AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT DATED JULY 2014 BETWEEN WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (EAST MIDLANDS) PLC as the Company THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS THE BOOKRUNNER THE ISSUING BANK THE LEAD ARRANGER THE LENDERS and THE FACILITY AGENT RELATING TO A...
Β
Exhibit 10(i)
Β
EXECUTION VERSION
DATED Β Β Β Β JULY 2014
BETWEEN
WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (EAST MIDLANDS) PLC
as the Company
THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS
THE BOOKRUNNER
THE ISSUING BANK
THE LEAD ARRANGER
THE LENDERS
and
THE FACILITY AGENT
RELATING TO A MULTICURRENCY REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT ORIGINALLY
DATED 4 APRIL 2011
Β
Β Xxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
CONTENTS
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Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β |
Clause | Β Β | Page | Β | |||
Β | Β | Β | ||||
1. | Β Β |
Interpretation
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Β Β | Β | 1 | Β Β |
2. | Β Β |
Representations
|
Β Β | Β | 2 | Β Β |
3. | Β Β |
Restatement
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Β Β | Β | 3 | Β Β |
4. | Β Β |
Commitments
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Β Β | Β | 3 | Β Β |
5. | Β Β |
Issuing Bank and Arrangers
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Β Β | Β | 3 | Β Β |
6. | Β Β |
Fees
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Β Β | Β | 3 | Β Β |
7. | Β Β |
Confirmations
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Β Β | Β | 3 | Β Β |
8. | Β Β |
Miscellaneous
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Β Β | Β | 3 | Β Β |
9. | Β Β |
Governing Law
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Β Β | Β | 4 | Β Β |
Β | Β | |||||
Schedules | Β Β | Β | Β | |||
Β | Β | Β | ||||
1. | Β Β |
Effective Date Lenders
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Β Β | Β | 5 | Β Β |
2. | Β Β |
Conditions Precedent to the Effective Date
|
Β Β | Β | 6 | Β Β |
3. | Β Β |
Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement
|
Β Β | Β | 7 | Β Β |
Β | Β | |||||
Signatories
|
Β Β | Β | 133 | Β Β |
THIS AGREEMENT is dated Β Β Β Β July 2014 and made
BETWEEN:
Β
(1) | WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (EAST MIDLANDS) PLC (registered number 02366923) (the Company); |
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(2) | THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS (as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement); |
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(3) | THE BOOKRUNNER (as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement); |
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(4) | THE ISSUING BANK (as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement); |
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(5) | THE LEAD ARRANGER (as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement); |
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(6) | THE LENDERS (as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement); and |
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(7) | BANK OF AMERICA XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED as facility agent (the Facility Agent). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
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1. | INTERPRETATION |
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1.1 | Definitions |
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(a) | In this Agreement: |
Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement means the Original Revolving Facility Agreement as amended and restated by this Agreement.
Arrangement and Participation Fee Letter means the coordination arrangement and participation fee letter dated on or prior to the Effective Date between the Company, the Facility Agent and the Arrangers governing the upfront fees payable by the Company pursuant to clause 25.2 (Arrangement and participation fees) of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement.
Co-ordination Fee Letter means the coordination fee letter dated on or prior to the Effective Date between the Company and the Joint Co-ordinators governing the co-ordination fee payable by the Company pursuant to clause 25.3 (Co-ordination fee) of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement.
Effective Date means the date on which the Facility Agent confirms to the Effective Date Lenders and the Company that it has received each of the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent to the Effective Date) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of the Effective Date Lenders (acting reasonably).
Effective Date Commitments means, in relation to each Effective Date Lender, the Commitments set out opposite its name in schedule 1 (The Original Parties) to the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement.
Effective Date Lenders means each entity listed in Schedule 1 (Effective Date Lenders) being the Lenders, under the Original Revolving Facility Agreement as at the Effective Date.
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1
Original Revolving Facility Agreement means the revolving facility agreement originally dated 4Β April 2011 between, among others, the Company and the Facility Agent.
Party means a party to this Agreement.
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(b) | Capitalised terms defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement have, unless expressly defined in this Agreement, the same meaning in this Agreement. |
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1.2 | Construction |
The provisions of clause 1.2 (Construction) of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement apply to this Agreement as though they were set out in full in this Agreement except that references to the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement are to be construed as references to this Agreement.
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1.3 | Third party rights |
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(a) | A person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement. |
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(b) | Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time. |
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1.4 | Finance Document |
This Agreement is a Finance Document under and as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement and the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement.
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2. | REPRESENTATIONS |
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(a) | On the date of this Agreement, by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing: |
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Β | (i) | the Repeating Representations (as defined in the Original Revolving Facility Agreement) are deemed to be made by the Company as if references to βthis Agreementβ in or incorporated in the Repeating Representations are construed as references to this Agreement and to the Original Revolving Facility Agreement; |
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Β | (ii) | the Company represents and warrants that no Default is continuing or is reasonably likely to result from the making of any Loan or the entry into, the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Finance Document; and |
Β
Β | (iii) | the Company makes each of the representations and warranties to be made by it set out in clause 18.16 (No misleading information) of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement, as if those representations and warranties were set out in full in this Agreement. |
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(b) | The representations and warranties made pursuant to paragraph (a)Β above are made to each Party (other than the Company). |
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(c) | On the Effective Date, the Company makes each of the representations and warranties to be made by it set out in clause 18 (Representations) of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement to each Finance Party under the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement. |
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2
3. | RESTATEMENT |
Β
(a) | The Original Revolving Facility Agreement will be amended and restated with effect from the Effective Date so that it reads and is construed for all purposes as set out in Schedule 3 (Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement). |
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(b) | The Original Revolving Facility Agreement will not be amended and restated in the manner contemplated by this Agreement unless and until the Effective Date occurs. |
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4. | COMMITMENTS |
On the Effective Date the Commitments of each Effective Date Lender will be its Effective Date Commitments.
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5. | ISSUING BANK AND ARRANGERS |
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(a) | With effect from the Effective Date HSBC Bank plc and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., will act as joint coordinators. |
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(b) | The Issuing Bank and Lead Arranger will not be a party to the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement |
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6. | FEES |
The Company must pay to the Arrangers, the Joint Co-ordinators and the Facility Agent fees in the amounts and at the times set out in the relevant Fee Letters.
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7. | CONFIRMATIONS |
On the Effective Date the Company:
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Β | (i) | confirms its acceptance of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement; and |
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Β | (ii) | agrees that it is bound by the terms of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement. |
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8. | MISCELLANEOUS |
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8.1 | Continuing obligations |
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(a) | The provisions of the Original Revolving Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this Agreement, continue in full force and effect. |
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(b) | No waiver is given by this Agreement, and the Lenders expressly reserve all their rights and remedies in respect of any breach of, or other Default under and as defined in, the Original Revolving Facility Agreement, the Amended and Restated Facility Agreement or any other Finance Document. |
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3
8.2 | Further assurance |
The Company shall at the request of the Facility Agent and at its own expense do all such acts and things reasonably necessary or desirable to give effect to the amendments effected or to be effected pursuant to this Agreement.
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8.3 | Incorporation of terms |
The provisions of clause 36 (Notices), clause 34 (Severability), clause 28.7 (Waivers and remedies cumulative) and clause 39 (Enforcement) of the Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement shall be incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full in this Agreement and as if references in those clauses to βthis Agreementβ or βthe Finance Documentsβ were references to this Agreement.
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8.4 | Counterparts |
This Agreement 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 this Agreement.
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9. | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
THIS AGREEMENT has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
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4
SCHEDULE 1
EFFECTIVE DATE LENDERS
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Abbey National Treasury Services plc (trading as Santander Global Banking & Markets)
Bank of America Xxxxxxx Xxxxx International Limited
Barclays Bank PLC
HSBC Bank plc
Lloyds Bank plc
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
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5
SCHEDULE 2
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE
Corporate documents
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(a) | A certified copy of the constitutional documents of the Company. |
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(b) | A certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors of the Company approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents. |
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(c) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised on behalf of the Company to execute or witness the execution of any Finance Document or to sign or send any document or notice in connection with any Finance Document. |
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(d) | A certificate of the Company (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing limit binding on the Company to be exceeded. |
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(e) | A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Company certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement. |
Finance documents
Β
(a) | This Agreement executed by the Company. |
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(b) | The Arrangement and Participation Fee Letter executed by the Company. |
Β
(c) | The Co-ordination Fee Letter executed by the Company. |
Legal opinions
A legal opinion of Xxxxxxxx Chance LLP, legal advisers to the Arranger and the Facility Agent addressed to the Finance Parties.
Other documents and evidence
Β
(a) | Evidence that all fees and expenses then due and payable from the Company under the Finance Documents have been or will be paid no later than the Effective Date. |
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(b) | The Original Financial Statements. |
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6
SCHEDULE 3
AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING FACILITY AGREEMENT
Dated 4Β April 2011
WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (EAST MIDLANDS) PLC
as the Company
HSBC BANK PLC
AND
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
as Joint Coordinators
ABBEY NATIONAL TREASURY SERVICES PLC (TRADING AS SANTANDER GLOBAL BANKINGΒ & MARKETS)
BANK OF AMERICA XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
HSBC BANK PLC
LLOYDS BANK PLC
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
as Bookrunners and Mandated Lead Arrangers
and
BANK OF AMERICA XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
as Facility Agent
Β
Β£300,000,000 MULTICURRENCY REVOLVING FACILITY
AGREEMENT
Β
Β
7
CONTENTS
Β
Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β |
Clause | Β | Β | Β Β | Page | Β | |
Β | Β | Β | ||||
1. | Β |
Interpretation
|
Β Β | Β | 9 | Β Β |
2. | Β |
The Facility
|
Β Β | Β | 32 | Β Β |
3. | Β |
Purpose
|
Β Β | Β | 34 | Β Β |
4. | Β |
Conditions Precedent
|
Β Β | Β | 34 | Β Β |
5. | Β |
Utilisation
|
Β Β | Β | 35 | Β Β |
6. | Β |
Extension option
|
Β Β | Β | 36 | Β Β |
7. | Β |
Optional Currencies
|
Β Β | Β | 37 | Β Β |
8. | Β |
Ancillary Facilities
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Β Β | Β | 38 | Β Β |
9. | Β |
Repayment
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Β Β | Β | 42 | Β Β |
10. | Β |
Prepayment and Cancellation
|
Β Β | Β | 43 | Β Β |
11. | Β |
Interest
|
Β Β | Β | 46 | Β Β |
12. | Β |
Terms
|
Β Β | Β | 47 | Β Β |
13. | Β |
Market Disruption
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Β Β | Β | 48 | Β Β |
14. | Β |
Tax gross-up and indemnities
|
Β Β | Β | 49 | Β Β |
15. | Β |
Increased Costs
|
Β Β | Β | 57 | Β Β |
16. | Β |
Mitigation
|
Β Β | Β | 58 | Β Β |
17. | Β |
Payments
|
Β Β | Β | 60 | Β Β |
18. | Β |
Representations
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Β Β | Β | 63 | Β Β |
19. | Β |
Information Covenants
|
Β Β | Β | 67 | Β Β |
20. | Β |
Financial Covenants
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Β Β | Β | 70 | Β Β |
21. | Β |
General Covenants
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Β Β | Β | 73 | Β Β |
22. | Β |
Default
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Β Β | Β | 80 | Β Β |
23. | Β |
The Administrative Parties
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Β Β | Β | 84 | Β Β |
24. | Β |
Evidence and Calculations
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Β Β | Β | 90 | Β Β |
25. | Β |
Fees
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Β Β | Β | 91 | Β Β |
26. | Β |
Indemnities and Break Costs
|
Β Β | Β | 92 | Β Β |
27. | Β |
Expenses
|
Β Β | Β | 93 | Β Β |
28. | Β |
Amendments and Waivers
|
Β Β | Β | 93 | Β Β |
29. | Β |
Changes to the Parties
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Β Β | Β | 96 | Β Β |
30. | Β |
Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information
|
Β Β | Β | 100 | Β Β |
31. | Β |
Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations
|
Β Β | Β | 103 | Β Β |
32. | Β |
Set-off
|
Β Β | Β | 105 | Β Β |
33. | Β |
Pro rata sharing
|
Β Β | Β | 105 | Β Β |
34. | Β |
Severability
|
Β Β | Β | 107 | Β Β |
35. | Β |
Counterparts
|
Β Β | Β | 107 | Β Β |
36. | Β |
Notices
|
Β Β | Β | 107 | Β Β |
37. | Β |
Language
|
Β Β | Β | 109 | Β Β |
38. | Β |
Governing law
|
Β Β | Β | 109 | Β Β |
39. | Β |
Enforcement
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Β Β | Β | 109 | Β Β |
Schedule 1 Original Parties
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Β Β | Β | 110 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 2 Conditions Precedent Documents
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Β Β | Β | 111 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 3 Requests
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Β Β | Β | 112 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 4 Form of Transfer Certificate
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Β Β | Β | 113 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 5 Form of Compliance Certificate
|
Β Β | Β | 116 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 6 Form of Increase Confirmation
|
Β Β | Β | 117 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 7 Timetables
|
Β Β | Β | 120 | Β Β | ||
Schedule 8 Form of Subordination Deed
|
Β Β | Β | 121 | Β Β |
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8
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 4Β April 2011 and has been amended and restated by an amendment and restatement agreement dated July 2014.
BETWEEN:
Β
(1) | WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (EAST MIDLANDS) PLC (registered number 02366923) (the βCompanyβ); |
Β
(2) | HSBC BANK PLC and MIZUHO BANK, LTD. as joint coordinators (the βJoint Coordinatorsβ); |
Β
(3) | ABBEY NATIONAL TREASURY SERVICES PLC (TRADING AS SANTANDER GLOBAL BANKINGΒ & MARKETS), BANK OF AMERICA XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, BARCLAYS BANK PLC, HSBC BANK PLC, LLOYDS BANK PLC, MIZUHO BANK, LTD., ROYAL BANK OF CANADA and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as bookrunners and mandated lead arrangers (the βArrangersβ); |
Β
(4) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 (Original Parties) as original lenders (the βOriginal Lendersβ); and |
Β
(5) | BANK OF AMERICA XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED as facility agent (the βFacility Agentβ). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
Β
1. | INTERPRETATION |
Β
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
βAcceptable Bankβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | an Effective Date Lender (as defined in the Amendment Agreement); |
Β
Β | (b) | a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A- or higher by StandardΒ & Poorβs Rating Services or A- or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or A3 or higher by Xxxxxβx Investor Services Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency; or |
Β
Β | (c) | any other bank or financial institution approved by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably). |
βAcceptable Jurisdictionβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | the United States of America; |
Β
9
Β | (b) | the United Kingdom; or |
Β
Β | (c) | any other member state of the European Union or any Participating Member State where such country has long term sovereign credit rating of A- or higher by StandardΒ & Poorβs Rating Services or A3 or higher from Xxxxxβx Investor Services Limited or A- or higher from Fitch Ratings Ltd. |
βActβ means the Electricity Xxx 0000 and, unless the context otherwise requires, all subordinate legislation made pursuant thereto.
βAdministrative Partyβ means an Arranger or the Facility Agent.
βAffiliateβ means a Subsidiary or a Holding Company of a person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing and in so far as it relates to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as a Lender, the term βAffiliateβ shall not include (i)Β the UK government or any member or instrumentality thereof, including Her Majestyβs Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited (or any directors, officers, employees or entities thereof) or (ii)Β any persons or entities controlled by or under common control with the UK government or any member or instrumentality thereof (including Her Majestyβs Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited) and which are not part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and its subsidiary or subsidiary undertakings.
βAgentβs Spot Rate of Exchangeβ means the Facility Agentβs spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the relevant currency in the London foreign exchange market with Sterling at or about 11.00 a.m. on a particular day.
βAmendment Agreementβ means the amendment and restatement agreement dated 29Β July 2014 between the parties to this Agreement at such time.
βAncillary Commencement Dateβ means, in relation to an Ancillary Facility, the date on which that Ancillary Facility is first made available, which date shall be a Business Day within the Availability Period.
βAncillary Commitmentβ means, in relation to an Ancillary Lender and an Ancillary Facility, the maximum Base Currency Amount which that Ancillary Lender has agreed (whether or not subject to satisfaction of conditions precedent) to make available from time to time under an Ancillary Facility and which has been authorised as such under Clause 8 (Ancillary Facilities), to the extent that amount is not cancelled or reduced under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents relating to that Ancillary Facility.
