Financial Year” means the annual accounting period of the Group ending on or about 31
December in each year. |
|
|
|
“Interest Cover” means the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Net Finance Charges in
respect of any Relevant Period. |
|
|
|
“Leverage” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the ratio of Total Net Debt on the
last day of that Relevant Period to Adjusted EBITDA in respect of that Relevant Period. |
91
|
|
“Net Finance Charges” means, for any Relevant Period, the Finance Charges for that
Relevant Period after deducting any interest payable in that Relevant Period to any
member of the Group on any Cash or Cash Equivalent Investment. |
|
|
|
“Non-Group Entity” means any investment or entity (which is not itself a member of the
Group (including associates and Joint Ventures)) in which any member of the Group has an
ownership interest. |
|
|
|
“Pension Items” means any income or charge attributable to a post-employment benefit
scheme other than the current service costs and any past service costs and curtailments
and settlements attributable to the scheme. |
|
|
|
“Quarter Date” means each of 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. |
|
|
|
“Relevant Period” means each period of twelve months ending on or about the last day of
the Financial Year and each period of twelve months ending on or about the last day of
each Financial Quarter. |
|
|
|
“Total Net Debt” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of all obligations of members
of the Group for or in respect of Borrowings at that time but: |
|
(a) |
|
excluding any such obligations to any other member of the Group; |
|
|
(b) |
|
excluding the principal outstanding amount of any Permitted Financial Indebtedness
permitted under paragraph (b) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness; |
|
|
(c) |
|
including, in the case of Finance Leases only, their capitalised value; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
deducting the aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalent Investments held by any
member of the Group at that time, |
|
|
and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once. |
|
|
|
“Transaction Costs” means the costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Group in
connection with the refinancing of the Existing Facilities and documentation,
implementation and funding of the Revolving Facility and the MOF Facility Agreement in
the amount specified in the certificate delivered to the Agent under paragraph 5 of Part
I of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent). |
|
25.2 |
|
Financial condition |
|
|
|
The Parent shall ensure that: |
|
(a) |
|
Interest Cover: Interest Cover in respect of any Relevant Period shall not be less
than 3.5:1. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Leverage: Leverage in respect of any Relevant Period shall not exceed 2.50:1. |
|
(a) |
|
The financial covenants set out in Clause 25.2 (Financial condition) shall be
calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles and tested by reference to each
of the financial statements delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a)(i) and (b) of Clause
24.1 (Financial Statements) and/or each Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to
Clause 24.2 (Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate). |
92
|
(b) |
|
For the purpose of any calculation in respect of this Clause 25, the exchange rate
used to translate any amount not in the Base Currency into the Base Currency for the
purpose of calculating: |
|
(i) |
|
EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, Consolidated EBITDA and Net Finance Charges shall be, in
respect of any component of EBIT, Consolidated EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Net
Finance Charges arising in any Relevant Period: (A) subject to paragraph (B) below,
the average of the relevant ECB Rates on the last Business Day of each month during
the Relevant Period (or if such ECB Rates are not available on that day, on the
next Business Day on which such rates are available) and (B) to the extent that the
Relevant Period includes any period of a prior Financial Year of the Parent (the
“Preceding Period”), in respect of any component of EBIT, Consolidated EBITDA,
Adjusted EBITDA and Net Finance Charges arising in such Preceding Period, the
average of the relevant ECB rates for that Financial Year, as will be or have been
used (on a basis consistent with exchange rate calculations in the Original
Financial Statements of the Parent) for the purposes of exchange rate calculations
in the Annual Financial Statements of the Parent for such Financial Year; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in respect of any component of Total Net Debt, the relevant ECB Rates on the
last Business Day of the Relevant Period, or if such ECB Rates are not available on
that day, on the next Business Day on which such rates are available. |
26. |
|
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
|
|
|
The undertakings in this Clause 26 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for
so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in
force. |
|
26.1 |
|
Authorisations |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall promptly: |
|
(a) |
|
obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect;
and |
|
|
(b) |
|
supply, if requested by the Agent in writing, certified copies to the Agent of, |
|
|
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to: |
|
(i) |
|
enable
it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; |
|
(ii) |
|
ensure (subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements) the
legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance
Document; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
carry on its business where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect. |
26.2 |
|
Compliance with laws |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that each member of the Group will)
comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply
has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
93
26.3 |
|
Environmental compliance |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that each member of the Group will): |
|
(a) |
|
comply with all Environmental Law; |
|
|
(b) |
|
obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all Environmental Permits required in
connection with its business; |
|
|
(c) |
|
implement procedures to monitor compliance with and to prevent liability under any
Environmental Law, |
|
|
where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
26.4 |
|
Environmental claims |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (through the Parent), promptly upon becoming aware of the same,
inform the Agent in writing of: |
|
(a) |
|
any Environmental Claim against any member of the Group which is current, pending or
threatened; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any
Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against any member of the Group, |
|
|
where the claim, if determined against that member of the Group, has or is reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
26.5 |
|
Taxation |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that each member of the Group will)
pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed
without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that: |
|
(i) |
|
such payment is being contested in good faith; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required
to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements
delivered to the Agent under Clause 24.1 (Financial statements); and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes does not
have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
(b) |
|
No member of the Group may change its residence for Tax purposes without the consent
of the Majority Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
26.6 |
|
Merger |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that no other member of the Group will)
enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction
other than a Permitted Transaction or with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders
(not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed provided that it shall be reasonable for the
Majority Lenders not to give their consent to any such step in the event that they are
not satisfied that the Finance Parties will enjoy at least the same or equivalent
Transaction Security over the same assets and the same or equivalent guarantee in an
amount not less than any guarantee provided before such steps, in each case enjoyed by
them prior to such steps). |
94
26.7 |
|
Change of business |
|
|
|
The Parent shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the
business of the Group taken as a whole from that carried on by the XxXxxxxx Group at the
date of this Agreement. |
|
26.8 |
|
Acquisitions |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent
shall ensure that no other member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
acquire a company or any shares or securities or a business or undertaking (or,
in each case, any interest in any of them); or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
incorporate a company. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to an acquisition of a company, of shares,
securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them)
or the incorporation of a company which is: |
|
(i) |
|
a Permitted Acquisition; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent
shall ensure that no member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
enter into, invest in or acquire (or agree to acquire) any shares, stocks,
securities or other interest in any Joint Venture; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
transfer any assets or lend to or guarantee or give an indemnity for or give
Security for the obligations of a Joint Venture or maintain the solvency of or
provide working capital to any Joint Venture (or agree to do any of the foregoing). |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any acquisition of (or agreement to acquire)
any interest in a Joint Venture or transfer of assets (or agreement to transfer assets)
to a Joint Venture or loan made to or guarantee given in respect of the obligations of a
Joint Venture: |
|
(i) |
|
if such transaction has occurred before the date of this Agreement; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in relation to any transfer of assets to a Joint Venture in the ordinary
course of trading on arm’s length terms for full market value; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
if such transaction is a Permitted Acquisition, a Permitted Disposal, a
Permitted Loan or a Permitted Joint Venture; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
if such Joint Venture is acquired as part of Permitted Acquisition (save under
paragraph (f) of that definition) provided that such Joint Venture is a limited
liability entity or held via a limited liability entity. |
95
26.10 |
|
Preservation of assets |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that each member of the Group will)
maintain in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of
its assets necessary in the conduct of its business from time to time. |
|
26.11 |
|
Pari passu ranking |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a
Finance Party or Hedge Counterparty or MOF Lender against it under the Finance Documents
rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated
creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of
general application to companies. |
|
26.12 |
|
Negative pledge |
|
|
|
In this Clause 26.12, “Quasi-Security” means an arrangement or transaction described in
paragraph (b) below. |
|
|
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (c) below: |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that no other member of the Group
will) create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that no other member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they
are or may be leased to or re-acquired by an Obligor or any other member of the
Group; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or
other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts;
or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect, |
|
|
|
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as
a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an
asset. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply to any Security or (as the case may be)
Quasi-Security, which is: |
|
(i) |
|
Permitted Security; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent
shall ensure that no member of the Group will) enter into a single transaction or a
series of transactions (whether related or not) and whether voluntary or involuntary to
sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset. |
96
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal
which is: |
|
(i) |
|
a Permitted Disposal; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted by paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent shall
ensure no member of the Group will) enter into any transaction with any person except on
arm’s length terms and for market value (or on terms that are more favourable to the
relevant member of the Group). |
|
|
(b) |
|
The following transactions shall not be a breach of this Clause 26.14: |
|
(i) |
|
intra-group loans permitted under Clause 26.15 (Loans or credit); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
fees, costs and expenses payable under the Finance Documents in the amounts
set out in the Finance Documents delivered to the Agent under Clause 4.1 (Initial
conditions precedent) or agreed by the Agent; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any arrangement in respect of, or the making of, a Permitted Payment under
paragraph (b) of that definition or Permitted Distribution under paragraph (c)(ii)
of that definition or any transaction to facilitate the making of the same; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
transactions between Obligors or loans by Obligors to members of the Group
which are not Obligors to the extent permitted by paragraph (e) of the definition
of Permitted Loan or guarantees given by Obligors in respect of the liabilities of
