REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of February 16, 2017 among CONAGRA BRANDS,INC., The Lenders That Have Signed This Agreement, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent, MIZUHO BANK, LTD., THEBANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as Documentation Agents MERRILLLYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, and MIZUHO BANK, LTD. as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
Published CUSIP Number:
Deal: 20589JAA3
Revolver: 20589JAB1
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of February 16, 2017
among
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.,
The Lenders That Have Signed This Agreement,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent,
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.,
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as Documentation Agents
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A,
and
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||||
1.01 | Defined Terms | 1 | ||||||
1.02 | Other Interpretive Provisions | 20 | ||||||
1.03 | Accounting Terms | 21 | ||||||
1.04 | Rounding | 21 | ||||||
1.05 | Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents | 21 | ||||||
1.06 | Times of Day | 22 | ||||||
1.07 | Letter of Credit Amounts | 22 | ||||||
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 22 | |||||||
2.01 | Committed Loans | 22 | ||||||
2.02 | Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans | 22 | ||||||
2.03 | Letters of Credit | 24 | ||||||
2.04 | Prepayments | 32 | ||||||
2.05 | Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 33 | ||||||
2.06 | Repayment of Loans | 33 | ||||||
2.07 | Interest | 33 | ||||||
2.08 | Fees | 34 | ||||||
2.09 | Computation of Interest and Fees | 34 | ||||||
2.10 | Evidence of Debt | 35 | ||||||
2.11 | Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback | 35 | ||||||
2.12 | Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 37 | ||||||
2.13 | Extension of Termination Date | 37 | ||||||
2.14 | Increase in Commitments | 39 | ||||||
2.15 | Cash Collateral | 39 | ||||||
2.16 | Defaulting Lenders | 40 | ||||||
2.17 | Use of Proceeds | 42 | ||||||
2.18 | Bid Option | 42 | ||||||
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 45 | |||||||
3.01 | Taxes | 45 | ||||||
3.02 | Illegality | 50 | ||||||
3.03 | Inability to Determine Rates | 50 | ||||||
3.04 | Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans | 51 | ||||||
3.05 | Compensation for Losses | 52 | ||||||
3.06 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 53 | ||||||
3.07 | Survival | 53 | ||||||
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING. | 54 | |||||||
4.01 | Conditions to Closing Date | 54 | ||||||
4.02 | Conditions to Each Credit Extension | 55 | ||||||
4.03 | Conditions to Each Extension of Commitments and Each Commitment Increase | 55 |
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ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. | 55 | |||||||
5.01 | Corporate Existence and Standing | 55 | ||||||
5.02 | Authorization and Validity | 55 | ||||||
5.03 | Compliance with Laws and Contracts | 55 | ||||||
5.04 | Financial Statements | 56 | ||||||
5.05 | Taxes | 56 | ||||||
5.06 | Litigation | 56 | ||||||
5.07 | Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 | 56 | ||||||
5.08 | Defaults | 56 | ||||||
5.09 | Accuracy of Information | 56 | ||||||
5.10 | Regulation U | 56 | ||||||
5.11 | Legal Authority | 57 | ||||||
5.12 | Investment Company Status | 57 | ||||||
5.13 | Status as an EEA Financial Institution | 57 | ||||||
5.14 | OFAC | 57 | ||||||
5.15 | Anti-Corruption Laws | 57 | ||||||
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. | 57 | |||||||
6.01 | Financial Statements, Reports, Returns and Other Financial Data | 57 | ||||||
6.02 | Officers Certificate | 58 | ||||||
6.03 | Sale and Lease-Back | 59 | ||||||
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. | 59 | |||||||
7.01 | Interest Coverage Ratio | 59 | ||||||
7.02 | Debt to EBITDA Ratio | 59 | ||||||
7.03 | Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance | 59 | ||||||
7.04 | Liens | 59 | ||||||
7.05 | Sanctions | 59 | ||||||
7.06 | Anti-Corruption Laws | 60 | ||||||
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES. | 60 | |||||||
8.01 | Events of Default | 60 | ||||||
8.02 | Rights and Duties After Default | 61 | ||||||
8.03 | Application of Funds | 61 | ||||||
ARTICLE IX. THE AGENTS. | 62 | |||||||
9.01 | Appointment and Authority | 62 | ||||||
9.02 | Rights as a Lender | 62 | ||||||
9.03 | Exculpatory Provisions | 63 |
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9.04 | Reliance by Administrative Agent | 64 | ||||||
9.05 | Delegation of Duties | 64 | ||||||
9.06 | Resignation of Administrative Agent | 64 | ||||||
9.07 | Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders | 65 | ||||||
9.08 | Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agents | 66 | ||||||
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS. | 66 | |||||||
10.01 | Amendments, Etc | 66 | ||||||
10.02 | Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 67 | ||||||
10.03 | No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement | 69 | ||||||
10.04 | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 70 | ||||||
10.05 | Payments Set Aside | 72 | ||||||
10.06 | Successors and Assigns | 72 | ||||||
10.07 | Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 76 | ||||||