βAncillary Documentβ means each document relating to or evidencing the terms of an Ancillary Facility.
βAncillary Facilityβ means any ancillary facility made available by an Ancillary Lender in accordance with Clause 8 (Ancillary Facilities).
βAncillary Lenderβ means each Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender) which makes available an Ancillary Facility in accordance with Clause 8 (Ancillary Facilities).
βAncillary Outstandingsβ means, at any time, in relation to an Ancillary Lender and an Ancillary Facility then in force the aggregate of the equivalents (as calculated by that Ancillary Lender) in the Base Currency of the following amounts outstanding under that Ancillary Facility:
Β
Β | (a) | the principal amount under each overdraft facility and on-demand short term loan facility (net of any Available Credit Balance); |
Β
10
Β | (b) | the face amount of each guarantee, bond and letter of credit under that Ancillary Facility; and |
Β
Β | (c) | the amount fairly representing the aggregate exposure (excluding interest and similar charges) of that Ancillary Lender under each other type of accommodation provided under that Ancillary Facility, |
in each case as determined by such Ancillary Lender, acting reasonably in accordance with its normal banking practice and in accordance with the relevant Ancillary Document.
βApplicable Accounting Principlesβ means those accounting principles, standards and practices generally accepted in the United Kingdom and the accounting and reporting requirements of the Companies Xxx 0000, in each case as used in the Original Financial Statements.
βAuthorityβ means The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority established under SectionΒ 1 of the Utilities Xxx 0000.
βAvailable Commitmentβ means a Lenderβs Commitment minus:
Β
Β | (a) | the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans and the Base Currency Amount of the aggregate of its (and its Affiliateβs) Ancillary Commitments; and |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to any proposed Loans, the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any Loans that are due to be made on or before the proposed Drawdown Date and the Base Currency Amount of its (and its Affiliateβs) Ancillary Commitment in relation to any new Ancillary Facility that is due to be made available on or before the proposed Drawdown Date, |
other than that Lenderβs participation in any Loans that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Drawdown Date and that Lenderβs (and its Affiliateβs) Ancillary Commitments to the extent that they are due to be reduced or cancelled on or before the proposed Drawdown Date.
βAvailable Credit Balanceβ means, in relation to an Ancillary Facility, credit balances on any account of the Company with the Ancillary Lender making available that Ancillary Facility to the extent that those credit balances are freely available to be set off by that Ancillary Lender against liabilities owed to it by the Company under that Ancillary Facility.
βAvailable Facilityβ means the aggregate for the time being of each Lenderβs Available Commitment.
βAvailability Periodβ means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling one month prior to the Final Maturity Date.
Β
11
βBalancing and Settlement Codeβ means the document, as modified from time to time, setting out the electricity balancing and settlement arrangements designated by the Secretary of State and adopted by The National Grid Company plc (Registered No.Β 2366977) or its successor pursuant to its transmission licence.
βBalancing and Settlement Code Framework Agreementβ means the agreement of that title, in the form approved by the Secretary of State, as amended from time to time, to which the Company is a party and by which the Balancing and Settlement Code is made binding upon the Company.
βBase Currencyβ means Sterling.
βBase Currency Amountβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | in relation to a Loan, the amount specified in the Request delivered by the Company for that Loan (or, if the amount requested is not denominated in the Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agentβs Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is three Business Days before the Drawdown Date or, if later, on the date the Facility Agent receives the Request adjusted to reflect any repayment, prepayment, consolidation or division of the Loan, or as the case may be, cancellation or reduction of an Ancillary Facility; and |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to an Ancillary Commitment, the amount specified as such in the notice delivered to the Facility Agent by the Company pursuant to Clause 8.2 (Availability) (or, if the amount specified is not denominated in the Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agentβs Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is three Business Days before the Ancillary Commencement Date for that Ancillary Facility or, if later, the date the Facility Agent receives the notice of the Ancillary Commitment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement). |
βBasel IIIβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in βBasel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systemsβ, βBasel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoringβ and βGuidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital bufferβ published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated; |
Β
Β | (b) | the rules for global systematically important banks contained in βGlobal systematically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement β Rules textβ published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and |
Β
Β | (c) | any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to βBasel IIIβ. |
βBreak Costsβ means the amount (if any), calculated in accordance with Clause 26.3 (Break Costs), which a Lender is entitled to receive under this Agreement as compensation if any part of a Loan or overdue amount is prepaid.
Β
12
βBusiness Dayβ means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which commercial banks are open in London and:
Β
Β | (a) | if on that day a payment in or a purchase of a currency (other than euro) is to be made, the principal financial centre of the country of that currency; or |
Β
Β | (b) | if on that day a payment in or purchase of euro is to be made, which is also a TARGET Day. |
βCodeβ means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
βCommitmentβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in the Base Currency set opposite its name under the heading βCommitmentβ in Schedule 1 (Original Parties) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with ClauseΒ 2.2 (Increase); andΒ |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount in the Base Currency of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with ClauseΒ 2.2 (Increase), |
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.
βCompliance Certificateβ means a certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 5 (Form of Compliance Certificate) setting out, among other things, calculations of the financial covenants.
βConfidential Informationβ means all information relating to the Company, the Group, the Finance Documents or the 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 the Facility from either:
Β
Β | (a) | any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
Β
Β | (b) | 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, |
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:
Β
Β | (i) | is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 30 (Confidentiality and disclosure of information); or |
Β
Β | (ii) | is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
Β
Β | (iii) |
is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a)Β or (b)Β above or is lawfully obtained by
|
Β
13
Β | 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. |
βConfidentiality Undertakingβ means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Company and the Facility Agent.
βContribution Noticeβ means a contribution notice issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 38 or section 47 of the Pensions Xxx 0000.
βCRD IVβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | Regulation (EU) No.Β 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26Β June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms; and |
Β
Β | (b) | Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26Β June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC. |
βCTAβ means the Corporation Tax Xxx 0000.
βDebt Purchase Transactionβ means, in relation to a person, a transaction where such person:
Β
Β | (a) | purchases by way of assignment or transfer; |
Β
Β | (b) | enters into any sub-participation in respect of; or |
Β
Β | (c) | enters into any other agreement or arrangement having an economic effect substantially similar to a sub-participation in respect of, |
any Commitment or amount outstanding under this Agreement.
βDefaultβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | an Event of Default; or |
Β
Β | (b) | an event which would be (with the lapse of time, the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice or the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of them) an Event of Default. |
βDefaulting Lenderβ means any Lender:
Β
Β | (a) | which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available or has notified the Facility Agent that it will not make its participation in a Loan available by the Drawdown Date of that Loan in accordance with Clause 5.4 (Advance of Loan); |
Β
Β | (b) | which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
Β
14
Β | (c) | with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a)Β above:
Β
Β | (i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
Β
Β | (A) | administrative or technical error; or |
Β
Β | (B) | a Disruption Event, |
and payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date; or
Β
Β | (ii) | the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question. |
βDesignated Gross Amountβ means the amount notified by the Company to the Facility Agent upon the establishment of a Multi-account Overdraft as being the maximum amount of Gross Outstandings that will, at any time, be outstanding under that Multi-account Overdraft.
βDesignated Net Amountβ means the amount notified by the Company to the Facility Agent upon the establishment of a Multi-account Overdraft as being the maximum amount of Net Outstandings that will, at any time, be outstanding under that Multi-account Overdraft.
βDisruption Eventβ means either or both of:
Β
Β | (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 Finance Documents (or otherwise in order for the transactions 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 |
Β
Β | (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: |
Β
Β | (i) | from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
Β
Β | (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.
βXxxx-Xxxxxβ means the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No.Β 111-203, 124 stat. 1376 (2010)Β and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith.
βDrawdown Dateβ means each date on which a Loan is made.
Β
15
βEnvironmentβ means humans, animals, plants and all other living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form part and the following media:
Β
Β | (a) | air (including, without limitation, air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or below ground); |
Β
Β | (b) | water (including, without limitation, territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or within land and water in drains and sewers); and |
Β
Β | (c) | land (including, without limitation, land under water). |
βEnvironmental Claimβ means any claim, proceeding, formal notice or investigation by any person in respect of any Environmental Law.
βEnvironmental Lawβ means any applicable law or regulation which relates to:
Β
Β | (a) | the pollution or protection of the Environment; |
Β
Β | (b) | the conditions of the workplace; or |
Β
Β | (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. |
βeuro or euros or ?β means the single currency of the Participating Member States.
βEURIBORβ means in relation to any Loan in euro:
Β
Β | (a) | the applicable Screen Rate; |
Β
Β | (b) | (if no Screen Rate is available for the Term of that Loan) the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan; or |
Β
Β | (c) | if: |
Β
Β | (i) | no Screen Rate is available for the Term of that Loan; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan, |
the Reference Bank Rate,
as of, in the case of paragraphs (a)Β and (c)Β above, the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in euro and for a period equal in length to the Term for that Loan.
βEvent of Defaultβ means an event specified as such in this Agreement.
βFacilityβ means the revolving credit facility made available under this Agreement as described in sub-clause 2.1 of ClauseΒ 2 (The Facility).
βFacility Officeβ means the office(s) notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent:
Β
Β | (a) | on or before the date it becomes a Lender; or |
Β
16
Β | (b) | by not less than five Business Daysβ notice, |
as the office(s) through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.
βFATCAβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations or other official guidance; |
Β
Β | (b) | any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a)Β above; or |
Β
Β | (c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a)Β or (b)Β above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction. |
βFATCA Application Dateβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | in relation to a βwithholdable paymentβ described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1Β July 2014; |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to a βwithholdable paymentβ described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to βgross proceedsβ from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1Β January 2017; or |
Β
Β | (c) | in relation to a βpassthru paymentβ described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a)Β or (b)Β above, 1Β January 2017, |
or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
βFATCA Deductionβ means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.
βFATCA Exempt Partyβ means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.
βFee Letterβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | any letter entered into by reference to the Facility between one or more Administrative Parties and the Company setting out the amount of certain fees referred to in the Agreement; and |
Β
Β | (b) | any agreement setting out fees payable to a Finance Party referred to in Clause 25 (Fees) of this Agreement or under any other Finance Document. |
βFinal Maturity Dateβ means, subject to Clause 6 (Extension Option), the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement.
Β
17
βFinance Documentβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | this Agreement; |
Β
Β | (b) | any Ancillary Document; |
Β
Β | (c) | a Fee Letter; |
Β
Β | (d) | a Transfer Certificate; or |
Β
Β | (e) | any other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Company. |
βFinance Partyβ means a Lender, an Ancillary Lender or an Administrative Party.
βFinancial Indebtednessβ means any indebtedness for or in respect of:
Β
Β | (a) | moneys borrowed; |
Β
Β | (b) | any acceptance credit; |
Β
Β | (c) | any bond, note, debenture, loan stock or other similar instrument; |
Β
Β | (d) | any redeemable preference share; |
Β
Β | (e) | any finance or capital lease; |
Β
Β | (f) | receivables sold or discounted (otherwise than on a non-recourse basis); |
Β
Β | (g) | the acquisition cost of any asset to the extent payable after its acquisition or possession by the party liable where the deferred payment is arranged primarily as a method of raising finance or financing the acquisition of that asset; |
Β
Β | (h) | any derivative transaction protecting against or benefiting from fluctuations in any rate or price (and, except for non-payment of an amount, the then xxxx to market value of the derivative transaction will be used to calculate its amount); |
Β
Β | (i) | any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) which has the commercial effect of a borrowing; |
Β
Β | (j) | any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of any guarantee, indemnity, bond, letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution; or |
Β
Β | (k) | any guarantee, indemnity or similar assurance against financial loss of any person in respect of any item referred to in paragraphs (a)Β to (j)Β above. |
βFinancial Support Directionβ means a financial support direction issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 43 of the Pensions Xxx 0000.
βFunding Rateβ means any rate notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent pursuant to Clause 13 (Market Disruption).
βGross Outstandingsβ means, in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft, the Ancillary Outstandings of that Multi-account Overdraft but calculated on the basis that the words β(net of any Available Credit Balance)β in paragraph (a)Β of the definition of βAncillary Outstandingsβ were deleted.
Β
18
βGroupβ means the Company and its Subsidiaries.
βHolding Companyβ means in relation to a person, any other person in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.
βImpaired Agentβ means the Facility Agent at any time when:
Β
Β | (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; |
Β
Β | (b) | the Facility Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document; |
Β
Β | (c) | (if the Facility Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a)Β or (b)Β of the definition of βDefaulting Lenderβ; or |
Β
Β | (d) | an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Facility Agent; |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a)Β above:
Β
Β | (i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
Β
Β | (A) | administrative or technical error; or |
Β
Β | (B) | a Disruption Event, |
and payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date; or
Β
Β | (ii) | the Facility Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question. |
βIncrease Confirmationβ means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of Increase Confirmation).
βIncrease Lenderβ has the meaning given to that term in ClauseΒ 2.2.1 (Increase).
βIncreased Costβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | an additional or increased cost; |
Β
Β | (b) | a reduction in the rate of return under a Finance Document or on a Finance Partyβs (or its Affiliateβs) overall capital; or |
Β
Β | (c) | a reduction of an amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates but only to the extent attributable to that Finance Party having entered into any Finance Document or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
βInsolvency Eventβ in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:
Β
Β | (a) | is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
Β
19
Β | (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; |
Β
Β | (c) | makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; |
Β
Β | (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 creditorsβ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official; |
Β
Β | (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 creditorsβ 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)Β above and: |
Β
Β | (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 |
Β
Β | (ii) | is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof; |
Β
Β | (f) | has a resolution passed for its winding up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
Β
Β | (g) | seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets; |
Β
Β | (h) | 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; |
Β
Β | (i) | 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)Β to (h)Β above; or |
Β
Β | (j) | takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts. |
Β
20
βInterpolated Screen Rateβ means, in relation to LIBOR or EURIBOR for any Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
Β
Β | (a) | the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Term of that Loan; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Term of that Loan, |
each as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan.
βITAβ means the Income Tax Xxx 0000.
βLegal Reservationsβ means:
Β
Β | (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; |
Β
Β | (b) | the time barring of claims under the Limitation Xxx 0000 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Xxx 0000, 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; |
Β
Β | (c) | similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any jurisdiction in which a member of the Group or a Holding Company of the Company is incorporated; and |
Β
Β | (d) | any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in any legal opinion provided under Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent Documents). |
βLenderβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | an Original Lender; or |
Β
Β | (b) | any person which becomes a Lender after the date of this Agreement in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 29 (Changes to the Parties), |
which in each case has not ceased to be a Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
βLIBORβ means, in relation to any Loan:
Β
Β | (a) | the applicable Screen Rate; |
Β
Β | (b) | (if no Screen Rate is available for the Term of that Loan) the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan; or |
Β
Β | (c) | if: |
Β
Β | (i) | no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Loan; or |
Β
Β | (ii) | no Screen Rate is available for the Term of that Loan and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan, |
the Reference Bank Rate,
Β
21
as of, in the case of paragraphs (a)Β and (c)Β above, the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan and for a period equal in length to the Term of that Loan.
βLicenceβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | the electricity distribution licence made and treated as granted to the Company under SectionΒ 6(1)(c) of the Act pursuant to a licensing scheme made by the Secretary of State under Part II of Schedule 7 to the Utilities Xxx 0000 on 28Β September, 2001; or |
Β
Β | (b) | any statutory amendment or replacement licence or licences granted pursuant to the Utilities Xxx 0000 which permit the Company to distribute electricity in the area it is certified to operate in. |
βLMAβ means the Loan Market Association.
βLoanβ means, unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, the principal amount of each borrowing under this Agreement or the principal amount outstanding of that borrowing.