non-Obligors to the extent permitted by the definition of Permitted Guarantee; |
|
|
(v) |
|
transactions between non-Obligors; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
any transaction with any employee or member of management of any member of the
Group pursuant to an employee or management participation or incentive scheme; and |
|
|
(vii) |
|
loans to or guarantees of indebtedness of directors or employees of members
of the Group to the extent permitted under paragraph (f) of the definition of
Permitted Loan; and |
|
|
(viii) |
|
any Permitted Transaction. |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent
shall ensure that no member of the Group will) be a creditor in respect of any Financial
Indebtedness. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to: |
|
(i) |
|
a
Permitted Loan; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
97
|
(c) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Parent shall procure that no member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
repay or pay any principal amount (or capitalised interest) outstanding under
any Dormant Subsidiary Loan; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
pay any interest or other amount in connection with any Dormant Subsidiary
Loan; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
purchase, redeem, defease or discharge any amount outstanding with respect of
any Dormant Subsidiary Loan, |
|
|
|
save as part of a solvent liquidation or reorganisation of such a Dormant
Subsidiary permitted under paragraph (b) of the definition of Permitted Transaction
provided that all of the proceeds of such payment are distributed from the Dormant
Subsidiary to an Obligor on such liquidation or reorganisation occurring. |
26.16 |
|
No Guarantees or indemnities |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent
shall ensure that no member of the Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any
guarantee in respect of any obligation of any person. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to a guarantee which is: |
|
(i) |
|
a Permitted Guarantee; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
26.17 |
|
Dividends and share redemption |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Parent shall not (and will ensure
that no other member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or
interest on any unpaid dividend, charge, fee or other distribution) (whether in
cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its share
capital); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
pay or allow any member of the Group to pay any management, advisory or other
fee to, or to the order of, or reimburse or indemnify any costs or expenses of any
Holding Company of the Parent or any of its officers or directors; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
repay or distribute any dividend or share premium reserve; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
redeem, repurchase, defease, retire or repay any of its share capital or
resolve to do so. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to: |
|
(i) |
|
a Permitted Distribution or; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction (other than one referred to in paragraph (c) of the
definition of that term); or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a Permitted Payment. |
98
26.18 |
|
Financial Indebtedness |
|
(a) |
|
Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Parent
shall ensure that no member of the Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any
Financial Indebtedness. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness which is: |
|
(i) |
|
Permitted
Financial Indebtedness; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
26.19 |
|
Share capital |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure no member of the Group will) issue any
shares except pursuant to: |
|
(a) |
|
a Permitted Share Issue; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
a Permitted Transaction. |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall ensure that each member of the Group will)
maintain insurances on and in relation to its business and assets against those risks
and to the extent as is usual for companies carrying on the same or substantially
similar business. |
|
|
(b) |
|
All insurances must be with reputable independent insurance companies or
underwriters. |
26.21 |
|
Intellectual Property |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall procure that each Group member will): |
|
(a) |
|
preserve and maintain the subsistence and validity of the Intellectual Property
necessary for the business of the relevant Group member; |
|
|
(b) |
|
use reasonable endeavours to prevent any infringement in any material respect of the
Intellectual Property; |
|
|
(c) |
|
make registrations and pay all registration fees and taxes necessary to maintain the
Intellectual Property in full force and effect and record its interest in that
Intellectual Property; |
|
|
(d) |
|
not use or permit the Intellectual Property to be used in a way or take any step or
omit to take any step in respect of that Intellectual Property which may materially and
adversely affect the existence or value of the Intellectual Property or imperil the
right of any member of the Group to use such property; and |
|
|
(e) |
|
not discontinue the use of the Intellectual Property, |
|
|
where failure to do so, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, or, in the case of
paragraphs (d) and (e) above, such use, permission to use, omission or discontinuation,
is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
99
26.22 |
|
Group bank accounts |
|
|
|
The Parent shall ensure that: |
|
(a) |
|
within 6 months of the first Utilisation Date all bank accounts held by members of
the Group incorporated in England, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore shall be
maintained with HSBC Bank plc or one of its Affiliates and (subject to the Agreed
Security Principles) are subject to valid Security under the Transaction Security
Documents; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the balances of the bank accounts of MRC Transmark France EURL shall not at any time
in aggregate exceed €200,000 (or its equivalent); and |
|
|
(c) |
|
all bank accounts of MRC Transmark France EURL are closed: |
|
(i) |
|
within 90 days of the merger permitted under paragraph (f) of the definition
of Permitted Transaction; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if such merger does not occur by 30 November 2010, within 90 days of such
date. |
26.23 |
|
Treasury Transactions |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall (and the Parent will procure that no members of the Group will) enter
into any Treasury Transaction, other than: |
|
(a) |
|
any hedging transactions documented by the Hedging Agreements; |
|
|
(b) |
|
spot and forward delivery foreign exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary
course of business and not for speculative purposes; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
any Treasury Transaction entered into for the hedging of actual or projected real
exposures arising in the ordinary course of trading activities of a member of the Group
and not for speculative purposes. |
|
(a) |
|
In this Agreement “Guarantor Coverage Test” means the test of whether (and which is
passed if): |
|
(i) |
|
the aggregate earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA) of the members of the Group
which are Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all
intra-group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group)
equals or exceeds 80 per cent. of Consolidated EBITDA; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the aggregate of the turnover of the members of the Group which are Guarantors
(calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-group items and
investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) equals or exceeds 80 per
cent. of the consolidated turnover of the Group; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the aggregate of the gross assets and net assets of the members of the Group
which are Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all
intra-group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group)
equals or exceeds 80 per cent. of the consolidated gross assets and consolidated
net assets of the Group. |
100
|
(b) |
|
The Parent shall ensure that, subject to paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) below the
Guarantor Coverage Test is satisfied on the last day of each Financial Year. The
Parent shall confirm in each Compliance Certificate delivered under Clause 24.2
(Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate) in respect of each set of Annual
Financial Statements of the Parent whether on the last day of the relevant Financial
Year the Guarantor Coverage Test is satisfied. If any such Compliance Certificate
confirms that the Guarantor Coverage Test has not been met then the Parent shall
identify in such Compliance Certificate (together with supporting calculations) one or
more additional Subsidiaries which will become Additional Guarantor(s) in order to
satisfy the Guarantor Coverage Test. The Parent shall ensure that each such additional
Subsidiary becomes an Additional Guarantor within (i) 30 days of the delivery of the
Agent of the relevant Compliance Certificate if such Subsidiary is incorporated in
England and Wales or (ii) 60 days of delivery to the Agent of the relevant Compliance
Certificate if such Subsidiary is incorporated in another jurisdiction. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Parent shall ensure that each member of the Group which becomes a Material
Company will become an Additional Guarantor within (i) 30 days of it becoming a
Material Company if it is incorporated in England or within 60 days of it becoming a
Material Company if it is incorporated in another jurisdiction. |
|
|
(d) |
|
The Parent shall ensure that within 30 days of the acquisition of a Subsidiary
incorporated in England or the acquisition of a business or undertaking by a Subsidiary
incorporated in England which is not a Guarantor and within 60 days of the acquisition
of a Subsidiary incorporated in any other jurisdiction or the acquisition of a business
or undertaking by a Subsidiary incorporated in another jurisdiction, either: |
|
(i) |
|
deliver to the Agent a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Parent, confirming (together with supporting calculations) that based on the
most recent Annual Financial Statements of the Parent (adjusted to include on a
proforma basis) the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA of such new Subsidiary or of
such acquired business or undertaking, following such acquisition, the Guarantor
Coverage Test continues to be met by the existing Guarantors; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
deliver to the Agent a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Parent (together with supporting calculations on the basis in paragraph (d)(i)
above), identifying one or more additional Subsidiaries which will become
Additional Guarantor(s) in order to comply with the Guarantor Coverage Test and
ensure that such additional Subsidiaries each become an Additional Guarantor
within such period. |
|
(e) |
|
In relation to any calculation of the Guarantor Coverage Test: |
|
(i) |
|
the aggregate earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of
all French Guarantors and the aggregate turnover and the aggregate gross assets
and net assets of all French Guarantors notwithstanding its actual amount, shall
form no more than a maximum of 10% of the aggregate earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation or aggregate turnover of aggregate gross assets or
the aggregate net assets of the Guarantors; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the aggregate earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of
all Restricted Obligors and the French Guarantors and the aggregate turnover and
the aggregate gross assets and net assets of all Restricted |
101
|
|
|
Obligors and the French Guarantors notwithstanding its actual amount, shall
in aggregate form no more than a maximum of 15% of the aggregate earnings
before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation or the aggregate
turnover or the aggregate gross assets or the aggregate net assets of the
Guarantors. |
|
|
|
|
Where “Restricted Obligors” means an Additional Guarantor (other than an
Acceding Obligor) in respect of which in the opinion of the Majority Lenders
(acting reasonably and ignoring for this purpose the Agreed Security Principles)
any guarantee given to the Finance Parties by such Additional Guarantor or any
Security under the Transaction Security Documents entered into by such Additional
Guarantor is materially limited in relation to its nature, extent, scope or
enforceability. |
26.25 |
|
Pensions |
|
|
|
Except for the pension schemes in Belgium and The Netherlands disclosed to the Agent by
the Company prior to the Signing Date, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
become liable for or have any obligations under or in respect of a defined benefit
pension scheme (or its equivalent in any jurisdiction), save in respect of any such
scheme where any unfunded obligations or liabilities at the time it becomes liable for
the same (the “Relevant Time”) are less than (i) €2,500,000 (or its equivalent) in
respect of any such scheme and (ii) €5,000,000 (or its equivalent) when aggregated with
all unfunded liabilities and obligations of all members of the Group in respect of any
such schemes permitted under this Clause 26.25. |
|
26.26 |
|
Further assurance |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall
procure that each member of the Group shall) promptly do all such acts or execute all
such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and
instructions) as the Security Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the
Security Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its
nominee(s)): |
|
(i) |
|
to perfect the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by
the Transaction Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage,
charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or