βMajority Lendersβ means, at any time, Lenders:
Β
Β | (a) | whose share in the outstanding Loans and whose undrawn Commitments then aggregate 66Β 2β3Β per cent. or more of the aggregate of all the outstanding Loans and the undrawn Commitments of all the Lenders; |
Β
Β | (b) | if there are no Loans then outstanding, whose undrawn Commitments then aggregate 66Β 2β3Β per cent. or more of the Total Commitments; or |
Β
Β | (c) | if there are no Loans then outstanding and the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, whose Commitments aggregated 66Β 2β3Β per cent. or more of the Total Commitments immediately before the reduction. |
βMarginβ means, provided that:
Β
Β | (a) | at least one of Xxxxxβx Investor Services Limited (βMoodyβsβ) and StandardΒ & Poorβs Ratings Services (βStandardΒ & Poorβsβ) has provided a current rating in respect of the long-term, unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of the Company; and |
Β
Β | (b) | no Event of Default is outstanding, |
prior to but excluding the Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment Agreement) (and for the avoidance of doubt, for the purpose of calculating interest on an overnight basis, from the date immediately preceding the Effective Date to the Effective Date) the rate set out in the table below:
Β
Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β |
Rating (Xxxxxβx) | Β Β | Rating (Standard & Poorβs) | Β Β | MarginΒ (perΒ annum) | Β | |
Β | Β | Β | ||||
Less than Baa3
|
Β Β | Less than BBB- | Β Β | Β | 1.15 | %Β |
Β | Β | Β | ||||
Baa3
|
Β Β | BBB- | Β Β | Β | 0.95 | %Β |
Β | Β | Β | ||||
Baa2
|
Β Β | BBB | Β Β | Β | 0.85 | %Β |
Β | Β | Β | ||||
Baa1
|
Β Β | BBB+ | Β Β | Β | 0.75 | %Β |
Β | Β | Β | ||||
A3 or higher
|
Β Β | A- or higher | Β Β | Β | 0.65 | %Β |
Β
22
from (and including) the Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment Agreement) the rate set out in the table below, provided that on the Effective Date the Margin shall be 0.50%:
Β
Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β | Β |
Rating (Xxxxxβx) | Β Β | Rating (Standard & Poorβs) | Β Β | MarginΒ (perΒ annum) | Β | |
Less than Baa3
|
Β Β | Less than BBB- | Β Β | Β | 0.90 | %Β |
Baa3
|
Β Β | BBB- | Β Β | Β | 0.70 | %Β |
Baa2
|
Β Β | BBB | Β Β | Β | 0.55 | %Β |
Baa1
|
Β Β | BBB+ | Β Β | Β | 0.45 | %Β |
A3 or higher
|
Β Β | A- or higher | Β Β | Β | 0.35 | %Β |
If the current Moodyβs and StandardΒ & Poorβs ratings in respect of the Company imply different Margin rates, the Margin shall be the average of the two Margin rates implied. If only one of Moodyβs and StandardΒ & Poorβs provides a rating in respect of the long-term, unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of the Company, that rating alone shall be used to determine the applicable Margin. If neither Moodyβs nor StandardΒ & Poorβs provides a rating in respect of the long-term, unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of the Company, or if an Event of Default is outstanding, the applicable Margin shall be 0.90%Β per annum. Any increase or decrease in the Margin shall take effect on (i)Β the date on which the Moodyβs and/or StandardΒ & Poorβs rating in respect of the long-term, unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of the Company is published or, as the case may be, changed or (ii)Β where the Facility Agent receives notice from the Company or otherwise becomes aware that an Event of Default has occurred or has ceased to be outstanding, with effect from the date on which such Event of Default occurs or ceases to be outstanding.
For the purposes of this definition, an Event of Default being βoutstandingβ means that it has not been remedied (as evidenced by the Company to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably)) or waived.
βMaterial Adverse Effectβ means a material adverse effect on:
Β
Β | (a) | the business, assets or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole; |
Β
Β | (b) | the ability of the Company to perform its payment obligations under the Finance Documents or its obligations under Clauses 20.3 (Interest Cover) or 20.4 (Asset Cover) of this Agreement; or |
Β
Β | (c) | the validity or enforceability of the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents. |
Β
23
βMaterial Subsidiaryβ means, at any time, a Subsidiary of the Company whose gross assets or gross revenues (on a consolidated basis and excluding intra-Group items) then equal or exceed 10Β per cent. of the gross assets or gross revenues of the Group.
For this purpose:
Β
Β | (a) | the gross assets or gross revenues of a Subsidiary of the Company will be determined from its financial statements (consolidated if it has Subsidiaries) upon which the latest audited financial statements of the Group have been based; |
Β
Β | (b) | if a Subsidiary of the Company becomes a member of the Group after the date on which the latest audited financial statements of the Group have been prepared, the gross assets or gross revenues of that Subsidiary will be determined from its latest financial statements; |
Β
Β | (c) | the gross assets or gross revenues of the Group will be determined from the Companyβs latest audited financial statements, adjusted (where appropriate) to reflect the gross assets or gross revenues of any company or business subsequently acquired or disposed of; and |
Β
Β | (d) | if a Material Subsidiary disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another Subsidiary of the Company, it will immediately cease to be a Material Subsidiary and the other Subsidiary (if it is not already) will immediately become a Material Subsidiary; the subsequent financial statements of those Subsidiaries and the Group will be used to determine whether those Subsidiaries are Material Subsidiaries or not. |
If there is a dispute as to whether or not a company is a Material Subsidiary, a certificate of the auditors of the Company will be, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive.
βMaturity Dateβ means the last day of the Term of a Loan.
βMulti-account Overdraftβ means an Ancillary Facility which is an overdraft facility comprising more than one account.
βNet Outstandingsβ means, in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft, the Ancillary Outstandings of that Multi-account Overdraft.
βNew Lenderβ has the meaning given to that term in Clause 29 (Changes to the Parties).
βNon-Consenting Lenderβ means any Lender who does not and continues not to consent or agree to the Companyβs or the Facility Agentβs (at the request of the Company) request to give a consent in relation to, or agree to a waiver or amendment of, any provisions of the Finance Documents where Lenders whose Commitments aggregate either:
Β
Β | (a) | in the case the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of all the Lenders, Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 85% of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 85% of the Total Commitments prior to that reduction); or |
Β
Β | (b) | in the case the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of the Majority Lenders, Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 60% of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 60% of the Total Commitments prior to that reduction), |
Β
24
have consented or agreed to such waiver or amendment.
βOFGEMβ means the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.
βOptional Currencyβ means any currency (other than the Base Currency) which complies with the conditions set out in Clause 4.3 (Conditions relating to Optional Currencies).
βOriginal Financial Statementsβ means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31Β March 2014.
βParticipating Member Stateβ means a member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency under the legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
βPartyβ means a party to this Agreement.
βPensions Regulatorβ means the body corporate called the Pensions Regulator established under Part I of the Pensions Xxx 0000.
βPPLβ means PPL Corporation, a company incorporated in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. whose head office is in Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX00000, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., registered number 2570936.
βPre-approved Currencyβ means U.S.$ and euro.
βPro Rata Shareβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | for the purpose of determining a Lenderβs share in a Loan, the proportion which its Available Commitment bears to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan; and |
Β
Β | (b) | for any other purpose on a particular date: |
Β
Β | (i) | the proportion which its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments on that date; or |
Β
Β | (ii) | if the Total Commitments have been cancelled, the proportion which its Commitments bore to the Total Commitments immediately before being cancelled. |
βPUHCAβ means the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, as amended, of the United States of America.
βQualifying Lenderβ has the meaning given to such term in Clause 14.1 (Definitions)).
βQuasi-Security Interestβ has the meaning given to such term in Clause 21.5 (Negative Pledge).
Β
25
βQuotation Dayβ means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined:
Β
Β | (a) | (if the currency is Sterling) the first day of that period; |
Β
Β | (b) | (if the currency is euro) two TARGET Days before the first day of that period; or |
Β
Β | (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 Facility 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).
βReference Bank Rateβ means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request by the Reference Banks:
Β
Β | (a) | in relation to LIBOR, as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market; or |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to EURIBOR, as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the European interbank market, |
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.
βReference Bank Quotationβ means any quotation supplied to the Facility Agent by a Reference Bank.
βReference Banksβ means the principal London offices of such banks as may be appointed by the Facility Agent in consultation with the Company and with the consent of the bank so appointed.
βRelated Fundβ in relation to a fund (the βfirst fundβ), 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.
βRelevant Interbank Marketβ means in relation to euro, the European interbank market and, in relation to any other currency, the London interbank market.
βRepeating Representationsβ means each of the representations and warranties set out in ClauseΒ 18.2 (Status) to Clause 18.8 (Financial Statements) (inclusive), Clause 18.10 (Litigation), Clause 18.12 (Non-Violation of other Agreements) and Clause 18.13 (Governing law and enforcement).
βRepresentativeβ means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.
Β
26
βRequestβ means a request for a Loan, substantially in the relevant form set out in Schedule 3 (Requests).
βRollover Loanβ means one or more Loans:
Β
Β | (a) | made or to be made on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid; |
Β
Β | (b) | the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the maturing Loan; |
Β
Β | (c) | in the same currency as the maturing Loan (unless it arose as a result of the operation of Clause 7.2 (Revocation of a currency); and |
Β
Β | (d) | made or to be made to the Company for the purpose of refinancing that maturing Loan. |
βScreen Rateβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate); and |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to EURIBOR, the euro interbank offered rate administered by the Banking Federation of the European Union (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed on page EURIBOR01 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate), |
or, in each case, on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Company.
βSecretary of Stateβ means the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
βSecurity Interestβ means any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, assignment, hypothecation or security interest or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.
βSpecified Timeβ means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 7 (Timetables).
βSterlingβ and βΒ£β mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
βSubordination Deedβ means a document in the form set out in Schedule 8 (Form of Subordination Deed) duly completed and executed by the parties thereto.
βSubsidiaryβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Xxx 0000; and |
Β
Β | (b) | unless the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Xxx 0000. |
Β
27
βTARGET2β means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilises a single platform and which was launched on 19Β November 2007.
βTARGET Dayβ means any day on which TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in euro.
βTaxβ means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty, addition to tax or any interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same).
βTax Deductionβ means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.
βTax Paymentβ means either an increase in a payment made by the Company to a Finance Party under Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 14.3 (Tax indemnity).
βTermβ means, in respect of a Loan, each period determined under this Agreement by reference to which interest on a Loan or an overdue amount is calculated.
βTotal Commitmentsβ means the aggregate of the Commitments being Β£300,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.
βTransfer Certificateβ means a certificate, substantially in the form of Schedule 4 (Form of Transfer Certificate), with such amendments as the Facility Agent may approve or reasonably require or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Company.
βTransfer Dateβ means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:
Β
Β | (a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Transfer Certificate; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the date on which the Facility Agent executes the relevant Transfer Certificate. |
βU.K. β means the United Kingdom.
βUnpaid Sumβ means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Company under the Finance Documents.
βUSβ means the United States of America.
βU.S. Dollarsβ and βU.S.$β means the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of America.
βVATβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28Β November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112; and |
Β
Β | (b) | any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a)Β above, or imposed elsewhere. |
Β
28
1.2 | Construction |
Β
Β | 1.2.1 | The following definitions have the meanings given to them in Clause 20 (Financial Covenants): |
Β
Β | (a) | Cash; |
Β
Β | (b) | Cash Equivalent Investments; |
Β
Β | (c) | Consolidated EBITDA; |
Β
Β | (d) | Interest Payable; |
Β
Β | (e) | Measurement Period; |
Β
Β | (f) | Regulatory Asset Base; and |
Β
Β | (g) | Total Net Debt. |
Β
Β | 1.2.2 | In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to: |
Β
Β | (a) | an amendment includes a supplement, novation, restatement or re-enactment and amended will be construed accordingly; |
Β
Β | (b) | assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; |
Β
Β | (c) | an authorisation includes an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, registration or notarisation; |
Β
Β | (d) | disposal means a sale, transfer, grant, lease or other disposal, whether voluntary or involuntary, and dispose will be construed accordingly; |
Β
Β | (e) | indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money; |
Β
Β | (f) | know your customer requirements are the identification checks that a Finance Party requests in order to meet its obligations under any applicable law or regulation to identify a person who is (or is to become) its customer; |
Β
Β | (g) | a person includes any individual, company, corporation, unincorporated association or body (including a partnership, trust, joint venture or consortium), government, state, agency, organisation or other entity whether or not having separate legal personality; |
Β
Β | (h) | a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law but, if not having the force of law, being of a type with which any person to which it applies is accustomed to comply) of any governmental, inter-governmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; |
Β
29
Β | (i) | the winding-up of a person includes the administration, dissolution or liquidation or other like process of that person, any composition or arrangement with the creditors, amalgamation, reconstruction, reorganisation or consolidation pursuant to Part XXVI of the Companies Xxx 0000 proposed or carried out in respect of that person or a company voluntary arrangement pursuant to the Insolvency Xxx 0000 carried out or proposed in respect of that person; |
Β
Β | (j) | a currency is a reference to the lawful currency for the time being of the relevant country; |
Β
Β | (k) | save as set out in the definition of Margin in Clause 1.1 (Definitions), a Default (other than an Event of Default) being outstanding means that it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default being outstanding means that it has not been waived; |
Β
Β | (l) | a provision of law is a reference to that provision as extended, applied, amended or re-enacted and includes any subordinate legislation; |
Β
Β | (m) | a Clause, a Subclause or a Schedule is a reference to a clause or subclause of, or a schedule to, this Agreement; |
Β
Β | (n) | a person includes its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees; |
Β
Β | (o) | a Finance Document or another document is a reference to that Finance Document or other document as amended; and |
Β
Β | (p) | a time of day is a reference to London time. |
Β
Β | 1.2.3 | Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a month or months is a reference to a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month or the calendar month in which it is to end, except that: |
Β
Β | (a) | if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, the period will end on the next Business Day in that month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not); |
Β
Β | (b) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in that month, that period will end on the last Business Day in that month; and |
Β
Β | (c) | notwithstanding sub-clause 1.2.3(a) above, a period which commences on the last Business Day of a month will end on the last Business Day in the next month or the calendar month in which it is to end, as appropriate. |
Β
Β | 1.2.4 | Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a party to a Finance Document may not enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 and notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any third party is not required for any variation (including any release or compromise of any liability) or termination of that Finance Document. |
Β
30
Β | 1.2.5 | Unless the contrary intention appears: |
Β
Β | (a) | a reference to a Party will not include that Party if it has ceased to be a Party under this Agreement; |
Β
Β | (b) | a word or expression used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement; and |
Β
Β | (c) | any obligation of the Company under the Finance Documents which is not a payment obligation remains in force for so long as any payment obligation of the Company is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents. |
Β
Β | 1.2.6 | The headings in this Agreement do not affect its interpretation. |
Β
Β | 1.2.7 | The Company providing cash cover for an Ancillary Facility means the Company paying an amount in the currency of the Ancillary Facility to an interest-bearing account in the name of the Company and the following conditions being met: |
Β
Β | (a) | the account is with the Ancillary Lender for which that cash cover is to be provided; |
Β
Β | (b) | until no amount is or may be outstanding under that Ancillary Facility, withdrawals from the account may only be made to pay the relevant Finance Party amounts due and payable to it under this Agreement in respect of that Ancillary Facility; and |
Β
Β | (c) | the Company has executed a security document over that account, in form and substance satisfactory to the Ancillary Lender with which that account is held, creating a first ranking security interest over that account. |
Β
Β | 1.2.8 | The Company repaying or prepaying any Ancillary Outstandings means: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Company providing cash cover in respect of the Ancillary Outstandings; |
Β
Β | (b) | the maximum amount payable under the Ancillary Facility being reduced or cancelled in accordance with its terms; or |
Β
Β | (c) | the Ancillary Lender being satisfied (acting reasonably) that it has no further liability under that Ancillary Facility, |
and the amount by which Ancillary Outstandings are repaid or prepaid under paragraphs (a)Β and (b)Β above is the amount of the relevant cash cover or reduction or cancellation.
Β
Β | 1.2.9 | An amount borrowed includes any amount utilised under an Ancillary Facility. |
Β
31
2. | THE FACILITY |
Β
2.1 | The Facility |
Β
Β | 2.1.1 | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Company a multicurrency revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount the Base Currency Amount of which is equal to the Total Commitments. |
Β
Β | 2.1.2 | Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, an Ancillary Lender may make all or part of its Commitment available to the Company as an Ancillary Facility. |
Β
2.2 | Increase |
Β
Β | 2.2.1 | The Company may by giving prior notice to the Facility Agent by no later than the date falling 10 Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with sub-clause 10.6.4 of Clause 10.6 (Involuntary prepayment and cancellation); or |
Β
Β | (b) | the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with: |
Β
Β | (i) | ClauseΒ 10.1 (Mandatory prepayment β illegality); or |
Β
Β | (ii) | sub-clause 10.6.2 of Clause 10.6 (Involuntary prepayment and cancellation), |
request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments 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:
Β
Β | (c) | the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks, financial institutions, trusts, funds or other entities (each an βIncrease Lenderβ) selected by the Company (each of which shall not be a member of the Group and which is further acceptable to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably)) 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; |
Β
Β | (d) | the Company and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Company and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender; |
Β
Β | (e) | each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a βLenderβ 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; |
Β
Β | (f) | the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and |
Β
Β | (g) | any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by the Company in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in sub-clause 2.2.2 below are satisfied. |
Β
32
Β | 2.2.2 | An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on: |
Β
Β | (a) | the execution by the Facility Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; and |
Β
Β | (b) | in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase the performance by the Facility Agent of all necessary βknow your customerβ 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 Facility Agent shall promptly notify to the Company and the Increase Lender. |
Β
Β | 2.2.3 | Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Facility 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. |
Β
Β | 2.2.4 | Unless the Facility Agent otherwise agrees or the increased Commitment is assumed by an existing Lender, the Company shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee of Β£1,750 and the Company shall promptly on demand pay the Facility Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2. |
Β
Β | 2.2.5 | The Company may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Company and the Increase Lender in a letter between the Company and the Increase Lender setting out that fee. A reference in this Agreement to a Fee Letter shall include any letter referred to in this paragraph. |
Β
Β | 2.2.6 | Clause 29.4 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lender) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to: |
Β
Β | (a) | an βExisting Lenderβ were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase; |
Β
Β | (b) | the βNew Lenderβ were references to that βIncrease Lenderβ; and |
Β
Β | (c) | a βre-transferβ and βre-assignmentβ were references to respectively a βtransferβ and βassignmentβ.β |
Β
Β | 2.2.7 | Each Party (other than the Increase Lender) irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent to execute any duly completed Increase Confirmation on its behalf. |
Β
2.3 | Nature of a Finance Partyβs rights and obligations |
Unless otherwise agreed by all the Finance Parties:
Β
Β | 2.3.1 | the obligations of a Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several; |
Β
33
Β | 2.3.2 | failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents; |
Β
Β | 2.3.3 | no Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents; |
Β
Β | 2.3.4 | the rights of a Finance Party under the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights; |
Β
Β | 2.3.5 | a debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party is a separate and independent debt; and |
Β
Β | 2.3.6 | a Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce those rights. |
Β
3. | PURPOSE |
Β
3.1 | Purpose |
The Company shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Facility towards the general corporate purposes of the Group and in compliance with the Licence, but not in the case of any utilisation of any Ancillary Facility towards any prepayment of any Loan.
Β
3.2 | No obligation to monitor |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.
Β
4. | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
Β
4.1 | Conditions precedent documents |
A Request may not be given until the Facility Agent has notified the Company and the Lenders that it has received (or, subject to all Lender consent, waived receipt of) all of the documents and evidence set out in Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent Documents) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent. The Facility Agent shall give this notification to the Company and the Lenders upon being so satisfied.
Β
4.2 | Further conditions precedent |
The obligations of each Lender to participate in any Loan are subject to the further conditions precedent that on both the date of the Request and the Drawdown Date for that Loan:
Β
Β | 4.2.1 | the Repeating Representations are correct in all material respects; and |
Β
Β | 4.2.2 | no Default or, in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is outstanding or would result from the Loan. |
Β
34
4.3 | Conditions relating to Optional Currencies |
Β
Β | 4.3.1 | A currency will constitute an Optional Currency in relation to a Loan if: |
Β
Β | (a) | 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 Drawdown Date for that Loan; and |
Β
Β | (b) | it is euros or U.S. Dollars or has been approved by the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) on or prior to receipt by the Facility Agent of the relevant Request for that Loan. |
Β
Β | 4.3.2 | If the Facility Agent has received a written request from the Company for a currency to be approved under paragraph (b)Β of sub-clause 4.3.1 above, the Facility Agent will confirm to the Company by the Specified Time: |
Β
Β | (a) | whether or not the Lenders have granted their approval; and |
Β
Β | (b) | if approval has been granted, the minimum amount (and, if required, integral multiples) for any subsequent Loan in that currency. |
Β
4.4 | Maximum number |
Unless the Facility Agent agrees, a Request may not be given if, as a result, there would be more than 20 Loans outstanding.
Β
5. | UTILISATION |
Β
5.1 | Giving of Requests |
Β
Β | 5.1.1 | The Company may borrow a Loan by giving to the Facility Agent a duly completed Request not later than the Specified Time. |
Β
Β | 5.1.2 | Each Request is irrevocable. |
Β
5.2 | Completion of Requests |
Β
Β | 5.2.1 | A Request for a Loan will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Drawdown Date is a Business Day falling within the Availability Period; |
Β
Β | (b) | the currency and amount of the Loan comply with Clause 5.3 (Currency and amount); and |
Β
Β | (c) | the proposed Term complies with this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 5.2.2 | Only one Loan may be requested in a Request. |
Β
5.3 | Currency and amount |
Β
Β | 5.3.1 | The currency specified in a Request must be either the Base Currency or an Optional Currency. |
Β
35
Β | 5.3.2 | The amount of the proposed Loan must be: |
Β
Β | (a) | if the currency selected is the Base Currency, a minimum of Β£5,000,000 and an integral multiple of Β£1,000,000 or, if less, the Available Facility (or such other amount as the Facility Agent may agree); or |
Β
Β | (b) | if the currency selected is an Optional Currency, the minimum amount (and if required, integral multiple) specified by the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (b)Β of sub-clause 4.3.2 of Clause 4.3 (Conditions relating to Optional Currencies) or, if less, the Available Facility. |
Β
5.4 | Advance of Loan |
Β
Β | 5.4.1 | The Facility Agent must promptly notify each Lender of the details of the requested Loan and the amount of its share in that Loan. |
Β
Β | 5.4.2 | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, and subject to Clause 9.2 (Cashless Rollover), each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available no later than 2.00 pm on the Drawdown Date through its Facility Office. |
Β
Β | 5.4.3 | Save as set out in sub-clause 5.4.4 below, the amount of each Lenderβs share of the Loan will be its Pro Rata Share on the proposed Drawdown Date. |
Β
Β | 5.4.4 | If a Loan is made to repay Ancillary Outstandings, each Lenderβs participation in that Loan will be in an amount (as determined by the Facility Agent) which will result as nearly as possible in the aggregate amount of its participation in the Loans then outstanding bearing the same proportion to the aggregate amount of the Loans then outstanding as its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments. |
Β
Β | 5.4.5 | No Lender is obliged to participate in a Loan if as a result: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Base Currency Amount of its share in the aggregate amount of the Loans would exceed its Commitment; or |
Β
Β | (b) | the Base Currency Amount of the Loans would exceed the Total Commitments. |
Β
Β | 5.4.6 | The Facility Agent shall determine the Base Currency Amount of each Loan which is to be made in an Optional Currency and shall 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 accordance with Clause 17 (Payments), in each case by the Specified Time. |
Β
6. | EXTENSION OPTION |
Β
6.1 | The Company may by notice to the Facility Agent (the Initial Extension Request) not more than 60 days and not less than 30 days before the first anniversary of the date of the Amendment Agreement (the First Anniversary), request that the Final Maturity Date be extended for a further period of one year. |
Β
6.2 | The Company may by notice to the Facility Agent (the Second Extension Request) no more than 60 days and not less than 30 days before the second anniversary of the date of the Amendment Agreement (the Second Anniversary), request that the Final Maturity Date: |
Β
Β | (a) | with respect to Lenders who have agreed to the Initial Extension Request, be extended for a further period of one year; and/or |
Β
36
Β | (b) | if no Initial Extension Request has been made, or with respect to Lenders who refused the Initial Extension Request: |
Β
Β | (i) | be extended for a period of one year; or |
Β
Β | (ii) | be extended for a period of two years, |
as selected by the Company in the notice to the Facility Agent.
Β
6.3 | The Facility Agent must promptly notify the Lenders of any Initial Extension Request or Second Extension Request (an Extension Request). |
Β
6.4 | Each Lender may, in its sole discretion, agree to any Extension Request. Each Lender that agrees to an Extension Request by the date falling 15 days before, the relevant anniversary of the date of this Agreement, will extend its Commitment for a further period of one year or two years, as set out in the relevant Extension Request, from the then current Final Maturity Date and the Final Maturity Date of that Lender will be extended accordingly. |
Β
6.5 | If any Lender fails to reply to an Extension Request on or before the date falling 15 days before the relevant anniversary of the date of this Agreement, it will be deemed to have refused that Extension Request and its Commitment will not be extended. |
Β
6.6 | Subject to Clause 6.8 below, each Extension Request is irrevocable. |
Β
6.7 | If one or more (but not all) of the Lenders agree to an Extension Request, then the Facility Agent must notify the Company and the Lenders which have agreed to the extension, identifying in that notification which Lenders have not agreed to the Extension Request. |
Β
6.8 | The Company may, on the basis that one or more of the Lenders have not agreed to the Extension Request and no later than the date falling 5 days before the relevant anniversary of the date of this Agreement, withdraw the request by notice to the Facility Agent which will promptly notify the Lenders. |
Β
7. | OPTIONAL CURRENCIES |
Β
7.1 | Selection |
Β
Β | 7.1.1 | The Company must select the currency of a Loan in its Request. The Company may select the Base Currency or an Optional Currency for a Loan. |
Β
Β | 7.1.2 | Unless the Facility Agent otherwise agrees, the Loans may not be denominated at any one time in more than three currencies. |
Β
37
7.2 | Revocation of currency |
Β
Β | 7.2.1 | Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, if before the Specified Time on any Quotation Day the Facility Agent receives notice from a Lender that: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Optional Currency requested is not readily available to it in the relevant interbank market in the amount and for the period required; or |
Β
Β | (b) | participating in a Loan in the proposed Optional Currency might contravene any law or regulation applicable to it, |
the Facility Agent must give notice to the Company to that effect promptly and in any event before the Specified Time on that day.
Β
Β | 7.2.2 | In this event: |
Β
Β | (a) | that Lender must participate in the Loan in the Base Currency (in an amount equal to that Lenderβs proportion of the Base Currency Amount or, in respect of a Rollover Loan, an amount equal to that Lenderβs proportion of the Base Currency Amount of the Rollover Loan that is due to be made); and |
Β
Β | (b) | the share of that Lender in the Loan and any other similarly affected Lender(s) will be treated as a separate Loan denominated in the Base Currency during that Term. |
Β
Β | 7.2.3 | Any part of a Loan treated as a separate Loan under this sub-clause will not be taken into account for the purposes of any limit on the number of Loans or currencies outstanding at any one time. |
Β
Β | 7.2.4 | A Loan will still be treated as a Rollover Loan if it is not denominated in the same currency as the maturing Loan by reason only of the operation of this sub-clause. |
Β
7.3 | Optional Currency equivalents |
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the equivalent in the Base Currency of a Loan or part of a Loan in an Optional Currency for the purposes of calculating:
Β
Β | 7.3.1 | whether any limit under this Agreement has been exceeded; |
Β
Β | 7.3.2 | the amount of a Loan; |
Β
Β | 7.3.3 | the share of a Lender in a Loan; |
Β
Β | 7.3.4 | the amount of any repayment of a Loan; or |
Β
Β | 7.3.5 | the undrawn amount of a Lenderβs Commitment, |
is its Base Currency Amount.
Β
8. | ANCILLARY FACILITIES |
Β
8.1 | Type of Facility |
An Ancillary Facility may be by way of:
Β
Β | 8.1.1 | a multicurrency overdraft facility; |
Β
Β | 8.1.2 | a multicurrency guarantee, bonding, documentary or stand-by letter of credit facility; |
Β
38
Β | 8.1.3 | a short term multicurrency loan facility; |
Β
Β | 8.1.4 | a derivatives facility; |
Β
Β | 8.1.5 | a foreign exchange facility; or |
Β
Β | 8.1.6 | any other multicurrency facility or accommodation required in connection with the business of the Group and which is agreed by the Company with an Ancillary Lender. |
Β
8.2 | Availability |
Β
Β | 8.2.1 | If the Company and a Lender agree and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Lender may provide all or part of its Commitment as an Ancillary Facility. |
Β
Β | 8.2.2 | An Ancillary Facility shall not be made available unless, not later than three Business Days prior to the Ancillary Commencement Date for an Ancillary Facility, the Facility Agent has received from the Company: |
Β
Β | (a) | a notice in writing of the establishment of an Ancillary Facility and specifying: |
Β
Β | (i) | the proposed Ancillary Commencement Date and expiry date of the Ancillary Facility; |
Β
Β | (ii) | the proposed type of Ancillary Facility to be provided; |
Β
Β | (iii) | the proposed Ancillary Lender; |
Β
Β | (iv) | the proposed Ancillary Commitment, the maximum amount of the Ancillary Facility and, in the case of a Multi-account Overdraft, its Designated Gross Amount and its Designated Net Amount; |
Β
Β | (v) | the proposed currency of the Ancillary Facility (if not denominated in the Base Currency); and |
Β
Β | (b) | any other information which the Facility Agent may reasonably request in connection with the Ancillary Facility. |
Β
Β | 8.2.3 | The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Ancillary Lender and the other Lenders of the establishment of an Ancillary Facility. |
Β
Β | 8.2.4 | Subject to compliance with sub-clause 8.2.2 above: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Lender concerned will become an Ancillary Lender; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the Ancillary Facility will be available, |
with effect from the date agreed by the Company and the Ancillary Lender.
Β
39
8.3 | Terms of Ancillary Facilities |
Β
Β | 8.3.1 | Except as provided below, the terms of any Ancillary Facility will be those agreed by the Ancillary Lender and the Company. |
Β
Β | 8.3.2 | Those terms: |
Β
Β | (a) | must be based upon normal commercial terms at that time (except as varied by this Agreement); |
Β
Β | (b) | may only allow the Company to use the Ancillary Facility; |
Β
Β | (c) | may not allow the Ancillary Outstandings to exceed the Ancillary Commitment; |
Β
Β | (d) | may not allow the Ancillary Commitment of a Lender to exceed the Available Commitment of that Lender (before taking into account the effect of the Ancillary Facility on that Available Commitment); and |
Β
Β | (e) | must require that the Ancillary Commitment is reduced to nil, and that all Ancillary Outstandings are repaid not later than the Final Maturity Date (or such earlier date as the Commitment of the relevant Ancillary Lender (or its Affiliate) is reduced to zero). |
Β
Β | 8.3.3 | If there is any inconsistency between any term of an Ancillary Facility and any term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail except for (i)Β Clause 24.3 (Calculations) which shall not prevail for the purposes of calculating fees, interest or commission relating to an Ancillary Facility; (ii)Β an Ancillary Facility comprising more than one account where the terms of the Ancillary Documents shall prevail to the extent required to permit the netting of balances on those accounts; and (iii)Β where the relevant term of this Agreement would be contrary to, or inconsistent with, the law governing the relevant Ancillary Document, in which case that term of this Agreement shall not prevail. |
Β
Β | 8.3.4 | Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities are dealt with in Clause 25.6 (Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities). |
Β
8.4 | Repayment of Ancillary Facility |
Β
Β | 8.4.1 | An Ancillary Facility shall cease to be available on the Final Maturity Date or such earlier date on which its expiry date occurs or on which it is cancelled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 8.4.2 | If an Ancillary Facility expires or is cancelled in accordance with its terms the Ancillary Commitment of the Ancillary Lender shall be reduced to zero. |
Β
Β | 8.4.3 | No Ancillary Lender may demand repayment or prepayment of any Ancillary Outstandings prior to the expiry date of the relevant Ancillary Facility unless: |
Β
Β | (a) | required to reduce the Permitted Gross Outstandings of a Multi-account Overdraft to or towards an amount equal to its Designated Net Amount; |
Β
40
Β | (b) | the Total Commitments have been cancelled in full, or all outstanding Loans have become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; |
Β
Β | (c) | it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for the Ancillary Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund, issue or maintain its participation in its Ancillary Facility (or it becomes unlawful for any Affiliate of the Ancillary Lender for the Ancillary Lender to do so); or |
Β
Β | (d) | both: |
Β
Β | (i) | the Available Commitments; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | the notice of the demand given by the Ancillary Lender, |
would not prevent the Company funding the repayment of those Ancillary Outstandings in full by way of Loan.