are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security) or for the exercise of
any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Agent or the Finance Parties
provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law; and/or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
to confer on the Security Agent or on the Finance Parties Security over any
property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or
similar to the Security intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Transaction
Security Documents; and/or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be,
the subject of the Transaction Security. |
|
(b) |
|
If any Obligor which has entered into one or more Transaction Security Documents
acquires an asset (including any right, account, investment or otherwise) which is
either not subject to any such Transaction Security Document, or in relation to which a
perfection requirement or other step must be taken in relation to that asset in
connection with an existing Transaction Security Document, that Obligor shall (in all
cases subject to the Agreed Security Principles) ensure that a Transaction Security |
102
|
|
|
Document is entered into, or as required by the applicable Transaction Security
Document that a similar perfection requirement or other step is taken, in each
case, in connection with that asset. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Subject to the Agreed Security Principles each Obligor shall (and the Parent shall
procure that each member of the Group shall) take all such action as is reasonably
requested of it by the Security Agent (including making all filings and registrations)
as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or
maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent
or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents. |
26.27 |
|
Conditions subsequent |
|
|
|
The Parent shall procure that |
|
(a) |
|
by no later than 31 December 2010, in the event that the merger of MRC Transmark
France SAS and MRC Transmark France EURL as permitted under paragraph (f) of the
definition of Permitted Transaction does not unconditionally complete by 30 November
2010 to the satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably), there is delivered to the
Agent in a form satisfactory to it (acting reasonably): |
|
(i) |
|
a financial securities account pledge agreement executed by MRC Transmark
France EURL over the financial securities it holds in MRC Transmark France SAS; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a share pledge agreement executed by the Parent over the shares it holds in
MRC Transmark France EURL; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
such other notices, evidence, authorisations, documents, opinions or
assurances as the Agent considers necessary (acting reasonably based on legal
advice) in connection with the entry into and performance of the obligations under
such documents in (i) and (ii) above or for their validity, enforceability and
perfection; |
|
(b) |
|
by no later than the date being 90 days from the first Utilisation Date, there is
delivered to the Agent in a form satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably): |
|
(i) |
|
a certified copy of the duly executed discharge relating to the discharge of
the Singapore Property from the the Singapore Mortgage by the relevant party
thereto (the “Singapore Mortgage Discharge Document”); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a duly signed letter from a Director/Attorney of each chargee/mortgagee of the
Singapore Mortgage authorising MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd. and/or its legal advisers to
file the relevant statement of satisfaction of charge containing particulars
relating to the Singapore Mortgage Discharge Document with the relevant government
authority; and |
|
(c) |
|
by no later than the date being 28 days from the first Utilisation Date, there is
delivered to the Agent in a form satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably) a
statutory declaration by a duly authorised officer of each Australian Obligor as to the
location and value of Charged Property located or taken for stamp duty purposes to be
located in Australia. |
27. |
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
|
|
|
Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause 27 is an Event of Default
(save for Clause 27.17 (Acceleration)). |
103
27.1 |
|
Non-payment |
|
|
|
An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance
Document at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable
unless: |
|
(a) |
|
its failure to pay is caused by: |
|
(i) |
|
administrative or technical error; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a Disruption Event; and |
|
(b) |
|
payment is made within five Business Days of its due date. |
27.2 |
|
Financial covenants and other obligations |
|
(a) |
|
Any requirement of Clause 25 (Financial covenants) is not satisfied or an Obligor
does not comply with the provisions of Clause 24 (Information Undertakings). |
|
|
(b) |
|
An Obligor does not comply with any material provision of any Transaction Security
Document. |
|
(a) |
|
An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than
those referred to in Clause 27.1 (Non-payment) and Clause 27.2 (Financial covenants and
other obligations)). |
|
|
(b) |
|
No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is
capable of remedy and is remedied within 21 days of the earlier of (i) the Agent giving
notice to the Parent or relevant Obligor and (ii) the Parent or an Obligor becoming
aware of the failure to comply. |
27.4 |
|
Misrepresentation |
|
|
|
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance
Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in
connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading
in any material respect when made or deemed to be made unless the circumstances giving
rise to that misrepresentation are capable of remedy and are remedied within 21 days of
the earlier of the Agent giving notice to the Obligors’ Agent or any relevant Obligor
becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
|
27.5 |
|
Cross default |
|
(a) |
|
Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is not paid when due nor
within any originally applicable grace period. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is declared to be or otherwise
becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of
default (however described). |
|
|
(c) |
|
Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is
cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any member of the Group as a result of an event
of default (however described). |
104
|
(d) |
|
Any creditor of any member of the Group becomes entitled to declare any Financial
Indebtedness of any member of the Group due and payable prior to its specified maturity
as a result of an event of default (however described). |
|
|
(e) |
|
No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 27.5 if the aggregate amount of
Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within
paragraphs (a) to (d) above is less than €5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other
currency or currencies). |
|
(a) |
|
Any Material Company is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall
due, suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason
of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more
of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
|
|
(b) |
|
A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Material Company. If
a moratorium occurs, the ending of the moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default
caused by that moratorium. |
27.7 |
|
Insolvency proceedings |
|
(a) |
|
Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in
relation to: |
|
(i) |
|
the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up,
dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement,
scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any Material Company; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any
Material Company; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver,
administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any
Material Company or any of its assets; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
enforcement of any Security over any assets of any Material Company, |
|
|
|
or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) shall not apply to: |
|
(i) |
|
any winding-up petition which is frivolous or vexatious or which is being
contested in good faith and, in each case, is discharged, stayed or dismissed
within 21 days of commencement; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any step or procedure contemplated by paragraph (b) or (e) of the definition
of Permitted Transaction. |
27.8 |
|
Creditors’ process |
|
|
|
Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution (including by way of
executory attachment (executioriaal beslag) or interlocutory attachment (conservatoir
beslag) or any analogous process in any jurisdiction affects any asset or assets of any
Material Company having an aggregate value of €1,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other
currency or currencies) and is not discharged within 21 days. |
105
27.9 |
|
Unlawfulness and invalidity |
|
(a) |
|
It is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor to perform any of its obligations under the
Finance Documents or any Transaction Security created or expressed to be created or
evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents ceases to be effective or is or becomes
unlawful. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Documents are not
(subject to the Legal Reservations) or cease to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable
and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the
interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Any Finance Document ceases to be in full force and effect or any Transaction
Security ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is alleged by a
party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective. |
27.10 |
|
Cessation of business |
|
|
|
Any Material Company suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to
carry on) all or a material part of its business except as a result of a Permitted
Disposal or a Permitted Transaction. |
|
27.11 |
|
Change of ownership |
|
(a) |
|
After the Signing Date, an Obligor (other than the Parent) ceases to be a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
An Obligor ceases to own at least the same percentage of shares in a Material
Company as on the Signing Date, |
|
|
except, in either case, as a result of a disposal which is a Permitted Disposal or a
Permitted Transaction. |
|
27.12 |
|
Audit qualification |
|
|
|
The Auditors of the Group qualify the audited annual consolidated financial statements
of the Parent on the basis of non disclosure or an inability to prepare accounts on a
going concern basis or otherwise in a manner or to an extent which is materially
prejudicial to the interests of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents. |
|
27.13 |
|
Expropriation |
|
|
|
The authority or ability of any Material Company or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct
its business is limited or wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure,
expropriation, nationalisation, intervention, restriction or other action by or on
behalf of any governmental, regulatory or other authority or other person in relation to
any Material Company or any of its assets or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
assets, which limitation or curtailment (taking into consideration any compensation or
payment received in respect thereof) has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect. |
|
27.14 |
|
Repudiation and rescission of agreements |
|
|
|
An Obligor (or any other relevant party) rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates
or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or any of the Transaction Security or
evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document or any Transaction
Security. |
106
|
(a) |
|
Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other
investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced or threatened in relation to or
against any Material Company or its assets or any of its Subsidiaries or their assets,
which has or if adversely determined is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse
Effect. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Any final judgement or decree is awarded against any Material Company or its assets
or any of its Subsidiaries or their assets or any Material Company or any of its
Subsidiary agrees a settlement in respect of any litigation, arbitration, governmental,
regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or dispute against it or its assets in
an amount in excess of €10,000,000. |
27.16 |
|
Material adverse change |
|
|
|
Any event or circumstance occurs which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect. |
|
27.17 |
|
Acceleration |
|
|
|
On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the
Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Parent: |
|
(a) |
|
cancel the Total Commitments at which time they shall immediately be cancelled; |
|
|
(b) |
|
declare that all or part of the Utilisations, together with accrued interest, and
all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due
and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable; |
|
|
(c) |
|
declare that all or part of the Utilisations be payable on demand, at which time
they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the
Majority Lenders; |
|
|
(d) |
|
declare that cash cover in respect of each Letter of Credit is immediately due and
payable at which time it shall become immediately due and payable; |
|
|
(e) |
|
declare that cash cover in respect of each Letter of Credit is payable on demand at
which time it shall immediately become due and payable on demand by the Agent on the
instructions of the Majority Lenders; |
|
|
(f) |
|
exercise or direct the Security Agent to exercise any or all of its rights,
remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents. |
28. |
|
CHANGES TO THE LENDERS |
|
28.1 |
|
Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
|
|
|
Subject to this Clause 28, a Lender (the “Existing Lender”) may: |
|
(a) |
|
assign any of its rights; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
transfer by novation any of
its rights and obligations, |
|
|
under any Finance Document to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund
or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making,
purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the “New
Lender”). |
107
28.2 |
|
Conditions of assignment or transfer |
|
(a) |
|
Unless the assignment or transfer in accordance with Clause 28.1 (Assignments and
transfers by the Lenders) is: |
|
(i) |
|
to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if the Existing Lender is a fund, to a fund which is a Related Fund of the
Existing Lender; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing, |
|
|
|
an Existing Lender must consult with the Parent for no more than 5 Business Days
before it may make an assignment or transfer and such assignment or transfer may
only be to a New Lender which: |
|
(iv) |
|
has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt
obligations of A- or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch Ratings
Ltd or A3 or higher by Xxxxx’x Investor Services Limited or a comparable rating
from an internationally recognised credit rating agency; and |
|
|
(v) |
|
is not any person that is (or is an Affiliate or person that is) a competitor
of the XxXxxxxx Group in its core activities and which is named on a list of
Competitors (if any) agreed from time to time between the Agent and the Company (or
each acting reasonable). |
|
(b) |
|
The consent of the Issuing Bank is required for any assignment or transfer by an
Existing Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under the Revolving Facility. |
|
|
(c) |
|
An assignment will only be effective on: |
|
(i) |
|
receipt by the Agent (whether in the Assignment Agreement or otherwise) of
written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance
Parties and the other Secured Parties as it would have been under if it was an
Original Lender; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the New Lender entering into the documentation required for it to accede as a
party to the Security Trust Agreement; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the performance by the Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other
similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such
assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify
to the Existing Lender and the New Lender. |
|
(d) |
|
A transfer will only be effective if the New Lender enters into the documentation
required for it to accede as a party to the Security Trust Agreement and if the
procedure set out in Clause 28.6 (Procedure for transfer) is complied with. |
|
|
(e) |
|
If: |
|
(i) |
|
a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the
Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or
change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New |
108
|
|
|
Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 17 (Tax
Gross Up and Indemnities) or Clause 18 (Increased Costs), |
|
|
|
then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only
entitled to receive payment under that Clause to the same extent as the Existing
Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the
assignment, transfer or change had not occurred. |
|
|
(f) |
|
Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate or Assignment
Agreement, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Agent has authority to execute
on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the
requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on
which the transfer or assignment becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement and
that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have
been had it remained a Lender. |
|
|
(g) |
|
In order to comply with the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel
toezicht) and/or the decrees and regulations prologated thereunder (as amended from time
to time), the amount transferred under this Clause 28.2 shall include an outstanding
portion of at least €50,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) per Lender or such
other amount as may be required from time to time by the Dutch Financial Supervision Act
and decrees or regulations prologated threunder (as amended or restated from time to
time) or if less, the New Lender shall confirm in writing to the Borrowers that it is a
professional market party within the meaning of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act. |
28.3 |
|
Assignment or transfer fee |
|
|
|
Unless the Agent otherwise agrees and excluding an assignment or transfer (i) to an
Affiliate of a Lender, (ii) to a Related Fund or (iii) made in connection with primary
syndication of the Facility, the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment
or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of €2,000. |
|
28.4 |
|
Preservation of Security |
|
|
|
The benefit of the Transaction Security and of the Transaction Security Documents shall
automatically transfer to any transferee of part or all of the obligations expressed to
be secured by the Transaction Security. Insofar as necessary, the Security Agent, the
other Finance Parties and the Obligors hereby expressly reserve for the purpose of
Article 1278 and Article 1281 of the Belgian Civil Code (and, to the extent applicable,
any similar provisions of foreign law) the preservation of the Transaction Security and
of the Transaction Security Documents in case of assignment, novation, amendment or any
other transfer or change of the obligations expressed to be secured by the Transaction
Security (including, without limitation, an extension of the term or an increase of the
amount of such obligations or the granting of additional credit) or of any change of any
of the parties to this Agreement or any other Finance Document. |
|
28.5 |
|
Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
|
(a) |
|
Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation
or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
|
(i) |
|
the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the
Finance Documents, the Transaction Security or any other documents; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the financial condition of any Obligor; |
109
|
(iii) |
|
the performance and observance by any Obligor or any other member of the
Group of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in
connection with any Finance Document or any other document, |
|
|
|
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender, the other Finance Parties and the
Secured Parties that it: |
|
(i) |
|
has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and
assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related
entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied
exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender or any other
Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;
and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of
each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding
under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
|
(c) |
|
Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
|
(i) |
|
accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights
and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 28; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason
of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance
Documents or otherwise. |
28.6 |
|
Procedure for transfer |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (Conditions of assignment or
transfer) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Agent
executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the
Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as
soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer
Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and
delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer
Certificate. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by
the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all
necessary “know your customer” or similar checks under all applicable laws and
regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Subject to Clause 28.11 (Pro rata interest settlement), on the Transfer Date: |
|
(i) |
|
to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to
transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in
respect of the Transaction Security each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender
shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance
Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights
against one another under the Finance Documents and |
110
|
|
|
in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (being the
“Discharged Rights and Obligations”); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one
another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged
Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor or other member of the Group
and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor
and the Existing Lender; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, the New Lender, the other
Lenders and the Issuing Bank shall acquire the same rights and assume the same
obligations between themselves and in respect of the Transaction Security as they
would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the
rights, and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer
and to that extent the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent and the Issuing Bank
and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each
other under the Finance Documents; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”. |
28.7 |
|
Procedure for assignment |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (Conditions of assignment or
transfer) an assignment may be effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the
Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the
Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as
soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment
Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall only be obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it
by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all
necessary “know your customer” or similar checks under all applicable laws and
regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Subject to Clause 28.11 (Pro rata interest settlement), on the Transfer Date: |
|
(i) |
|
the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender its rights under
the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security expressed to be
the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Existing Lender will be released from the obligations (the “Relevant
Obligations”) expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment
Agreement (and any corresponding obligations by which it is bound in respect of the
Transaction Security); and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender” and will be bound by
obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations. |
|
(d) |
|
Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this Clause 28.7 to
assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the
relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with Clause 28.6 (Procedure for transfer), to
obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the
Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they |
111
|
|
|
comply with the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (Conditions of assignment or
transfer). |
28.8 |
|
Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Parent |
|
|
|
The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer
Certificate, an Assignment Agreement or an Increase Confirmation, send to the Parent a
copy of that Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation. |
|
28.9 |
|
Accession of Hedge Counterparties and MOF Lenders |
|
|
|
Any person which becomes a party to the Security Trust Agreement as a Hedge Counterparty
or MOF Lender shall, at the same time, become a Party to this Agreement as a Hedge
Counterparty and MOF Lender in accordance with Clause 13.5 (Creditor/Agent Accession
Undertaking) of the Security Trust Agreement. |
|
28.10 |
|
Security over Lenders’ rights |
|
|
|
In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 28, each Lender
may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge,
assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or
otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of
that Lender including, without limitation: |
|
(a) |
|
any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve
or central bank; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security
granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed,
or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities, |
|
|
except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall: |
|
(i) |
|
release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or
substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Security for
the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
require any payments to be made by an Obligor or grant to any person any more
extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender
under the Finance Documents. |
28.11 |
|
Pro rata interest settlement |
|
|
|
If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on
a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer
pursuant to Clause 28.6 (Procedure for transfer) or any assignment pursuant to Clause
28.7 (Procedure for assignment) the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the
date of such notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period): |
|
(a) |
|
any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to
accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the
Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date (“Accrued Amounts”) and shall
become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on
them) on the last day of the current Interest Period (or, if the Interest Period is
longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six Monthly intervals