Β
Β | 8.4.4 | If a Loan is made to repay Ancillary Outstandings in full, the relevant Ancillary Commitment shall be reduced to zero. |
Β
8.5 | Limitations on Ancillary Outstandings |
The Company shall procure that:
Β
Β | 8.5.1 | the Ancillary Outstandings under any Ancillary Facility shall not exceed the Ancillary Commitment applicable to that Ancillary Facility; and |
Β
Β | 8.5.2 | in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Ancillary Outstandings shall not exceed the Designated Net Amount applicable to that Multi-account Overdraft; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the Gross Outstandings shall not exceed the Designated Gross Amount applicable to that Multi-account Overdraft. |
Β
8.6 | Information |
The Company and each Ancillary Lender shall, promptly upon request by the Facility Agent, supply the Facility Agent with any information relating to the operation of an Ancillary Facility (including the Ancillary Outstandings) as the Facility Agent may reasonably request from time to time. The Company consents to all such information being released to the Facility Agent and the other Finance Parties.
Β
8.7 | Affiliates of Lenders as Ancillary Lenders |
Β
Β | 8.7.1 | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, an Affiliate of a Lender may become an Ancillary Lender. In such case, the Lender and its Affiliate shall be treated as a single Lender whose Commitment is the amount set out opposite the relevant Lenderβs name in Schedule 1 (Original Parties) and/or the amount of any Commitment transferred to or assumed by that Lender under this Agreement, to the extent (in each case) not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement. |
Β
41
Β | 8.7.2 | The Company shall specify any relevant Affiliate of a Lender in any notice delivered by the Company to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph 8.2.2(a) of Clause 8.2 (Availability). |
Β
Β | 8.7.3 | If a Lender assigns all of its rights and benefits or transfers all of its rights and obligations to a New Lender, its Affiliate shall cease to have any obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document. |
Β
Β | 8.7.4 | Where this Agreement or any other Finance Document imposes an obligation on an Ancillary Lender and the relevant Ancillary Lender is an Affiliate of a Lender which is not a party to that document, the relevant Lender shall ensure that the obligation is performed by its Affiliate. |
Β
8.8 | Commitment amounts |
Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, each Lender shall ensure that at all times its Commitment is not less than its Ancillary Commitment or the Ancillary Commitment of its Affiliate.
Β
8.9 | Amendments and Waivers β Ancillary Facilities |
No amendment or waiver of a term of any Ancillary Facility shall require the consent of any Finance Party other than the relevant Ancillary Lender unless such amendment or waiver itself relates to or gives rise to a matter which would require an amendment of or under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, under this Clause). In such a case, the provisions of this Agreement with regard to amendments and waivers will apply.
Β
9. | REPAYMENT |
Β
9.1 | Repayment of Loans |
Β
Β | 9.1.1 | The Company must repay each Loan in full on its Maturity Date. No Loan may be outstanding after the Final Maturity Date. |
Β
Β | 9.1.2 | Subject to the other terms of this Agreement, any amounts repaid under sub-clause 9.1.1 above may be re-borrowed. |
Β
9.2 | Cashless Rollover |
Β
Β | 9.2.1 | Without prejudice to the Companyβs obligation under Clause 9.1 above, if one or more Loans are to be made available to the Company: |
Β
Β | (a) | on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid by the Company; |
Β
Β | (b) | in the same currency as the maturing Loan (unless it arose as a result of the operation of Clause 7.2 (Revocation of currency); and |
Β
Β | (c) | in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Loan, |
Β
42
the aggregate amount of the new Loans shall be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Loan so that:
Β
Β | (i) | if the amount of the maturing Loan exceeds the aggregate amount of the new Loans: |
Β
Β | (A) | the Company will only be required to pay an amount in cash in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and |
Β
Β | (B) | each Lenderβs participation (if any) in the new Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Company in or towards repayment of that Lenderβs participation (if any) in the maturing Loan and that Lender will not be required to make its participation in the new Loans available in cash; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | if the amount of the maturing Loan is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of the new Loans: |
Β
Β | (A) | the Company will not be required to make any payment in cash; and |
Β
Β | (B) | each Lender will be required to make its participation in the new Loans available in cash only to the extent that its participation (if any) in the new Loans exceeds that Lenderβs participation (if any) in the maturing Loan and the remainder of that Lenderβs participation in the new Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Company in or towards repayment of that Lenderβs participation in the maturing Loan. |
Β
10. | PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION |
Β
10.1 | Mandatory prepayment - illegality |
Β
Β | 10.1.1 | A Lender must notify the Company promptly if it becomes aware that it is unlawful in any jurisdiction for that Lender to perform any of its obligations under a Finance Document or to fund or maintain its share in any Loan. |
Β
Β | 10.1.2 | After notification under clause 10.1.1 above: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Company must repay or prepay the share of that Lender in each Loan made to it on the date specified in clause 10.1.3 below; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the Commitments of that Lender will be immediately cancelled. |
Β
Β | 10.1.3 | The date for repayment or prepayment of a Lenderβs share in a Loan will be: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Business Day following receipt by the Company of notice from the Lender under sub-clause 10.1.1 above; or |
Β
Β | (b) | if later, the latest date allowed by the relevant law. |
Β
43
10.2 | Mandatory prepayment - change of control |
If, except in the context of a group reorganisation where the Company continues to be controlled directly or indirectly by PPL, the Company becomes aware of any person (whether alone or together with any associated person or persons) gaining control of the Company (for these purposes βassociated personβ means, in relation to any person, a person who is (i)Β βacting in concertβ (as defined in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) with that person or (ii)Β a βconnected personβ (as defined in sectionΒ 839 of the Taxes Act) of that person and βcontrolβ means the relevant person satisfies any of the criteria set out in paragraphs (1)(a)Β to (c)Β of SectionΒ 1159 of the Companies Act 2006):
Β
Β | 10.2.1 | within five days of such date, the Company shall give notice of such change of control to the Facility Agent; |
Β
Β | 10.2.2 | the Lenders and the Company shall immediately enter into negotiations for a period of not more than 45Β days from the date of the change of control with a view to agreeing whether the Facility shall continue to be made available and on what terms; |
Β
Β | 10.2.3 | if no such agreement is reached within the said period of 45Β days then: |
Β
Β | (a) | any Lender may on 10 daysβ notice to the Facility Agent and to the Company require the repayment of its share in each Loan and the repayment of its Ancillary Outstandings and cancel its Commitment; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the Majority Lenders may on 10 daysβ notice to the Company require repayment in full of all outstanding Loans and Ancillary Outstandings and cancel the Total Commitments; and |
Β
Β | 10.2.4 | a Lender shall not be obliged to fund any further loans under the Facility (except for a Rollover Loan) during the negotiation period set out in sub-clause 10.2.2, and if no agreement is reached within such negotiation period, during the 10 day notice period set out in sub-clause 10.2.3. |
Β
10.3 | Voluntary prepayment |
Β
Β | 10.3.1 | The Company may, by giving not less than five Business Daysβ prior written notice to the Facility Agent, prepay any Loan at any time in whole or in part. |
Β
Β | 10.3.2 | A prepayment of part of a Loan drawn in US Dollars must be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of U.S. $1,000,000. |
Β
Β | 10.3.3 | A prepayment of part of a Loan drawn in Sterling must be in a minimum amount of Β£5,000,000 and an integral multiple of Β£1,000,000. |
Β
Β | 10.3.4 | A prepayment of part of a Loan drawn in euros must be in a minimum amount of ?5,000,000 and an integral multiple of ?1,000,000. |
Β
10.4 | Automatic cancellation |
The Commitments of each Lender will be automatically cancelled at the close of business on the last day of the Availability Period.
Β
44
10.5 | Voluntary cancellation |
Β
Β | 10.5.1 | The Company may, by giving not less than three Business Daysβ prior written notice to the Facility Agent, cancel the unutilised amount of the Total Commitments in whole or in part. |
Β
Β | 10.5.2 | Partial cancellation of the Total Commitments must be in a minimum amount of Β£5,000,000 and an integral multiple of Β£1,000,000. |
Β
Β | 10.5.3 | Any cancellation in part shall be applied against the Commitment of each Lender pro rata. |
Β
10.6 | Involuntary prepayment and cancellation |
Β
Β | 10.6.1 | If the Company is, or will be, required to pay to a Lender a Tax Payment or an Increased Cost, the Company may, while the requirement continues, give notice to the Facility Agent requesting prepayment and cancellation in respect of that Lender. |
Β
Β | 10.6.2 | After notification under sub-clause 10.6.1 above: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Company must repay or prepay that Lenderβs share in each Loan made to it on the date specified in sub-clause 10.6.3 below; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the Commitments of that Lender will be immediately cancelled. |
Β
Β | 10.6.3 | The date for repayment or prepayment of a Lenderβs share in a Loan will be the last day of the current Term for that Loan or, if earlier, the date specified by the Company in its notification. |
Β
Β | 10.6.4 | Β Β Β Β |
Β
Β | (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 Facility Agent 5 Business Daysβ notice of cancellation of the Available Commitment of that Lender. |
Β
Β | (b) | On the notice referred to in paragraph (a)Β above becoming effective, the Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
Β
Β | (c) | The Facility Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a)Β above, notify all the Lenders. |
Β
10.7 | Re-borrowing of Loans |
Any voluntary prepayment of a Loan may be re-borrowed on the terms of this Agreement. Any mandatory or involuntary prepayment of a Loan may not be re-borrowed.
Β
45
10.8 | Miscellaneous provisions |
Β
Β | 10.8.1 | Any notice of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement is irrevocable and must specify the relevant date(s) and the affected Loans and Commitments. The Facility Agent must notify the Lenders promptly of receipt of any such notice. |
Β
Β | 10.8.2 | All prepayments made under Clause 10.2 (Mandatory prepayment - change of control) shall be applied pro rata to each Lenderβs participation in such Loan. |
Β
Β | 10.8.3 | All prepayments under this Agreement must be made with accrued interest on the amount prepaid. No premium or penalty is payable in respect of any prepayment except for Break Costs. |
Β
Β | 10.8.4 | The Majority Lenders may agree a shorter notice period for a voluntary prepayment or a voluntary cancellation. |
Β
Β | 10.8.5 | No prepayment or cancellation is allowed except in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 10.8.6 | Subject to Clause 2.2 (Increase), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may subsequently be reinstated. |
Β
11. | INTEREST |
Β
11.1 | Calculation of interest |
The rate of interest on each Loan for each Term is the percentage rate per annum equal to the aggregate of the applicable:
Β
Β | 11.1.1 | Margin; and |
Β
Β | 11.1.2 | LIBOR or, in relation to any Loan in euro, EURIBOR. |
Β
11.2 | Payment of interest |
Except where it is provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company must pay accrued interest on each Loan made to it on the last day of each Term and also, if the Term is longer than six months, on the dates falling at six-monthly intervals after the first day of that Term.
Β
11.3 | Interest on overdue amounts |
Β
Β | 11.3.1 | If the Company fails to pay any amount payable by it under the Finance Documents, it must immediately on demand by the Facility Agent pay interest on the overdue amount from its due date up to the date of actual payment, both before, on and after judgment. |
Β
Β | 11.3.2 | Interest on an overdue amount is payable at a rate determined by the Facility Agent to be one per cent. per annum above the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount. For this purpose, the Facility Agent may (acting reasonably): |
Β
Β | (a) | select successive Terms of any duration of up to three months; and |
Β
Β | (b) | determine the appropriate Quotation Day for that Term. |
Β
46
Β | 11.3.3 | Notwithstanding sub-clause 11.3.2 above, if the overdue amount is a principal amount of a Loan and becomes due and payable prior to the last day of its current Term, then: |
Β
Β | (a) | the first Term for that overdue amount will be the unexpired portion of that Term; and |
Β
Β | (b) | the rate of interest on the overdue amount for that first Term will be one per cent. per annum above the rate then payable on that Loan. |
After the expiry of the first Term for that overdue amount, the rate on the overdue amount will be calculated in accordance with sub-clause 11.3.2 above.
Β
Β | 11.3.4 | Interest (if unpaid) on an overdue amount will be compounded with that overdue amount at the end of each of its Terms but will remain immediately due and payable. |
Β
11.4 | Notification of rates of interest |
The Facility Agent must promptly notify each relevant Party of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.
Β
12. | TERMS |
Β
12.1 | Selection |
Β
Β | 12.1.1 | Each Loan has one Term only. |
Β
Β | 12.1.2 | The Company must select the Term for a Loan in the relevant Request. |
Β
Β | 12.1.3 | Subject to the following provisions of this Clause, each Term for a Loan will be one, two, three or six months or for a period of one to thirty days or any other period agreed between the Company and the Lenders. |
Β
Β | 12.1.4 | The Company shall not use its right under paragraph 12.1.3 above to select for a Loan a Term of less than one monthβs duration more than six times in any calendar year. |
Β
Β | 12.1.5 | A Term for a Loan shall start on the Drawdown Date for that Loan. |
Β
12.2 | No overrunning the Final Maturity Date |
If a Term would otherwise overrun the Final Maturity Date, it will be shortened so that it ends on the Final Maturity Date.
Β
12.3 | Other adjustments |
Β
Β | 12.3.1 | The Facility Agent and the Company may enter into such other arrangements as they may agree for the adjustment of Terms and the consolidation and/or splitting of Loans. |
Β
47
Β | 12.3.2 | Subject to Clause 12.3.3 below, if two or more Terms end on the same date, those Loans will, unless the Company specifies to the contrary in the Request for the next Term, be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Term. |
Β
Β | 12.3.3 | Subject to Clause 4.4 (Maximum Number) and Clause 5.2 (Completion of Requests) if the Company requests in a Request that a Loan be divided into two or more Loans, that Loan will, on the last day of its Term, be so divided into the Base Currency Amounts specified in that Request, having an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to the Base Currency Amount of the Loan immediately before its division. |
Β
12.4 | Notification |
The Facility Agent must notify the Company and the Lenders of the duration of each Term promptly after ascertaining its duration.
Β
13. | MARKET DISRUPTION |
Β
13.1 | Failure of a Reference Bank to supply a rate |
Subject to the other provisions of this Clause, if LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR or EURIBOR will be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.
Β
13.2 | Market disruption |
Β
Β | 13.2.1 | In this Clause, each of the following events is a market disruption event: |
Β
Β | (a) | at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Term, LIBOR or if applicable EURIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Facility Agent to determine LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR for the relevant currency and Term; or |
Β
Β | (b) | before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Term, the Facility Agent receives notification from a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the relevant Loan exceed 50% of that Loan that the cost to it (or them) of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR for the relevant Term. |
Β
Β | 13.2.2 | The Facility Agent must promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of a market disruption event. |
Β
Β | 13.2.3 | After notification under sub-clause 13.2.1(a) above, the rate of interest on each Lenderβs share in the affected Loan for the relevant Term will be the aggregate of the applicable: |
Β
Β | (a) | Margin; and |
Β
Β | (b) | rate notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable, and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that Term, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its share in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select. |
Β
48
13.3 | Alternative basis of interest or funding |
Β
Β | 13.3.1 | If a market disruption event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Company so requires, the Company and the Facility Agent must enter into negotiations for a period of not more than 30 days with a view to agreeing an alternative basis for determining the rate of interest and/or funding for the affected Loan and any future Loan. |
Β
Β | 13.3.2 | Any alternative basis agreed will be, with the prior consent of all the Lenders, binding on all the Parties. |
Β
14. | TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITIES |
Β
14.1 | Definitions |
Β
Β | 14.1.1 | In this Agreement: |
βQualifying Lenderβ means:
Β
Β | (a) | a Lender (other than a Lender within paragraph (b)Β below) which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document and is: |
Β
Β | (i) | a Lender: |
Β
Β | (A) | which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document; or |
Β
Β | (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 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; or
Β
Β | (ii) | a Lender which is: |
Β
Β | (A) | a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; |
Β
Β | (B) | a partnership each member of which is: |
Β
Β | (1) | a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or |
Β
Β | (2) | 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 |
Β
49
Β | (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 |
Β
Β | (iii) | a Treaty Lender; or |
Β
Β | (b) | a Lender which is a building society (as defined for the purpose of section 880 of ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document. |
βTax Confirmationβ 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:
Β
Β | (a) | a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; |
Β
Β | (b) | a partnership each member of which is: |
Β
Β | (i) | a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or |
Β
Β | (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 |
Β
Β | (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. |
βTax Creditβ means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.
βTreaty Lenderβ means a Lender which:
Β
Β | (a) | is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty; |
Β
Β | (b) | does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lenderβs participation in the Loan is effectively connected; and |
Β
50
Β | (c) | meets all other conditions which must be met under the Treaty for residents of such Treaty State to obtain full exemption from tax on interest imposed by the United Kingdom, except that for this purpose it shall be assumed that the following are satisfied: |
Β
Β | (i) | any condition which relates (expressly or by implication) to the amounts or terms of any Loan or the Finance Documents or any condition which relates (expressly or by implication) to there not being a special relationship between the Company and the Finance Party or between them both and another person; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | any necessary procedural formality. |
βTreaty Stateβ means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a βTreatyβ) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.
βUK Non-Bank Lenderβ means 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.
Β
Β | 14.1.2 | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 14 a reference to βdeterminesβ or βdeterminedβ means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination. |
Β
14.2 | Tax gross-up |
Β
Β | 14.2.1 | The Company shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. |
Β
Β | 14.2.2 | The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Facility Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Facility Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Facility Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Company. |
Β
Β | 14.2.3 | If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by the Company, the amount of the payment due from the Company 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. |
Β
Β | 14.2.4 | A payment shall not be increased under sub-clause 14.2.3 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: |
Β
Β | (a) | 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 |
Β
51
Β | (b) | the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and: |
Β
Β | (i) | an officer of HM RevenueΒ & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a βDirectionβ) under section 931 of the ITA which relates to the payment and that Lender has received from the Company a certified copy of that Direction; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if that Direction had not been made; or |
Β
Β | (c) | the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and: |
Β
Β | (i) | the relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation to the Company; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the Company on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled the Company to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an βexcepted paymentβ for the purpose of section 930 of the ITA; or |
Β
Β | (d) | the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Company 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 sub-clause 14.2.7 below. |
Β
Β | 14.2.5 | If the Company is required to make a Tax Deduction, the Company 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. |
Β
Β | 14.2.6 | Within thirty days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Company making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under SectionΒ 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. |
Β
Β | 14.2.7 | Β Β Β Β |
Β
Β | (a) | Subject to paragraph (b)Β below, a Treaty Lender and the Company which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Company to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction. |
Β
Β | (b) | Nothing in paragraph (a)Β above shall require a Treaty Lender to: |
Β
Β | (i) | register under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme; |
Β
Β | (ii) | apply the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to any Loan if it has so registered; or |
Β
52
Β | (iii) | file Treaty forms if it has included an indication to the effect that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with paragraph 14.2.10 below or paragraph 14.6.1 of Clause 14.6 (HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme confirmation) and the Company making that payment has not complied with its obligations under paragraph 14.2.11 below or paragraph 14.6.2 of Clause 14.6 (HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme confirmation). |
Β
Β | 14.2.8 | 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 Company by entering into this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 14.2.9 | A UK Non-Bank Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Facility Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation. |
Β
Β | 14.2.10 | A Treaty Lender which becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall include an indication to that effect (for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to the Company) by including its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence opposite its name in ScheduleΒ 1 (Original Parties). |
Β
Β | 14.2.11 | Where a Lender includes the indication described in paragraph 14.2.10 above in Schedule 1 (Original Parties), the Company shall file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HM RevenueΒ & Customs within 30 days of the date of this Agreement and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing provided that the Company shall not be liable in respect of any non-compliance with its obligations under this Clause 14.2.11 where such non-compliance is due to circumstances beyond the control of the Company (including, without limitation, any delay, failure or omission on the part of the relevant Lender or the Facility Agent to comply with any obligation owed to the Company, or to any inaccuracy in any information provided by the relevant Lender or the Facility Agent in connection with the DT Treaty Passport scheme). |
Β
Β | 14.2.12 | Any Lender which has confirmed that it is entitled to use its DT Treaty Passport in accordance with Clause 14.2.10 or Clause 14.6.1 will reasonably promptly notify the Facility Agent and the Company if at any time it ceases to holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme or if it ceases to be able to use such passport as a Lender. |
Β
Β | 14.2.13 | If a Lender has not included an indication to the effect that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with sub-clause 14.2.10 above or sub-clause 14.6.1 of Clause 14.6 (HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme confirmation), the Company shall not file any form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lenderβs Commitment or its participation in any Loan. |
Β
53
14.3 | Tax indemnity |
Β
Β | 14.3.1 | Except as provided below, the Company must, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify a Finance Party against any loss or liability which that Finance Party (in its absolute discretion) determines will be or has been suffered (directly or indirectly) by that Finance Party for or on account of Tax in relation to a payment received or receivable (or any payment deemed to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document. |
Β
Β | 14.3.2 | Sub-clause 14.3.1 above does not apply to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party under the laws of the jurisdiction in which: |
Β
Β | (a) | that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or |
Β
Β | (b) | that Finance Partyβs 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 by that Finance Party. However, any payment deemed to be received or receivable, including any amount treated as income but not actually received by the Finance Party, such as a Tax Deduction, will not be treated as net income received or receivable for this purpose.
Β
Β | 14.3.3 | Sub-clause 14.3.1 above does not apply to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party to the extent the loss or liability: |
Β
Β | (a) | is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up); |
Β
Β | (b) | would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up) applied; or |
Β
Β | (c) | relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party. |
Β
Β | 14.3.4 | A Finance Party making, or intending to make, a claim under sub-clause 14.3.1 above must promptly notify the Company of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim. |
Β
14.4 | Tax Credit |
If the Company makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party has obtained, used and retained any Tax Credit that is attributable to that Tax Payment, then, if in its discretion (acting reasonably) it can do so without any further adverse consequences for it, that Finance Party must pay an amount to the Company which that Finance Party determines (in its discretion, acting reasonably) will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-tax position as it would have been in if the Tax Payment had not been required to be made by the Company. The relevant Finance Party shall take those steps it considers in its opinion reasonable to seek and claim any tax credit.
Β
54
14.5 | 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 Facility Agent and without liability to the Company, which of the following categories it falls in:
Β
Β | 14.5.1 | not a Qualifying Lender; |
Β
Β | 14.5.2 | a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or |
Β
Β | 14.5.3 | a Treaty Lender. |
If a New Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Clause 14.5 then such New Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Facility Agent which category applies (and the Facility Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Company). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate or assignment agreement shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Clause 14.5.
Β
14.6 | HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme confirmation |
Β
Β | 14.6.1 | A New Lender that is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall include an indication to that effect (for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to the Company) in the Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation which it executes by including its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in that Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation. |
Β
Β | 14.6.2 | Where a New Lender includes the indication described in sub-clause 14.6.1 above in the relevant Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation the Company shall file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HM RevenueΒ & Customs within 30 days of the relevant Transfer Date and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing. |
Β
14.7 | Stamp taxes |
The Company shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document, except for any such Tax payable in respect of a Transfer Certificate or other transfer or disposal of a Lenderβs rights or obligations under a Finance Document.
Β
14.8 | VAT |
Β
Β | 14.8.1 | 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 sub-clause 14.8.2 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). |
Β
55
Β | 14.8.2 | If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the βSupplierβ) to any other Finance Party (the βRecipientβ) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the βSubject Partyβ) 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. |
Β
Β | 14.8.3 | 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. |
Β
Β | 14.8.4 | Any reference in this Clause 14.8 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 βrepresentative memberβ to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994). |
Β
14.9 | FATCA Information |
Β
Β | 14.9.1 | Subject to sub-clause 14.9.3 below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party: |
Β
Β | (a) | confirm to that other Party whether it is: |
Β
Β | (i) | a FATCA Exempt Party; or |
Β
Β | (ii) | not a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
Β
Β | (b) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partyβs compliance with FATCA; |
Β
Β | (c) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partyβs compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime. |
Β
Β | 14.9.2 | If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)Β of sub-clause 14.9.1 above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly. |
Β
Β | 14.9.3 | Sub-clause 14.9.1 above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (c)Β of sub-clause 14.91. above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of: |
Β
Β | (a) | any law or regulation; |
Β
56
Β | (b) | any fiduciary duty; or |
Β
Β | (c) | any duty of confidentiality. |
Β
Β | 14.9.4 | If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)Β or (b)Β of sub-clause 14.9.1 above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where sub-clause 14.9.3 above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information. |
Β
14.10 | FATCA Deduction |
Β
Β | 14.10.1 | Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction, or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. |
Β
Β | 14.10.2 | Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Company, the Facility Agent and the other Finance Parties. |
Β
15. | INCREASED COSTS |
Β
15.1 | Increased Costs |
Except as provided below in this Clause, the Company must pay to a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Cost incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of:
Β
Β | 15.1.1 | the introduction of, or any change in, or any change in the interpretation or application of, any law or regulation; |
Β
Β | 15.1.2 | compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement provided that for the purposes of this Agreement and any other Finance Document, Xxxx-Xxxxx shall be deemed to be a law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; or |
Β
Β | 15.1.3 | the implementation or application of, or compliance with, Basel III or CRD IV or any law or regulation that implements or applies Basel III or CRD IV. |
Β
15.2 | Exceptions |
The Company need not make any payment for an Increased Cost to the extent that the Increased Cost is:
Β
Β | 15.2.1 | compensated for under another Clause or would have been but for an exception to that Clause; |
Β
57
Β | 15.2.2 | a Tax on the overall net income of a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates; |
Β
Β | 15.2.3 | attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party; |
Β
Β | 15.2.4 | attributable to a Finance Party or its Affiliate wilfully failing to comply with any law or regulation; |
Β
Β | 15.2.5 | attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the βInternational Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Frameworkβ published by the Basel Committee in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (but excluding any amendment arising out of Basel III) (Basel II) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates); or |
Β
Β | 15.2.6 | not notified by the relevant Finance Party to the Facility Agent and the Company within three Months of that Finance Party becoming aware of such Increased Cost. |
Β
15.3 | Claims |
A Finance Party intending to make a claim for an Increased Cost must notify the Company promptly of the circumstances giving rise to, and the amount of, the claim.
Β
16. | MITIGATION |
Β
16.1 | Mitigation |
Β
Β | 16.1.1 | Each Finance Party must, in consultation with the Company (other than upon the occurrence of an event referred to at paragraph (d)Β below where no such consultation is required), take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which result or would result in the Facility ceasing to be available or: |
Β
Β | (a) | any Tax Payment or Increased Cost being payable to that Finance Party; |
Β
Β | (b) | that Finance Party being able to exercise any right of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement by reason of any illegality; |
Β
Β | (c) | that Finance Party incurring any cost of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank; or |
Β
Β | (d) | the occurrence of any market disruption event, |
including transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to an Affiliate or changing its Facility Office.
Β
Β | 16.1.2 | A Finance Party is not obliged to take any step under this Clause 16 if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
Β
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Β | 16.1.3 | Each Finance Party must promptly notify the Company of any circumstances as described in paragraphs (a)Β to (d)Β of sub-clause 16.1.1 of this Clause 16.1. |
Β
Β | 16.1.4 | The Company must indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by it as a result of any step taken under this Clause 16.1. |
Β
Β | 16.1.5 | This Clause does not in any way limit the obligations of the Company under the Finance Documents. |
Β
16.2 | Substitution |
Notwithstanding Clause 16.1 (Mitigation), if any circumstances arise which result in:
Β
Β | 16.2.1 | any Tax Payment or Increased Cost being payable to that Finance Party; |
Β
Β | 16.2.2 | that Finance Party being able to exercise any right of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement by reason of any illegality; |
Β
Β | 16.2.3 | that Finance Party incurring any cost of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank; |
Β
Β | 16.2.4 | the occurrence of any market disruption event; or |
Β
Β | 16.2.5 | any Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, |
then the Company, at its expense, at any time within 180 days after the occurrence of the relevant event or circumstance, so long as no Default is outstanding, may by notice to the Facility Agent and such Finance Party require it (and, if applicable, its Affiliate) to (and to the extent permitted by law such Finance Party or, if applicable, its Affiliate shall) novate pursuant to Clause 29 (Changes to the Parties) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (a βReplacement Finance Partyβ) selected by the Company, and which is acceptable to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) (unless the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent), which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Finance Party (including the assumption of the transferring Finance Partyβs participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Finance Party) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Finance Partyβs participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest (to the extent that the Facility Agent has not given a notification under Clause 29.9 (Pro rata interest settlement)), Break Costs and other amounts payable to such Finance Party under the Finance Documents provided that:
Β
Β | 16.2.6 | the Company shall have no right to replace the Facility Agent; |
Β
Β | 16.2.7 | neither the Facility Agent nor such Finance Party shall have any obligation to the Company to find a Replacement Finance Party; |
Β
Β | 16.2.8 | the transfer must take place no later than 14 days after the notice referred to above; |
Β
Β | 16.2.9 | in no event shall such Finance Party be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Finance Party any of the fees received by such Finance Party pursuant to the Finance Documents; and |
Β
Β | 16.2.10 | the Finance Party shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to this Clause 16.2 once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary βknow your customerβ or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer to the Replacement Finance Party. |
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16.3 | Conduct of business by a Finance Party |
No term of this Agreement will:
Β
Β | 16.3.1 | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (Tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit or oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any Tax Credit; or |
Β
Β | 16.3.2 | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (Tax or otherwise) or any computation in respect of Tax. |
Β
17. | PAYMENTS |
Β
17.1 | Place |
Unless a Finance Document specifies that payments under it are to be made in another manner, all payments by a Party (other than the Facility Agent) under the Finance Documents, excluding a payment under the terms of an Ancillary Document, must be made to the Facility Agent to its account at such office or bank:
Β
Β | 17.1.1 | in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency; or |
Β
Β | 17.1.2 | in the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London, |
as it may notify to that Party for this purpose by not less than five Business Daysβ prior notice.
Β
17.2 | Funds |
Payments under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent must be made for value on the due date at such times and in such funds as the Facility Agent may specify to the Party concerned as being customary at the time for the settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.
Β
17.3 | Distribution |
Β
Β | 17.3.1 | Each payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party must, except as provided below, be made available by the Facility Agent to that Party by payment (as soon as practicable after receipt) to its account with such office or bank: |
Β
Β | (a) | in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant currency; or |
Β
Β | (b) | in the case of euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London, |
Β
60
as it may notify to the Facility Agent for this purpose by not less than five Business Daysβ prior notice.
Β
Β | 17.3.2 | The Facility Agent may apply any amount received by it for the Company in or towards payment (as soon as practicable after receipt) of any amount due from the Company under the Finance Documents or in or towards the purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied. |
Β
Β | 17.3.3 | Where a sum is paid to the Facility Agent under this Agreement for another Party, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that Party until it has established that it has actually received it. However, the Facility Agent may assume that the sum has been paid to it, and, in reliance on that assumption, make available to that Party a corresponding amount. If it transpires that the sum has not been received by the Facility Agent, that Party must immediately on demand by the Facility Agent refund any corresponding amount made available to it together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent at a rate calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds. |
Β
17.4 | Currency of account |
Β
Β | 17.4.1 | Unless a Finance Document specifies that payments under it are to be made in a different manner, the currency of each amount payable under the Finance Documents is determined under this Clause. |
Β
Β | 17.4.2 | Interest is payable in the currency in which the relevant amount in respect of which it is payable is denominated. |
Β
Β | 17.4.3 | A repayment or prepayment of any principal amount (or overdue amount) is payable in the currency in which that principal amount (or overdue amount) is denominated on its due date. |
Β
Β | 17.4.4 | Amounts payable in respect of costs and expenses and Taxes are payable in the currency in which they are incurred. |
Β
Β | 17.4.5 | Each other amount payable under the Finance Documents is payable in Sterling. |
Β
Β | 17.4.6 | Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than Sterling shall be paid in that other currency. |
Β
17.5 | No set-off or counterclaim |
All payments made by the Company under the Finance Documents must be made without set-off or counterclaim.