after the first day of that Interest Period); and |
112
|
(b) |
|
the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right
to the Accrued Amounts so that, for the avoidance of doubt: |
|
(i) |
|
when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable
for the account of the Existing Lender; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which
would, but for the application of this Clause 28.11, have been payable to it on
that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts. |
29. |
|
CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS |
|
29.1 |
|
Assignment and transfers by Obligors |
|
|
|
No Obligor or any other member of the Group may assign any of its rights or transfer any
of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents. |
|
29.2 |
|
Additional Borrowers |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Clause 24.10
(“Know your customer” checks), the Parent may request that any of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries which is not a Dormant Subsidiary becomes a Borrower. That Subsidiary shall
become a Borrower if: |
|
(i) |
|
it is incorporated in the same jurisdiction as an existing Borrower or in a
European Union country and the Majority Lenders approve (acting reasonably) the
addition of that Subsidiary or otherwise if all the Lenders approve (acting
reasonably) the addition of that Subsidiary; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Parent and that Subsidiary deliver to the Agent a duly completed and
executed Accession Deed; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Subsidiary is (or becomes) a Guarantor prior to becoming a Borrower; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the Parent confirms that no Default is continuing or would occur as a result
of that Subsidiary becoming an Additional Borrower; and |
|
|
(v) |
|
the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part
II of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) in relation to that Additional Borrower,
each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. |
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall notify the Parent and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that
it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other
evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent). |
29.3 |
|
Resignation of a Borrower |
|
(a) |
|
In this Clause 29.3 (Resignation of a Borrower), Clause 29.5 (Resignation of a
Guarantor) and Clause 29.7 (Resignation and release of Security on disposal), “Third
Party Disposal” means the disposal of an Obligor to a person which is not a member of
the Group where that disposal is permitted under Clause 26.13 (Disposals) or made with
the approval of the Majority Lenders (and the Parent has confirmed this is the case). |
|
|
(b) |
|
If a Borrower is the subject of a Third Party Disposal, the Parent may request that
such Borrower (other than the Parent or the Company) ceases to be a Borrower by
delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter. |
113
|
(c) |
|
The Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Parent and the other
Finance Parties of its acceptance if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Parent has confirmed that no Default is continuing or would result from the
acceptance of the Resignation Letter; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Borrower is under no actual or contingent obligations as a Borrower under
any Finance Documents; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
where the Borrower is also a Guarantor (unless its resignation has been
accepted in accordance with Clause 29.5 (Resignation of a Guarantor)), its
obligations in its capacity as Guarantor continue to be legal, valid, binding and
enforceable and in full force and effect (subject to the Legal Reservations) and
the amount guaranteed by it as a Guarantor is not decreased (and the Parent has
confirmed this is the case); and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the Parent has confirmed that it shall ensure that any relevant Disposal
Proceeds will be applied in accordance with Clause 11.2 (Disposal and Insurance
Proceeds). |
|
(d) |
|
Upon notification by the Agent to the Parent of its acceptance of the resignation of
a Borrower, that company shall cease to be a Borrower and shall have no further rights
or obligations under the Finance Documents as a Borrower except that the resignation
shall not take effect (and the Borrower will continue to have rights and obligations
under the Finance Documents) until the date on which the Third Party Disposal takes
effect. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The Agent may, at the cost and expense of the Parent, require a legal opinion from
counsel to the Agent confirming the matters set out in paragraph (c)(iii) above and the
Agent shall be under no obligation to accept a Resignation Letter until it has obtained
such opinion in form and substance satisfactory to it. |
29.4 |
|
Additional Guarantors |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Clause 24.10
(“Know your customer” checks), the Parent may request that any of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries become a Guarantor. |
|
|
(b) |
|
A member of the Group shall become an Additional Guarantor if (subject to the Agreed
Security Principles): |
|
(i) |
|
the Parent and the proposed Additional Guarantor deliver to the Agent a duly
completed and executed Accession Deed; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
other than in respect of an Acceding Obligor, the Agent has received all of
the documents and other evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 (Conditions
Precedent) in relation to that Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent. |
|
(c) |
|
The Agent shall notify the Parent and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that
it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other
evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent). |
114
29.5 |
|
Resignation of a Guarantor |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent may request that a Guarantor (other than the Parent or the Company)
ceases to be a Guarantor by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter if: |
|
(i) |
|
that Guarantor is being disposed of by way of a Third Party Disposal (as
defined in Clause 29.3 (Resignation of a Borrower)) and the Parent has
confirmed this is the case; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
all the Lenders have consented to the resignation of that Guarantor. |
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Parent and the
Lenders of its acceptance if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Parent has confirmed that no Default is continuing or would result
from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
no payment is due from the Guarantor under Clause 22.1 (Guarantee and
indemnity); |
|
|
(iii) |
|
where the Guarantor is also a Borrower, it is under no actual or
contingent obligations as a Borrower and has resigned and ceased to be a
Borrower under Clause 29.3 (Resignation of a Borrower); and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the Parent has confirmed that it shall ensure that the Disposal Proceeds
will be applied in accordance with Clause 11.2 (Disposal and Insurance
Proceeds). |
|
(c) |
|
The resignation of that Guarantor shall not be effective until the date of the
relevant Third Party Disposal at which time that company shall cease to be a
Guarantor and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance
Documents as a Guarantor. |
29.6 |
|
Repetition of Representations |
|
|
Delivery of an Accession Deed constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary
that the representations and warranties referred to in paragraph (c) of Clause 23.29
(Times when representations made) are true and correct in relation to it as at the
date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then
existing. |
29.7 |
|
Resignation and release of security on disposal |
|
|
|
If a Borrower or Guarantor is or is proposed to be the subject of a Third Party Disposal
then: |
|
(a) |
|
where that Borrower or Guarantor created Transaction Security over any of its
assets or business in favour of the Security Agent, or Transaction Security in
favour of the Security Agent was created over the shares (or equivalent) of that
Borrower or Guarantor, the Security Agent may, at the cost and request of the
Parent, release those assets, business or shares (or equivalent) and issue
certificates of non-crystallisation; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the resignation of that Borrower or Guarantor and related release of Transaction
Security referred to in paragraph (a) above shall not become effective until the
date of that disposal; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
if the disposal of that Borrower or Guarantor is not made, the Resignation
Letter of that Borrower or Guarantor and the related release of Transaction Security
referred to in paragraph (a) above shall have no effect and the obligations of the
Borrower or |
115
|
|
|
Guarantor and the Transaction Security created or intended to be created by or
over that Borrower or Guarantor shall continue in such force and effect as if
that release had not been effected. |
30. |
|
ROLE OF THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER, THE ISSUING BANK AND OTHERS |
30.1 |
|
Appointment of the Agent |
|
(a) |
|
Each of the Arranger, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank appoints the Agent to act
as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Each of the Arranger, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank authorises the Agent to
exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the
Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other
incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (b) below, the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the
original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by
any other Party. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Without prejudice to Clause 28.8 (Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment
Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Parent) and paragraph (e) of Clause 7.4 (Cash
Collateral by Non-Acceptable L/C Lender), paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any
Transfer Certificate, any Assignment Agreement or any Increase Confirmation. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is
not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any
document it forwards to another Party. |
|
|
(d) |
|
If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement,
describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it
shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
|
|
(e) |
|
If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment
fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent, the Arranger or
the Security Agent) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance
Parties. |
|
|
(f) |
|
The Agent shall provide to the Parent, within ten Business Days of a request by
the Parent (but no more frequently than once per calendar month), a list (which may
be in electronic
form) setting out the names of the Lenders as at the date of that request, their
respective Commitments, the address and fax number (and the department or officer,
if any, for whose attention any communication is to be made) of each Lender for any
communication to be made or document to be delivered under or in connection with the
Finance Documents, the electronic mail address and/or any other information required
to enable the sending and receipt of information by electronic mail or other
electronic means to and by each Lender to whom any communication under or in
connection with the Finance Documents may be made by that means and the account
details of each Lender for any payment to be distributed by the Agent to that Lender
under the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(g) |
|
The Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and
administrative in nature. |
116
30.3 |
|
Role of the Arranger |
|
|
|
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arranger has no
obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance
Document. |
|
(a) |
|
Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent, the Arranger and/or the Issuing
Bank as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
|
|
(b) |
|
None of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger or the Issuing Bank shall be
bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received
by it for its own account. |
30.5 |
|
Business with the Group |
|
|
|
The Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger and the Issuing Bank may accept deposits
from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business
with any member of the Group. |
30.6 |
|
Rights and discretions |
|
(a) |
|
The Agent and the Issuing Bank may rely on: |
|
(i) |
|
any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine,
correct and appropriately authorised; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any
person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his
knowledge or within his power to verify. |
|
(b) |
|
The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its
capacity as agent for the Lenders) that: |
|
(i) |
|
no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default
arising under Clause 27.1 (Non-payment)); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the
Majority Lenders has not been exercised; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any notice or request made by the Parent (other than a Utilisation
Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and
knowledge of all the Obligors. |
|
(c) |
|
The Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers,
accountants, surveyors or other experts. |
|
|
(d) |
|
The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and
agents. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes
it has received as agent under this Agreement. |
|
|
(f) |
|
Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (e) above, the Agent may
disclose the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the
Parent and shall disclose the same upon the written request of the Parent or the
Majority Lenders.