Β
17.6 | Business Days |
Β
Β | 17.6.1 | If a payment under the Finance Documents is due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date for that payment will instead be the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not) or whatever day the Facility Agent determines is market practice. |
Β
Β | 17.6.2 | During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal (or overdue amount) under this Agreement interest is payable on that principal (or overdue amount) at the rate payable on the original due date. |
Β
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17.7 | Impaired Agent |
Β
Β | 17.7.1 | If, at any time, the Facility Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, the Company or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 17.1 (Place) 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 and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Company 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. |
Β
Β | 17.7.2 | 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. |
Β
Β | 17.7.3 | A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 17.7 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. |
Β
Β | 17.7.4 | Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 23.14 (Replacement of the Facility Agent), each Party which has made a payment to a trust account in accordance with this Clause 17.7 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 Facility Agent for distribution in accordance with Clause 17.3 (Distribution). |
Β
Β | 17.7.5 | For the purposes of this Clause 17.7 only, an Acceptable Bank shall include any bank or financial institution approved by the Facility Agent or, if the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent, the Majority Lenders. |
Β
17.8 | Partial payments |
Β
Β | 17.8.1 | If any Administrative Party receives a payment insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by the Company under the Finance Documents, the Administrative Party must apply that payment towards the obligations of the Company under the Finance Documents in the following order: |
Β
Β | (a) | first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Administrative Parties under the Finance Documents; |
Β
Β | (b) | secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest or fee due but unpaid under this Agreement; |
Β
Β | (c) | thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal amount due but unpaid under this Agreement; and |
Β
Β | (d) | fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents. |
Β
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Β | 17.8.2 | The Facility Agent must, if so directed by all the Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)Β to (d)Β of sub-clause 17.8.1 of this Clause 17.8. |
Β
Β | 17.8.3 | This Clause will override any appropriation made by the Company. |
Β
17.9 | Timing of payments |
If a Finance Document does not provide for when a particular payment is due, that payment will be due within three Business Days of demand by the relevant Finance Party.
Β
18. | REPRESENTATIONS |
Β
18.1 | Representations |
The representations set out in this ClauseΒ are made by the Company to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement.
Β
18.2 | Status |
It is a limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the Companies Xxx 0000 in England and Wales.
Β
18.3 | Powers and authority |
It has the power to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary action to authorise the entry into and performance of, the Finance Documents to which it is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.
Β
18.4 | Legal validity |
Subject to any general principles of law limiting its obligations and referred to in any legal opinion required under this Agreement, each Finance Document to which it is a party is its legally binding, valid and enforceable obligation.
Β
18.5 | Non-conflict |
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents do not conflict with any borrowing or other power or restriction granted or imposed by:
Β
Β | 18.5.1 | any law or regulation applicable to it and violation of which has or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or |
Β
Β | 18.5.2 | its constitutional documents. |
Β
18.6 | No default |
Β
Β | 18.6.1 | No Event of Default is outstanding or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Loan. |
Β
Β | 18.6.2 | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or any of its Subsidiaries or to which its (or any of its Subsidiariesβ) assets are subject which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
Β
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18.7 | Authorisations |
All authorisations required by it (including any authorisations required under PUHCA or the Act, if any):
Β
Β | 18.7.1 | in connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents; and |
Β
Β | 18.7.2 | to make the Finance Documents admissible in evidence in England and Wales, |
have been obtained or effected (as appropriate) and are in full force and effect.
Β
18.8 | Financial statements |
Its audited consolidated financial statements most recently delivered to the Facility Agent (which, at the date of this Agreement, are the Original Financial Statements):
Β
Β | 18.8.1 | have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles and practices generally accepted in its jurisdiction of incorporation, consistently applied; and |
Β
Β | 18.8.2 | fairly represent its consolidated financial condition as at the date to which they were drawn up, |
except, in each case, as disclosed to the contrary in those financial statements.
Β
18.9 | No material adverse change |
Other than as disclosed in writing to the Arranger prior to the date of this Agreement there has been no material adverse change in its consolidated financial condition since the date to which the Original Financial Statements were drawn up.
Β
18.10 | Litigation |
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings are current or, to its knowledge, pending or threatened, which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Β
18.11 | Winding Up |
No meeting has been convened for its winding-up and, so far as it is aware, no petition, application or the like is outstanding for its winding-up.
Β
18.12 | Non-Violation of other Agreements: |
Its entry into, exercise of its rights and/or performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not violate, to an extent or in a manner which has or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on it, any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it.
Β
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18.13 | Governing Law and Enforcement |
Β
Β | 18.13.1 | The choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
Β
Β | 18.13.2 | Any judgement obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
Β
18.14 | Deduction of Tax |
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 a Lender which is:
Β
Β | 18.14.1 | a Qualifying Lender: |
Β
Β | (a) | falling within paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of Qualifying Lender; or |
Β
Β | (b) | except where a Direction has been given under section 931 of the ITA in relation to the payment concerned, falling within paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender; or |
Β
Β | (c) | falling within paragraph (b)Β of the definition of Qualifying Lender or; |
Β
Β | 18.14.2 | a Treaty Lender and the payment is one specified in a direction given by the Commissioners of RevenueΒ & Customs under Regulation 2 of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 (SI 1970/488). |
Β
18.15 | No filing or stamp taxes |
Under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents (which for these purposes does not include a Transfer Certificate or other transfer or disposal of a Lenderβs rights or obligations under a Finance Document) or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.
Β
18.16 | No misleading information |
Save as disclosed in writing to the Facility Agent and the Arrangers prior to the Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment Agreement):
Β
Β | 18.16.1 | any written factual information provided by any member of the Group or on its behalf was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date of the relevant report or document or as at the date (if any) at which it is stated to be given; |
Β
Β | 18.16.2 | the financial projections provided have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions as at the date provided; and |
Β
Β | 18.16.3 | no event or circumstance has occurred or arisen and no information has been given or withheld that results in the information, opinions, intentions, forecasts or projections contained in such written information being untrue or misleading in any material respect. |
Β
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18.17 | Pari Passu ranking |
Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
Β
18.18 | Licence |
The Licence is in full force and effect and there is no investigation or proceeding current, pending or threatened which could, if adversely determined, result in the termination of the Licence.
Β
18.19 | Sanctions |
No member of the Group or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of any member of the Group is an individual or entity (the βPersonβ) currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasuryβs Office of Foreign Assets Control (the βOFACβ), the United Nations Security Council (the βUNSCβ), the European Union, Her Majestyβs Treasury (the βHMTβ), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, βSanctionsβ), nor is any member of the Group located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions. The Company represents for itself and on behalf of other members of the Group that no member of the Group will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the transaction, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in Syria, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or in any other country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.
Β
18.20 | Anti-Corruption |
Each member of the Group has conducted its business in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by that member of the Group with such laws.
Β
18.21 | Times for making representations |
Β
Β | 18.21.1 | The representations set out in this Clause are made by the Company on the date of this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 18.21.2 | The Repeating Representations are deemed to be repeated by the Company on the date of each Request and the first day of each Term. |
Β
Β | 18.21.3 | When a representation is repeated, it is applied to the circumstances existing at the time of repetition. |
Β
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19. | INFORMATION COVENANTS |
Β
19.1 | Financial statements |
Β
Β | 19.1.1 | The Company must supply to the Facility Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders if the Facility Agent so requests): |
Β
Β | (a) | its audited consolidated financial statements for each of its financial years; and |
Β
Β | (b) | its interim consolidated financial statements for the first half-year of each of its financial years. |
Β
Β | 19.1.2 | All financial statements must be supplied as soon as they are available and: |
Β
Β | (a) | in the case of the Companyβs audited consolidated financial statements, within 180Β days; and |
Β
Β | (b) | in the case of the Companyβs interim financial statements, within 90Β days, |
of the end of the relevant financial period.
Β
19.2 | Form of Financial Statement |
If any financial statement delivered or to be delivered to the Facility Agent under ClauseΒ 19.1 is not to be or, as the case may be, has not been prepared in accordance with Applicable Accounting Principles:
Β
Β | 19.2.1 | the Company and the Facility Agent (on behalf of and after consultation with all the Lenders) shall, on the request of the Facility Agent or the Company, negotiate in good faith with a view to agreeing such amendments to the financial ratios and/or the definitions of the terms used in Clause 20 (Financial covenants) as are necessary to give the Lenders comparable protection to that contemplated at the date of this Agreement; |
Β
Β | 19.2.2 | if amendments are agreed by the Company and the Majority Lenders within 25 days, those amendments shall take effect in accordance with the terms of that agreement; and |
Β
Β | 19.2.3 | if such amendments are not so agreed within 25 days, the Company shall: |
Β
Β | (a) | within 30 days after the end of that 25 day period; and |
Β
Β | (b) | with all subsequent financial statements to be delivered to the Facility Agent under ClauseΒ 19.1, |
deliver to the Facility Agent details of all such adjustments as need to be made to the relevant financial statements to bring them into line with the Companies Xxx 0000 (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) and Applicable Accounting Principles.
Β
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19.3 | Compliance Certificate |
Β
Β | 19.3.1 | The Company must supply to the Facility Agent a Compliance Certificate with each set of its financial statements sent to the Facility Agent under this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 19.3.2 | Each Compliance Certificate must be signed by two directors of the Company. |
Β
19.4 | Information - miscellaneous |
The Company must supply to the Facility Agent, in sufficient copies for all the Lenders if the Facility Agent so requests:
Β
Β | 19.4.1 | copies of all documents despatched by the Company to its creditors generally (or any class of them) in each case at the same time as they are despatched; |
Β
Β | 19.4.2 | promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group and which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect; |
Β
Β | 19.4.3 | promptly, details of the loss of the Licence or any communication from OFGEM or other government agency regarding any potential or threatened loss of the Licence; |
Β
Β | 19.4.4 | promptly on receiving them, details of any modification of an Authorisation or other material regulatory notices from OFGEM or other government agency; |
Β
Β | 19.4.5 | a copy of all material information relating to any matter which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect which the Company supplies to, or receives from, any applicable regulatory body (including OFGEM) (at the same time as it is supplied to, or promptly following its receipt from, the applicable regulatory body); |
Β
Β | 19.4.6 | written notice of the details of any proposed changes to the Licence as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the same (other than changes of a formal, minor or technical nature); |
Β
Β | 19.4.7 | within 5 Business Days of receiving them, details of any change to the rating by Xxxxxβx or StandardΒ & Poorβs of the long-term, unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of the Company; |
Β
Β | 19.4.8 | the Company shall deliver to the Facility Agent at such times as those reports are prepared in order to comply with the then current statutory or auditing requirements (as applicable either to the trustees of any relevant schemes or to the Company), actuarial reports in relation to all pension schemes mentioned in sub-clause 21.15.1 of Clause 21.15 (Pensions). This obligation shall apply to only those pension schemes (or groups of the Electricity Supply Pension Scheme) of which the Company is at that time a participating employer and to those reports which have been provided to the Company; |
Β
Β | 19.4.9 | promptly on request, a list of the then current Material Subsidiaries; and |
Β
Β | 19.4.10 | promptly on request, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of the Group as any Finance Party through the Facility Agent may reasonably request. |
Β
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19.5 | Notification of Default |
Β
Β | 19.5.1 | The Company must notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence. |
Β
Β | 19.5.2 | Promptly on request by the Facility Agent, the Company must supply to the Facility Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors on its behalf, certifying that no Default is outstanding or, if a Default is outstanding, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it. |
Β
19.6 | Use of websites |
Β
Β | 19.6.1 | Except as provided below, the Company may deliver any information under this Agreement to a Lender by posting it on to an electronic website if: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Facility Agent and the Lender agree; |
Β
Β | (b) | the Company and the Facility Agent designate an electronic website for this purpose; |
Β
Β | (c) | the Company notifies the Facility Agent of the address of and password for the website; and |
Β
Β | (d) | the information posted is in a format agreed between the Company and the Facility Agent. |
The Facility Agent must supply each relevant Lender with the address of and password for the website.
Β
Β | 19.6.2 | Notwithstanding the above, the Company must supply to the Facility Agent in paper form a copy of any information posted on the website together with sufficient copies for: |
Β
Β | (a) | any Lender not agreeing to receive information via the website; and |
Β
Β | (b) | any other Lender within ten Business Days of request by that Lender. |
Β
Β | 19.6.3 | The Company must promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence, notify the Facility Agent if: |
Β
Β | (a) | the website cannot be accessed; |
Β
Β | (b) | the website or any information on the website is infected by any electronic virus or similar software; |
Β
Β | (c) | the password for the website is changed; or |
Β
Β | (d) | any information to be supplied under this Agreement is posted on the website or amended after being posted. |
If the circumstances in paragraphs (a)Β or (b)Β above occur, the Company must supply any information required under this Agreement in paper form.
Β
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19.7 | Know your customer requirements |
Β
Β | 19.7.1 | If: |
Β
Β | (a) | 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; |
Β
Β | (b) | any change in the status of the Company after the date of this Agreement; or |
Β
Β | (c) | a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer, |
obliges the Facility Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (c)Β above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with βknow your customerβ or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility 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)Β above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Facility Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii)Β above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary βknow your customerβ or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
Β
20. | FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
Β
20.1 | Definitions |
In this Clause:
βCashβ means, at any time, cash denominated in a currency of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, any member state of the European Union or any Participating Member State in hand or at bank and (in the latter case) credited to an account in the name of a member of the Group with an Acceptable Bank 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:
Β
Β | (a) | that cash is repayable: |
Β
Β | (i) | if that cash is deposited with a Lender, within 180 days after the relevant date of calculation; or |
Β
Β | (ii) | if that cash is deposited with any other lender or financial institution, within 45 days after the relevant date of calculation; |
Β
Β | (b) | 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; |
Β
70
Β | (c) | there is no Security Interest over that cash other than Security Interests permitted under sub-clause 21.5.3(k) of Clause 21.5 (Negative pledge); and |
Β
Β | (d) | the cash is freely and (except as mentioned in paragraph (a)Β above) immediately available to be applied in repayment or prepayment of the Facility. |
βCash Equivalent Investmentsβ means at any time:
Β
Β | (a) | certificates of deposit maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and issued by an Acceptable Bank; |
Β
Β | (b) | any investment in marketable debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the government of an Acceptable Jurisdiction 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; |
Β
Β | (c) | commercial paper not convertible or exchangeable to any other security: |
Β
Β | (i) | for which a recognised trading market exists; |
Β
Β | (ii) | issued by an issuer incorporated in an Acceptable Jurisdiction; |
Β
Β | (iii) | which matures within one year after the relevant date of calculation; and |
Β
Β | (iv) | which has a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by StandardΒ & Poorβs Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Xxxxxβx 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; |
Β
Β | (d) | sterling bills of exchange eligible for rediscount at the Bank of England (or their dematerialised equivalent) and accepted by an Acceptable Bank; |
Β
Β | (e) | any investment in money market funds which: |
Β
Β | (i) | have a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by StandardΒ & Poorβs Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Xxxxxβx Investor Services Limited; |
Β
Β | (ii) | which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in paragraphs (a)Β to (d)Β above; and |
Β
Β | (iii) | can be turned into cash on not more than 30 daysβ notice; or |
Β
Β | (f) | any other debt security approved by the Majority Lenders, |
in each case, denominated in a currency of an Acceptable Jurisdiction and 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 Interest (other than Security Interests permitted under sub-clauses 21.5.3(l) and (k)Β of Clause 21.5 (Negative pledge)).
Β
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βConsolidated EBITDAβ means the consolidated net pre-taxation profits of the Group for a Measurement Period as adjusted by:
Β
Β | (a) | adding back Interest Payable; |
Β
Β | (b) | taking no account of any exceptional or extraordinary item; |
Β
Β | (c) | excluding any amount attributable to minority interests; |
Β
Β | (d) | adding back depreciation and amortisation; and |
Β
Β | (e) | taking no account of any revaluation of an asset or any loss or gain over book value arising on the disposal of an asset (otherwise than in the ordinary course of trading) by a member of the Group during that Measurement Period. |
βInterest Payableβ means, in relation to any Measurement Period, all interest payable and similar charges of the Group expressed in the Base Currency and determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with Applicable Accounting Principles but excluding interest payable or similar charges of the Group in relation to intra-Group items, loans from Affiliates and shareholder loans to the extent that such intra-Group items, loans from Affiliates and/or shareholder loans are subordinated on the terms set out in a Subordination Deed.
βMeasurement Periodβ means each period of twelve months ending on 31Β March or 30 September.
βRegulatory Asset Baseβ meansΒ at any date, the regulatory asset base of the Company for such date as last determined and notified to the Company by OFGEM (interpolatedΒ as necessary and adjusted for additions to the regulatory asset base and adjusted as appropriate for out-turn inflation / regulatory depreciation).
βTotal Net Debtβ means, at any time, the consolidated Financial Indebtedness of the Group which is required to be accounted for as debt in the consolidated annual financial statements of the Group less the aggregate at such time of all Cash or Cash Equivalent Investments held by any member of the Group excluding intra-Group items, loans from Affiliates and shareholder loans to the extent that such intra-Group items, loans from Affiliates and/or shareholder loans are subordinated on the terms set out in a Subordination Deed.