|
117
|
(g) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary,
none of the Agent, the Arranger or the Issuing Bank is obliged to do or omit to do
anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any
law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. |
|
|
(h) |
|
The Agent is not obliged to disclose to any Finance Party any details of the
rate notified to the Agent by any Lender or the identity of any such Lender for the
purpose of paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 15.2 (Market Disruption). |
30.7 |
|
Majority Lenders’ instructions |
|
(a) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent shall (i)
exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in
accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so
instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power,
authority or discretion vested in it as Agent) and (ii) not be liable for any act
(or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an
instruction of the Majority Lenders. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions
given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties other than
the Security Agent. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the
Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) until it has received such
security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any
associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions. |
|
|
(d) |
|
In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders, (or, if appropriate,
the Lenders) the Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be
in the best interest of the Lenders. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first
obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to
any Finance Document. This paragraph (e) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration
proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under
the Transaction Security Documents or enforcement of the Transaction Security or
Transaction Security Documents. |
30.8 |
|
Responsibility for documentation |
|
|
|
None of the Agent, the Arranger or the Issuing Bank: |
|
(a) |
|
is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information
(whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Arranger, the Issuing Bank, an
Obligor or
any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the
Information Memorandum or the Reports or the transactions contemplated in the
Finance Documents; |
|
|
(b) |
|
is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or
enforceability of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security or any other
agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of
or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
is responsible for any determination as to whether any information provided or
to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may
be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider
dealing or otherwise. |
118
30.9 |
|
Exclusion of liability |
|
(a) |
|
Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to the provisions of
paragraph (e) of Clause 33.11 (Disruption to Payment Systems etc.)), none of the
Agent, the Issuing Bank will be liable including, without limitation, for
negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever for any action taken
by it under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction
Security, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
|
|
(b) |
|
No Party (other than the Agent or the Issuing Bank (as applicable)) may take any
proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or the Issuing Bank
in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or the Issuing Bank or in
respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in
relation to any Finance Document or any Finance Document and any officer, employee
or agent of the Agent or the Issuing Bank may rely on this Clause subject to Clause
1.8 (Third party rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in
crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid
by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably
practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised
clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out
any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any
Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely
responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely
on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger. |
30.10 |
|
Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent |
|
|
|
Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the
Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately
prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of
demand, against any cost, loss or liability including, without limitation, for
negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever incurred by the Agent
(otherwise than by reason of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct or,
in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 33.11 (Disruption to
Payment Systems etc.), notwithstanding the Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or
any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the
fraud of the Agent in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents), unless the Agent
has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document. |
30.11 |
|
Resignation of the Agent |
|
(a) |
|
The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office
in the United Kingdom as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Parent. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving 30 days notice to the Lenders and
the Parent, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Parent)
may appoint a successor Agent. |
|
|
(c) |
|
If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with
paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the
retiring Agent (after consultation with the Parent) may appoint a successor Agent
(acting through an office in the United Kingdom). |
119
|
(d) |
|
If the Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that
it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent and the Agent is entitled to
appoint a successor Agent under paragraph (c) above, the Agent may (if it concludes
(acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed
successor Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Agent) agree with the
proposed successor Agent amendments to this Clause 30 and any other term of this
Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the Agent consistent with then
current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees
together with any reasonable amendments to the agency fee payable under this
Agreement which are consistent with the normal range of fee rates of UK and European
clearing banks in relation to borrower and facilities of a similar size and nature
and those amendments will bind the Parties. |
|
|
(e) |
|
The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent
such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may
reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the
Finance Documents. |
|
|
(f) |
|
The Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a
successor. |
|
|
(g) |
|
Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from
any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled
to the benefit of this Clause 30. Any successor and each of the other Parties shall
have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if
such successor had been an original Party. |
30.12 |
|
Replacement of the Agent |
|
(a) |
|
After consultation with the Parent, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days’
notice to the Agent (or, at any time the Agent is an Impaired Agent, by giving any
shorter notice determined by the Majority Lenders) replace the Agent by appointing a
successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom). |
|
|
(b) |
|
The retiring Agent shall (at its own cost if it is an Impaired Agent and
otherwise at the expense of the Lenders) make available to the successor Agent such
documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may
reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the
Finance Documents. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The appointment of the successor Agent shall take effect on the date specified
in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Agent. As from this date,
the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the
Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 30 (and
any agency fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from
(and shall be payable on) that date). |
|
|
(d) |
|
Any successor Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and
obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an
original Party. |
|
(a) |
|
In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as
acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from
any other of its divisions or departments. |
120
|
(b) |
|
If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it
may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall
not be deemed to have notice of it. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary,
neither the Agent nor the Arranger is obliged to disclose to any other person (i)
any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would
or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or a breach of a
fiduciary duty. |
30.14 |
|
Relationship with the Lenders |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to Clause 28.11 (Pro rata interest settlement), the Agent may treat the
person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of
the Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time)
as the Lender acting through its Facility Office: |
|
(i) |
|
entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on
that day; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or
communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document
made or delivered on that day, |
|
|
|
unless it has received not less than five Business Days’ prior notice from
that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information required by the Agent in
order to calculate the Mandatory Cost in accordance with Schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost
Formula). |
|
|
(c) |
|
Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information that the Security Agent
may reasonably specify (through the Agent) as being necessary or desirable to enable
the Security Agent to perform its functions as Security Agent. Each Lender shall
deal with the Security Agent exclusively through the Agent and shall not deal
directly with the Security Agent. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf
all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to
that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax
number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is
permitted under Clause 35.6 (Electronic communication)) electronic mail address
and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of
information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for
whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a
substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address, department and officer by
that Lender for the purposes of Clause 35.2 (Addresses)
and paragraph (a)(iii) of Clause 35.6 (Electronic communication) and the Agent shall
be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices,
communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender. |
30.15 |
|
Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Issuing Bank |
|
|
|
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it
or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender and Issuing
Bank confirms to the Agent, the Arranger and the Issuing Bank that it has been, and
will continue to be, solely |
121
|
|
responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks
arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited
to: |
|
(a) |
|
the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance
Document and the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or
document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection
with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; |
|
|
(c) |
|
whether that Secured Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that
recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection
with any Finance Document, the Transaction Security, the transactions contemplated
by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered
into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance
Document; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the Information Memorandum, the
Reports and any other information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other
person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions
contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or
document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection
with any Finance Document; and |
|
|
(e) |
|
the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any
part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the
existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property. |
30.16 |
|
Base Reference Banks |
|
|
|
If a Base Reference Bank (or, if a Base Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender
of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation
with the Parent) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that
Base Reference Bank. |
30.17 |
|
Agent’s management time |
|
|
|
Any amount payable to the Agent under Clause 19.3 (Indemnity to the Agent), Clause
21 (Costs and expenses) and Clause 30.10 (Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent) shall
include the cost of utilising the Agent’s management time or other resources and
will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the
Agent may notify to the Parent and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid
or payable to the Agent under Clause 16 (Fees). |
|
30.18 |
|
Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
|
|
|
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may,
after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from
any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under
the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of
the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be
regarded as having received any amount so deducted. |
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31. |
|
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES |
|
|
|
No provision of this Agreement will: |
|
(a) |
|
interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or
otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
|
|
(b) |
|
oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission
or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs
(tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
32. |
|
SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES |
|
32.1 |
|
Payments to Finance Parties |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (b) below, if a Finance Party (a “Recovering Finance
Party”) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance
with Clause 33 (Payment mechanics) (a “Recovered Amount”) and applies that amount to
a payment due under the Finance Documents then: |
|
(i) |
|
the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify
details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of
the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt
or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance
with Clause 33 (Payment mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which
would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or
distribution; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand
by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the “Sharing Payment”) equal to such
receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained
by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in
accordance with Clause 33.6 (Partial payments). |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any amount received or recovered by an
Issuing Bank in respect of any cash cover provided for the benefit of that Issuing
Bank. |
32.2 |
|
Redistribution of payments |
|
|
|
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant
Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering
Finance Party) (the “Sharing Finance Parties”) in accordance with Clause 33.6
(Partial payments) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance
Parties. |
|
32.3 |
|
Recovering Finance Party’s rights |
|
|
|
On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 32.2 (Redistribution of payments) of a
payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the
relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount
equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that
Obligor. |
123
32.4 |
|
Reversal of redistribution |
|
|
|
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance
Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then: |
|
(a) |
|
each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent
for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate
part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to
reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the
Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the
“Redistributed Amount”); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an
amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been
paid by that Obligor. |
|
(a) |
|
This Clause 32 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party
would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause 32, have a valid and
enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor. |
|
|
(b) |
|
A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party
any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result
of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if: |
|
(i) |
|
it notified the other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal
or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable
having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration
proceedings. |
33. |
|
PAYMENT MECHANICS |
|
33.1 |
|
Payments to the Agent |
|
(a) |
|
On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under
a Finance Document that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent
(unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due
date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the
time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of
payment. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the
country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in a principal financial centre
in a Participating Member State or London) with such bank as the Agent specifies. |
33.2 |
|
Distributions by the Agent |
|
|
|
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party
shall, subject to Clause 33.3 (Distributions to an Obligor) and Clause 33.4
(Clawback) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to
the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case
of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party
may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice with a bank in
the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to
euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London). |
124
33.3 |
|
Distributions to an Obligor |
|
|
|
The Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with Clause 34
(Set-Off)) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment
(on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that
Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any
currency to be so applied. |
|
(a) |
|
Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another
Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter
into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish
to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum. |
|
|
(b) |
|
If the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that
the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount
(or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on
demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the
date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to
reflect its cost of funds. |
|
(a) |
|
If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender
which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in
accordance with Clause 33.1 (Payments to the Agent) may instead either pay that
amount direct to the required recipient or pay that amount to an interest-bearing
account held with an Acceptable Bank within the meaning of paragraph (a) of the
definition of “Acceptable Bank” and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has
occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the
payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties
beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such
payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(b) |
|
All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account
shall be for the benefit of the beneficiaries of that trust account pro rata to
their respective entitlements. |
|
|
(c) |
|
A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 33.5 shall be
discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall
not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the
trust account. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Agent in accordance with Clause
30.12 (Replacement of the Agent), each Party which has made a payment to a trust
account in accordance with this Clause 33.5 shall give all requisite instructions to
the bank with whom
the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued
interest) to the successor Agent for distribution in accordance with Clause 33.2
(Distributions by the Agent). |
|
(a) |
|
If the Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due in respect
of any Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due
and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that |
125
|
|
|
payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents
in the following order: |
|
(i) |
|
first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and
expenses of the Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Security Agent under those
Finance Documents; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or
commission due but unpaid under those Finance Documents; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid
under those Finance Documents and any amount due but unpaid under Clause 7.2
(Claims under a Letter of Credit) and Clause 7.3 (Indemnities); and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid
under the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out
in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (iv) above. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor. |
33.7 |
|
Set-off by Obligors |
|
|
|
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be
calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or
counterclaim. |
|
33.8 |
|
Business Days |
|
(a) |
|
Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be
made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the
preceding Business Day (if there is not). |
|
|
(b) |
|
During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum
under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate
payable on the original due date. |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, the Base Currency is the currency of
account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document. |
|
|
(b) |
|
A repayment of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Utilisation or Unpaid
Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Utilisation or Unpaid Sum is
denominated on its due date. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in
respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the
currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred. |
|
|
(e) |
|
Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than the Base Currency
shall be paid in that other currency. |
126
|
(a) |
|
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit
are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful
currency of that country, then: |
|
(i) |
|
any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising
under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be
translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country
designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Parent); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at
the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the
conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or
down by the Agent (acting reasonably). |
|
(b) |
|
If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the
extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Parent)
specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted
conventions and market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market and otherwise to
reflect the change in currency. |
33.11 |
|
Disruption to Payment Systems etc. |
|
|
|
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has
occurred or the Agent is notified by the Parent that a Disruption Event has
occurred: |
|
(a) |
|
the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Parent, consult with the
Parent with a view to agreeing with the Parent such changes to the operation or
administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Parent in relation to any
changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable
to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree
to such changes; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes
mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its
opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Parent shall (whether or not
it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the
Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the
Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 39 (Amendments and
Waivers); |
|
|
(e) |
|
the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever
(including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other
category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of
the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions
pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 33.11; and |
|
|
(f) |
|
the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to
paragraph (d) above. |
34. |
|
SET-OFF |
|
|
|
Following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing a Finance Party
may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents
(to the extent |
127
|
|
beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by
that Finance Party to that Obligor, 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. |
35. |
|
NOTICES |
|
35.1 |
|
Communications in writing |
|
|
|
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall
be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter. |
|
35.2 |
|
Addresses |
|
|
|
The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose
attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or
document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents
is in the case of any Party which is party to this Agreement on the Signing Date,
that identified with its name below or in the case of each person becoming a Party
after the Signing Date, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the
date on which it becomes a Party and any substitute address, fax number or
department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify
to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five
Business Days’ notice. |
|
35.3 |
|
Delivery |
|
(a) |
|
Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under
or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective: |
|
(i) |
|
if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or
[five] Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an
envelope addressed to it at that address, |
|
|
|
and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address
details provided under Clause 35.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that
department or officer. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent or the
Security Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent or
Security Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the
department or officer identified with the Agent’s or Security Agent’s signature
below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent or Security Agent shall
specify for this purpose). |
|
|
(c) |
|
All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Any communication or document made or delivered to the Parent in accordance with
this Clause 35.3 will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the
Obligors. |
35.4 |
|
Notification of address and fax number |
|
|
|
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address or fax number or change of
address or fax number pursuant to Clause 35.2 (Addresses) or changing its own
address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties. |
128
35.5 |
|
Communication when Agent is Impaired Agent |
|
|
|
If the Agent is an Impaired Agent the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other
through the Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Agent is an Impaired
Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made
or notices to be given to or by the Agent shall be varied so that communications may be
made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not
operate after a replacement Agent has been appointed. |
|
35.6 |
|
Electronic communication |
|
(a) |
|
Any communication to be made between the Agent or the Security Agent and a Lender or
the Agent, the Security Agent and the Obligors’ Agent, under or in connection with the
Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the relevant
Parties: |
|
(i) |
|
agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted
form of communication; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other
information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means;
and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information
supplied by them. |
|
|
|
Any such communication from the Obligor’s Agent to the Agent or the Security Agent
under the Finance Documents will only be treated as being received on receipt by the
Obligor’s Agent of an e-mail from the Agent or the Security Agent (as applicable)
confirming receipt of such email from the Obligor’s Agent. |
|
(b) |
|
Any electronic communication made between the Parties noted above will be effective
only when actually received in readable form and in the case of any electronic
communication made by a Lender to the Agent or the Security Agent only if it is addressed
in such a manner as the Agent or Security Agent shall specify for this purpose. |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information
in relation to those Lenders (the “Website Lenders”) who accept this method of
communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the
Parent and the Agent (the “Designated Website”) if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it
will accept communication of the information by this method; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
both the Parent and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant
password specifications for the Designated Website; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the information is in a format previously agreed between the Parent and the
Agent. |
|
|
|
If any Lender (a “Paper Form Lender”) does not agree to the delivery of information
electronically then the Agent shall notify the Parent accordingly and the Parent
shall at its own cost supply the information to the Agent (in sufficient copies for
each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any event the Parent shall at its own cost
supply the
|
129
|
|
|
Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided
by it. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant
password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by
the Parent and the Agent. |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Parent shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the password specifications for the Designated Website change; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is
posted onto the Designated Website; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted
onto the Designated Website is amended; or |
|
|
(v) |
|
the Parent becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted
onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or
similar software. |
|
|
|
If the Parent notifies the Agent under paragraph (c)(i) or paragraph (c)(v) above,
all information to be provided by the Parent under this Agreement after the date of
that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each
Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification
are no longer continuing. |
|
(d) |
|
Any Website Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information
required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website.
The Parent shall at its own cost comply with any such request within ten Business Days. |
|
(a) |
|
Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English. |
|
(b) |
|
All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be: |
|
(i) |
|
in English; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified
English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless
the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document. |
36. |
|
CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES |
|
36.1 |
|
Accounts |
|
|
|
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance
Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie
evidence of the matters to which they relate. |
130
36.2 |
|
Certificates and determinations |
|
|
|
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance
Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which
it relates. |
|
36.3 |
|
Day count convention |
|
|
|
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to
day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360
days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Interbank Market differs, in
accordance with that market practice. |
|
37. |
|
PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
|
|
|
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or
unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality,
validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or
enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be
affected or impaired. |
|
38. |
|
REMEDIES AND WAIVERS |
|
|
|
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party or
Secured Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or
other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies
provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law. |
|
39. |
|
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
|
39.1 |
|
Required consents |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to Clause 39.2 (Exceptions) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or
waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Parent and any such amendment
or waiver will be binding on all Parties. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted
by this Clause 39. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Each Obligor agrees to any such amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 39 which
is agreed to by the Parent. This includes any amendment or waiver which would, but for
this paragraph (c), require the consent of all of the Guarantors. |
|
(a) |
|
An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
|
(i) |
|
the definition of “Majority Lenders” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents
(other than in relation to Clause 11 (Mandatory Prepayment)); |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of
principal, interest, fees or commission payable; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
a change in currency of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents; |
131
|
(v) |
|
an increase in or an extension of any Commitment or the Total Commitments; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
a change to the Borrowers or Guarantors other than in accordance with Clause 29
(Changes to the Obligors); |
|
|
(vii) |
|
any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
Clause 2.3 (Finance Parties’ rights and obligations), Clause 28 (Changes to
the Lenders) or this Clause 39; |
|
|
(ix) |
|
(other than as expressly permitted by the provisions of any Finance Document)
the nature or scope of: |
|
(A) |
|
the guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 22 (Guarantee and
Indemnity); |
|
|
(B) |
|
the Charged Property; or |
|
|
(C) |
|
the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Transaction Security
are distributed, |
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|
(except in the case of paragraph (B) and paragraph (C) above, insofar as it
relates to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the
Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under
this Agreement or any other Finance Document); |
|
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(x) |
|
the release of any guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 22 (Guarantee and
Indemnity) or of any Transaction Security unless permitted under this Agreement or
any other Finance Document or relating to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the
subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly
permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document, |
|
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|
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders. |
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(b) |
|
An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the
Arranger, the Issuing Bank, the Security Agent or any Hedge Counterparty or any MOF Lender