Β
20.2 | Interpretation |
Β
Β | 20.2.1 | Except as provided to the contrary in this Agreement, an accounting term used in this Clause is to be construed in accordance with the principles applied in connection with the Original Financial Statements. |
Β
Β | 20.2.2 | Any amount in a currency other than the Base Currency is to be taken into account at its Base Currency equivalent calculated on the basis of: |
Β
Β | (a) | the Agentβs Spot Rate of Exchange on the day the relevant amount falls to be calculated; or |
Β
Β | (b) | if the amount is to be calculated on the last day of a financial period of the Company, the relevant rates of exchange used by the Company in, or in connection with, its financial statements for that period. |
Β
Β | 20.2.3 | No item must be credited or deducted more than once in any calculation under this Clause. |
Β
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20.3 | Interest cover |
The Company must ensure that the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Payable is not, on the last day of each Measurement Period, less than 3 to 1.
Β
20.4 | Asset Cover |
The Company must ensure that on the last day of each Measurement Period, Total Net Debt does not exceed 85% of its Regulatory Asset Base.
Β
21. | GENERAL COVENANTS |
Β
21.1 | General |
The Company agrees to be bound by the covenants set out in this Clause relating to it and, where the covenant is expressed to apply to each Material Subsidiary or each member of the Group, the Company must ensure that each of its Material Subsidiaries or each of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, performs that covenant.
Β
21.2 | Authorisations |
The Company must promptly obtain, maintain and comply with the terms of any authorisation required under any law or regulation to enable it to perform its obligations under, or, subject to the Reservations, for the validity or enforceability of, any Finance Document.
Β
21.3 | Compliance with laws |
Each member of the Group must comply in all respects with all laws to which it is subject where failure to do so is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Β
21.4 | Pari passu ranking |
The Company must ensure that its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured payment obligations, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
Β
21.5 | Negative pledge |
In this Clause 21.5, βQuasi-Security Interestβ means an arrangement or transaction described in sub-clause 21.5.2 below.
Β
Β | 21.5.1 | Except as provided below, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary may create or allow to exist any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest on any of its assets. |
Β
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Β | 21.5.2 | Except as provided below, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary may: |
Β
Β | (a) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by the Company or any Material Subsidiary; |
Β
Β | (b) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms; |
Β
Β | (c) | 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 |
Β
Β | (d) | 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.
Β
Β | 21.5.3 | Sub-clauses 21.5.1 and 21.5.2 do not apply to: |
Β
Β | (a) | any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading; |
Β
Β | (b) | any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by the Company in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances (including a Multi-Account Overdraft) of members of the Group; |
Β
Β | (c) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest created under or in connection with or arising out of the Balancing and Settlement Code or any transactions or arrangements entered into in connection with the management of risks relating thereto; |
Β
Β | (d) | in respect of overdue amounts which have not been overdue for more than 30 days and/or are being contested in good faith, liens arising solely by operation of law or by order of a court or tribunal (or by an agreement of similar effect) and/or in the ordinary course of day to day business or operations; |
Β
Β | (e) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest arising out of title retention provisions in a supplierβs standard conditions of supply of goods acquired in the ordinary course of business or operations; |
Β
Β | (f) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest created on any asset acquired after the date of this Agreement for the sole purpose of financing or re-financing that acquisition and securing a principal, capital or nominal amount not exceeding the cost of that acquisition, provided that the Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest is removed or discharged within 6 months of the date of acquisition of such asset; |
Β
Β | (g) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest outstanding on or over any asset acquired after the date of this Agreement and in existence at the date of such acquisition, provided that the Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest is removed or discharged within 6 months of the date of acquisition of such asset; |
Β
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Β | (h) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest created or outstanding on or over any asset of any company which becomes a Material Subsidiary of the Company after the date of this Agreement where such Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest is created prior to the date on which such company becomes a Material Subsidiary of the Company and is not created or increased in contemplation of such company being acquired and/or becoming a Material Subsidiary of the Company and the Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest is removed or discharged within 6 months of the date of such company becoming a Material Subsidiary of the Company; |
Β
Β | (i) | any Quasi-Security Interest arising as a result of a disposal which is a disposal permitted under sub-clause 21.6.2; |
Β
Β | (j) | any netting arrangements under any swap or other hedging transaction which is on standard market terms; |
Β
Β | (k) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest over bank accounts of the Company in favour of the account holding bank with whom it maintains a banking relationship in the ordinary course of trade and granted as part of that bankβs standard terms and conditions; |
Β
Β | (l) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest created or outstanding with the prior approval of the Majority Lenders; and |
Β
Β | (m) | any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest created or outstanding on or over assets of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries provided that the aggregate outstanding principal or nominal amount secured by all Security Interests and Quasi-Security Interest created or outstanding under this exception on or over such assets shall not at any time exceed Β£25,000,000 or its equivalent. |
Β
21.6 | Disposals |
Β
Β | 21.6.1 | Except as provided below, no member of the Group may, either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions and whether related or not, dispose of all or any part of its assets (other than cash) where the higher of the market value and the net consideration receivable (when aggregated with the higher of the market value and the net consideration receivable from any previous disposal by members of the Group) exceeds Β£5,000,000 (or its equivalent) in total during the term of this Agreement. |
Β
Β | 21.6.2 | Sub-clause 21.6.1 does not apply to: |
Β
Β | (a) | any disposal made in the ordinary course of day to day business or operations of the disposing entity (including, without limitation, disposals of subsidiaries or lines of business, provided that this shall not include a disposal of the core electricity distribution business); |
Β
75
Β | (b) | disposals on normal commercial terms of obsolete assets or assets no longer required for the purpose of the relevant Personβs business or operations; |
Β
Β | (c) | any realisation of investments acquired, purchased or made by the temporary application of funds not immediately required in the relevant Personβs business or operations; |
Β
Β | (d) | the exchange of assets for other assets of a similar or superior nature and value, or the sale of assets on normal commercial terms for cash which is payable in full on the completion of the sale and is to be, and is, applied in or towards the purchase of similar assets within 12 months of that disposal (or, if contractually committed to be used within 12 months, are actually used within 18 months of that disposal); |
Β
Β | (e) | the disposal of assets by one wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company to another or (if the consideration for the disposal does not exceed a normal commercial consideration) to the Company by one of its Subsidiaries; |
Β
Β | (f) | disposals in connection with sale-and-leaseback or sale and repurchase transactions or any other form of βoff balance sheetβ financing, provided that the aggregate book value (in the books of the disposing party) of all assets the subject of all such disposals made during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date when no amount remains to be lent or remains payable under this Agreement shall not exceed Β£50,000,000; |
Β
Β | (g) | any disposal which the Majority Lenders shall have agreed shall not be taken into account; |
Β
Β | (h) | arising as a result of any Security Interest or Quasi-Security Interest permitted under sub-clauseΒ 21.5.3 above; |
Β
Β | (i) | the application or disposal of cash not otherwise prohibited under the Finance Documents; |
Β
Β | (j) | any disposal by a member of Group compulsorily required by law or regulation having the force of law or any order of any government entity made thereunder and having the force of law provided that and to the extent permitted by such law or regulation: |
Β
Β | (i) | such disposal is made for fair market value; and |
Β
Β | (ii) | such disposal does not have a Material Adverse Effect. |
Β
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21.7 | Environmental matters |
Β
Β | 21.7.1 | The Company will and will ensure that its Material Subsidiaries will comply with all applicable Environmental Law and other regulations, orders or other law applicable to the conduct of the business of the supply or distribution of electricity, in each case, where failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect. |
Β
Β | 21.7.2 | The Company will, promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Facility Agent in writing of: |
Β
Β | (a) | any Environmental Claim against any member of the Group which is current, pending or threatened; and |
Β
Β | (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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
Β
21.8 | Insurance |
Each member of the Group must insure its business and assets with insurance companies to such an extent and against such risks as that member of the Group reasonably considers to be appropriate, having regard to the insurance arrangements of companies engaged in similar business.
Β
21.9 | Merger |
The Company shall not enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction.
Β
21.10 | Change of business |
The Company shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Company or the Group from that carried on at the date of this Agreement.
Β
21.11 | Acquisitions |
Β
Β | 21.11.1 | Except as provided below, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary may acquire a company or any shares or securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them). |
Β
Β | 21.11.2 | Provided that no Event of Default is outstanding on the date of the acquisition or would occur as a result of the acquisition, sub-clause 21.11.1 does not apply to: |
Β
Β | (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 as permitted under sub-clause 21.6.2 of ClauseΒ 21.6 (Disposals) above; |
Β
Β | (b) |
an acquisition where the consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for the acquisition (when aggregated with the consideration
|
Β
77
Β | (including associated costs and expenses) for any other acquisition permitted under this paragraph) during the term of this Agreement does not exceed 2.5% of the sum of the issued share capital, share premium and consolidated reserves (including retained earnings) of the Company, as shown by its most recent audited consolidated financial statements; and |
Β
Β | (c) | any acquisition which the Majority Lenders shall have consented to in writing. |
Β
21.12 | Prohibition on the Debt Purchase Transactions of the Group |
The Company shall not, and shall procure that each other member of the Group shall not, enter into any Debt Purchase Transaction or beneficially own all or any part of the share capital of a company that is a Lender or a party to a Debt Purchase Transaction of the type referred to in paragraphs (b)Β and (c)Β of the definition of Debt Purchase Transaction.
Β
21.13 | Prohibition on Subsidiary Financial Indebtedness |
The Company shall procure that no member of the Group (other than the Company) will incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness unless the relevant member of the Group is a special purpose vehicle incorporated solely for the purpose of incurring such Financial Indebtedness and which does not undertake any other activities.
Β
21.14 | Armβs length transactions |
The Company shall not (and the Company shall ensure no member of the Group will) enter into any transaction with any person except on armβs length terms and for full market value where to do so would be in contravention of the Licence, provided that if, at any time, the Licence is not in effect, the Company shall not (and shall ensure no member of the Group will) enter into any transaction with any person except on armβs length terms and for full market value.
Β
21.15 | Pensions |
Β
Β | 21.15.1 | The Company shall ensure that no action or omission is taken by any member of the Group in relation to a pension scheme which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (including, without limitation, the termination or commencement of winding-up proceedings of any such pension scheme). |
Β
Β | 21.15.2 | Except for in respect of the Electricity Supply Pension Scheme (and in particular the E.On Group, Networks Group and in the case of merger, the WPD Group),Β the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group is an employer (for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993) orΒ βconnectedβ with or an βassociateβ of (as those terms are used in sections 38 or 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer. |
Β
Β | 21.15.3 | The Company shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of any material change in the rate of contributions payableΒ to anyΒ of theΒ pension schemes mentioned in sub-clause 21.15.2 above paid or required (by law or otherwise). |
Β
78
Β | 21.15.4 | The Company shall immediately notify the Facility Agent of any investigation or proposed investigation by the Pensions Regulator which may lead to the issue of a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice to any member of the Group. |
Β
Β | 21.15.5 | The Company shall immediately notify the Facility Agent if it receives a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice from the Pensions Regulator. |
Β
21.16 | Licence |
The Company will at all times:
Β
Β | 21.16.1 | comply with the terms of the Licence in all material respects; |
Β
Β | 21.16.2 | without prejudice to the generality of sub-clause 21.16.1 above, comply with the ring fencing provisions of the Licence in all respects; and |
Β
Β | 21.16.3 | not take any action or make any omission which is reasonably likely to result in the revocation or termination of the Licence. |
Β
21.17 | Investment Grade Rating |
The Company shall procure that the long-term, unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of the Company shall be rated Baa3/BBB-, or such higher rating as required by the Licence, or above, by at least one of Moodyβs and Standard and Poorβs and shall not be rated below Baa3/BBB-, or such higher rating as required by the Licence, by either of Moodyβs or Standard and Poorβs.
Β
21.18 | Sanctions |
Β
Β | 21.18.1 | Neither the Company, nor any other member of the Group, shall be the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasuryβs Office of Foreign Assets Control (the βOFACβ), the United Nations Security Council (the βUNSCβ), the European Union, Her Majestyβs Treasury (the βHMTβ), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, βSanctionsβ), and no member of the Group shall be located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions. |
Β
Β | 21.18.2 | The Company undertakes that no member of the Group will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the transaction, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity (the βPersonβ), to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in Syria, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or in any other country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. |
Β
Β | 21.18.3 | The Company shall ensure that the source of any funds for discharging its obligations under this Agreement is not obtained from any designated target of any Sanctions or any of Syria, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or any other country or territory, that, at the time of such payment, is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions. |
Β
79
21.19 | Anti-Corruption |
Β
Β | 21.19.1 | The Company shall not (and shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) use the proceeds, or cause or permit the proceeds of any Loan to be used, directly or indirectly, in any way that would be in breach of applicable anti-corruption laws. |
Β
Β | 21.19.2 | The Company shall (and shall ensure that each other member of the Group will): |
Β
Β | (a) | conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws; and |
Β
Β | (b) | maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws. |
Β
22. | DEFAULT |
Β
22.1 | Events of Default |
Each of the events set out in this Clause is an Event of Default.
Β
22.2 | Non-payment |
The Company fails to pay any sum payable under any Finance Document when due unless its failure to pay is caused by:
Β
Β | (a) | administrative or technical error; or |
Β
Β | (b) | a Disruption Event, |
and payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date.
Β
22.3 | Breach of other obligations |
Β
Β | 22.3.1 | The Company does not perform or comply with its obligations under ClauseΒ 20 (Financial Covenants), ClauseΒ 21.5 (Negative pledge), Clause 21.6 (Disposals) or Clause 21.11 (Acquisitions). |
Β
Β | 22.3.2 | The Company does not perform or comply with any of its other obligations under any Finance Document in any material respect or any representation or warranty by the Company in this Agreement or in any document delivered under it is or proves to have been incorrect when made or deemed repeated, unless the non-compliance or circumstances giving rise to the misrepresentation, as the case may be, is capable of remedy and is not remedied within 20 Business Days of the earlier of the Facility Agent giving notice requiring the same to be remedied and the Company becoming aware of such non-compliance or misrepresentation, as the case may be. |
Β
22.4 | Cross-default |
Β
Β | 22.4.1 | Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period. |
Β
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Β | 22.4.2 | 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). |
Β
Β | 22.4.3 | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of that member of the Group as a result of an event of default (however described). |
Β
Β | 22.4.4 | 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). |
Β
Β | 22.4.5 | No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 22.4 unless and until the aggregate amount of such Financial Indebtedness falling within sub-clauses 22.4.1 to 22.4.4 above is more than Β£20,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies. |
Β
22.5 | Insolvency |
Β
Β | 22.5.1 | Any of the following occurs in respect of the Company: |
Β
Β | (a) | it is unable to pay its debts generally as they fall due or it is deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be insolvent; |
Β
Β | (b) | it suspends making payments on all or any class of its debts or publicly announces an intention to do so; |
Β
Β | (c) | by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, it begins negotiations with all or any class of its creditors for the general rescheduling of its indebtedness; or |
Β
Β | (d) | a moratorium is declared in respect of any of its indebtedness. |
Β
Β | 22.5.2 | If a moratorium occurs in respect of the Company, the ending of the moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by the moratorium. |
Β
22.6 | Insolvency proceedings |
Β
Β | 22.6.1 | Except as provided below, any of the following occurs in respect of the Company: |
Β
Β | (a) | a suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness or a reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise); |
Β
Β | (b) | any person presents a petition for its winding-up, administration or dissolution; |
Β
Β | (c) | an order for its winding-up, administration or dissolution is made; |
Β
Β | (d) | any liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of it or any of its assets; |
Β
81
Β | (e) | its directors or other officers request the appointment of a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer; |
Β
Β | (f) | enforcement of any Security over any of its assets; or |
Β
Β | (g) | any other analogous step or procedure is taken in any jurisdiction. |
Β
Β | 22.6.2 | Sub-clause 22.6.1 does not apply to: |
Β
Β | (a) | a petition for winding-up presented by a creditor which is being actively contested in good faith and with due diligence and with a reasonable prospect of success; or |
Β
Β | (b) | a voluntary solvent winding-up, amalgamation, reconstruction or reorganisation or otherwise part of a solvent scheme of arrangement, in each case which is on terms approved by the Majority Lenders. |
Β
22.7 |