(each in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the
Arranger, the Issuing Bank, the Security Agent, that Hedge Counterparty and that MOF
Lender. |
|
|
(c) |
|
If any Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in
relation to any of the terms of any Finance Document or other vote of Lenders under the
terms of this Agreement within 15 Business Days (unless the Parent and the Agent agree to a
longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made, its Commitment
and/or participation shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total
Commitments or participations under the relevant Facility/ies when ascertaining whether any
relevant percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of Total Commitments
and/or participations has been obtained to approve that request. |
39.3 |
|
Replacement of Lender |
|
(i) |
|
any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender (as defined in paragraph (c) below);
or |
132
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(ii) |
|
an Obligor becomes obliged to repay any amount in accordance with Clause 10.1
(Illegality) or to pay additional amounts pursuant to Clause 18.1 (Increased Costs)
or Clause 17.2 (Tax gross-up) to any Lender in excess of amounts payable to the other
Lenders generally, |
|
|
|
then the Parent may, on 14 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such
Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall)
transfer pursuant to Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of
its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial
institution, trust, fund or other entity (a “Replacement Lender”) selected by the
Parent, and which is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) and (in the case of
any transfer of a Revolving Facility Commitment), the Issuing Bank, which confirms
its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring
Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participations on the
same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the
time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s
participation in the outstanding Utilisations and all accrued interest and/or Letter
of Credit fees, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the
Finance Documents. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The replacement of a Lender pursuant to this Clause shall be subject to the following
conditions: |
|
(i) |
|
the Parent shall have no right to replace the Agent or Security Agent; |
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|
(ii) |
|
neither the Agent nor the Lender shall have any obligation to the Parent to find
a Replacement Lender; |
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(iii) |
|
in the event of a replacement of a Non-Consenting Lender such replacement must
take place no later than 45 days after the date the Non-Consenting Lender notifies
the Parent and the Agent of its failure or refusal to give a consent in relation to,
or agree to any waiver or amendment to the Finance Documents requested by the Parent;
and |
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(iv) |
|
in no event shall the Lender replaced under this paragraph (b) be required to
pay or surrender to such Replacement Lender any of the fees received by such Lender
pursuant to the Finance Documents. |
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(i) |
|
the Parent or the Agent (at the request of the Parent) has requested the Lenders
to give a consent in relation to, or to agree to a waiver or amendment of, any
provisions of the Finance Documents; |
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|
(ii) |
|
the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of all the
Lenders; and |
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|
(iii) |
|
the Majority Lenders have consented or agreed to such waiver or amendment, |
|
|
then any Lender who does not and continues not to consent or agree to such waiver or
amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender”. |
|
39.4 |
|
Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders |
|
(a) |
|
For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining the
Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt,
unanimity) of the Total Commitments or Total Revolving Commitments has been obtained to
approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote |
133
|
|
|
under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lender’s Commitments will be reduced by
the amount of its Available Commitments. |
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|
(b) |
|
For the purposes of this Clause 39.4, the Agent may assume that the following Lenders
are Defaulting Lenders: |
|
(i) |
|
any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or
circumstances referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of
“Defaulting Lender” has occurred, |
|
|
unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any
supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that
the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender. |
|
39.5 |
|
Replacement of a Defaulting Lender |
|
(a) |
|
The Parent may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting
Lender, by giving five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender: |
|
(i) |
|
replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer
pursuant to Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights
and obligations under this Agreement; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 28
(Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Revolving Commitment
of the Lender; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 28
(Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations in
respect of the Revolving Facility, |
|
|
|
to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (a
“Replacement Lender”) selected by the Parent, and which (unless the Agent is an
Impaired Agent) is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) and (in the case of
any transfer of a Revolving Facility Commitment) to the Issuing Bank, which confirms
its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant
obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring
Lender’s participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same
basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of
transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in
the outstanding Utilisations and all accrued interest and/or Letter of Credit fees,
Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance
Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause
39 shall be subject to the following conditions: |
|
(i) |
|
the Parent shall have no right to replace the Agent or Security Agent; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the
Parent to find a Replacement Lender; |
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|
(iii) |
|
the transfer must take place no later than 90 days after the notice referred to
in paragraph (a) above; and |
134
|
(iv) |
|
in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the
Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the
Finance Documents. |
40. |
|
CONFIDENTIALITY |
|
40.1 |
|
Confidential Information |
|
|
|
Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to
disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 40.2 (Disclosure of
Confidential Information), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected
with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential
information. |
|
40.2 |
|
Disclosure of Confidential Information |
|
|
|
Any Finance Party may disclose: |
|
(a) |
|
to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors,
employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential
Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the
Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in
writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information
may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so
inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the
confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality
in relation to the Confidential Information; |
|
(i) |
|
to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or
transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance
Documents and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and
professional advisers; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether
directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other
transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one
or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that person’s
Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (ii)
above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered
pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any
person appointed under paragraph (d) of Clause 30.14 (Relationship with the
Lenders)); |
|
|
(iv) |
|
who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise
finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in paragraph (b)(i) or
(b)(ii) above; |
|
|
(v) |
|
to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of
competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory
authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to
any applicable law or regulation; |
135
|
(vi) |
|
to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise
creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 28.10 (Security over Lenders’
rights); |
|
|
(vii) |
|
to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the
purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations,
proceedings or disputes; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
who is a Party; or |
|
|
(ix) |
|
with the consent of the Parent; |
|
|
|
in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider
appropriate if: |
|
(A) |
|
in relation to paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) above, the person to
whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a
Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a
Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is
subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the
Confidential Information; |
|
|
(B) |
|
in relation to paragraph (b)(iv) above, the person to whom the Confidential
Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is
otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the
Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such
Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; |
|
|
(C) |
|
in relation to paragraphs (b)(v), (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) above, the person to
whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its
confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may
be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so
inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do
in the circumstances; |
|
(c) |
|
to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i)
or (b)(ii) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one
or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading
of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may
be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services
referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential
Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in
the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With
Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality
undertaking agreed between the Parent and the relevant Finance Party; |
|
(d) |
|
to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential
Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out
its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if
the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its
confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be
price-sensitive information. |
136
40.3 |
|
Entire agreement |
|
|
|
This Clause 40 (Confidentiality) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in
relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding
Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied,
regarding Confidential Information. |
|
40.4 |
|
Inside information |
|
|
|
Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information
is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be
regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to
insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any
Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose. |
|
40.5 |
|
Notification of disclosure |
|
|
|
Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to
inform the Parent: |
|
(a) |
|
of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to
paragraph (b)(v) of Clause 40.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such
disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary
course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and |
|
(b) |
|
upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this
Clause 40 (Confidentiality). |
40.6 |
|
Continuing obligations |
|
|
|
The obligations in this Clause 40 (Confidentiality) are continuing and, in particular,
shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve months from
the earlier of: |
|
(a) |
|
the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the
Finance Documents have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or
otherwise cease to be available; and |
|
(b) |
|
the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party. |
41. |
|
COUNTERPARTS |
|
|
|
Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same
effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance
Document. |
|
42. |
|
GOVERNING LAW |
|
|
|
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it
are governed by English law. |
|
43. |
|
ENFORCEMENT |
|
43.1 |
|
Jurisdiction of English courts |
|
(a) |
|
The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of
or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, |
137
|
|
|
validity or termination of this Agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising
out of or in connection with this Agreement) (a “Dispute”). |
|
|
(b) |
|
The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient
courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. |
|
|
(c) |
|
This Clause 43.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties and Secured Parties only.
As a result, no Finance Party or Secured Party shall be prevented from taking
proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the
extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties and Secured Parties may take concurrent
proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. |
|
(a) |
|
Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each
Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales): |
|
(i) |
|
irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for service of process in relation
to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document
(and the Company by its execution of this Agreement, accepts that appointment); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
agrees that failure by an agent for service of process to notify the relevant
Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. |
|
(b) |
|
If any person appointed as an agent for service of process is unable for any reason to
act as agent for service of process, the Parent (on behalf of all the Obligors) must
immediately (and in any event within 2 Business Days of such event taking place) appoint
another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent. Failing this, the Agent may appoint another
agent for this purpose. |
|
(c) |
|
The Parent expressly agrees and consents to the provisions of this Clause 43 and Clause
42 (Governing law). |
This Agreement has been entered into in England on the date stated at the beginning of this
Agreement.
138
SIGNATURES
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THE PARENT |
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MRC TRANSMARK GROUP B.V. |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX |
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Fax:
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x00 (0)0000 000000 |
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THE COMPANY |
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MRC TRANSMARK HOLDINGS UK LIMITED |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX |
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Fax:
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x00 (0)0000 000000 |
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THE ORIGINAL BORROWER |
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MRC TRANSMARK HOLDINGS UK LIMITED |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX |
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Fax:
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x00 (0)0000 000000 |
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THE ORIGINAL GUARANTORS |
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MRC TRANSMARK GROUP B.V. |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX |
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Fax:
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x00 (0)0000 000000 |
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1
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MRC TRANSMARK HOLDINGS UK LIMITED |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX |
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Fax:
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x00 (0)0000 000000 |
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THE ARRANGER |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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THE AGENT |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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THE SECURITY AGENT |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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2
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THE ISSUING BANK |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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THE ORIGINAL LENDER |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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THE ORIGINAL MOF LENDER |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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THE ORIGINAL HEDGE COUNTERPARTY |
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HSBC BANK PLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Address:
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0xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX |
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3
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Fax:
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0000 000 000 |
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Attention:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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4