10.08 | Right of Setoff | 77 | ||||||
10.09 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 77 | ||||||
10.10 | Survival of Representations and Warranties | 77 | ||||||
10.11 | Severability | 77 | ||||||
10.12 | Replacement of Lenders | 77 | ||||||
10.13 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 78 | ||||||
10.14 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 79 | ||||||
10.15 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 79 | ||||||
10.16 | Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents | 80 | ||||||
10.17 | USA PATRIOT Act | 80 | ||||||
10.18 | Judgment Currency | 80 | ||||||
10.19 | Governmental Regulation | 81 | ||||||
10.20 | ENTIRE AGREEMENT | 81 | ||||||
10.21 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions | 81 |
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EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1 | - | Commitments | ||
SCHEDULE 10.02 | Administrative Agents Office; Certain Addresses for Notices | |||
EXHIBIT A | - | Form of Committed Loan Note | ||
EXHIBIT B | - | Form of Committed Loan Notice | ||
EXHIBIT C-1 | - | Form of Assignment and Assumption | ||
EXHIBIT C-2 | - | Form of Administrative Questionnaire | ||
EXHIBIT D | - | Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company | ||
EXHIBIT E | - | Form of Bid Note | ||
EXHIBIT F | - | Form of Bid Quote | ||
EXHIBIT G | - | Form of Bid Quote Request | ||
EXHIBIT H | - | Form of Invitation for Bid Quotes | ||
EXHIBIT I | - | Form of Request for Extension | ||
EXHIBIT J | - | Form of Acceptance of Request for Extension | ||
EXHIBIT K | - | Form of Consent to Additional or Increasing Lender | ||
EXHIBIT L-1 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT L-2 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT L-3 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT L-4 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT M | - | Form of Letter of Credit Report |
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CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 16, 2017
This Revolving Credit Agreement (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time hereafter, the Agreement) is entered into by and among Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and permitted assigns, the Company), the banks and other financial institutions that have signed this Agreement (the Lenders), Bank of America, N.A. (together with its successors and permitted assigns, Bank of America), as administrative agent for such lenders, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (together with its successors and permitted assigns, JPMorgan), as syndication agent, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (together with its successors and permitted assigns, Mizuho) The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Documentation Agents, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated (together with its successors and permitted assigns, MLPFS), JPMorgan and Mizuho, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to obtain certain revolving financing from the Lenders;
WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to extend revolving financing to the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW THEREFORE, the Company, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Administrative Agent means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders pursuant to Article IX, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.
Administrative Agents Office means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agents address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Company and the Lenders.
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 or any other form approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) by the Administrative Agent.
Affiliate means any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company. A Person shall be deemed to
control a corporation if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Aggregate Commitments means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is $1,250,000,000.00.
Agreement has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Alternative Currency means each of the following currencies: Euro and Canadian Dollars.
Alternative Currency Equivalent means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.
Applicable Percentage means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lenders Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule I or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
Applicable Rate means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the then applicable Debt Rating, as set forth below:
Applicable Rate | ||||||||||||||
Pricing | Debt Ratings S&P/Moodys | Facility Fee | Eurocurrency Letters of | Base | ||||||||||
1 | A-/A3 or better | 0.090 | % | 0.910 | % | 0.000 | % | |||||||
2 | BBB+/Baa1 | 0.100 | % | 1.025 | % | 0.025 | % | |||||||
3 | BBB/Baa2 | 0.125 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % | |||||||
4 | BBB-/Baa3 | 0.175 | % | 1.325 | % | 0.325 | % | |||||||
5 | Lower than BBB-/Baa3 | 0.250 | % | 1.500 | % | 0.500 | % |
Debt Rating means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moodys (collectively, the Debt Ratings) of the Companys non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt
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Ratings issued by foregoing rating agencies differ by one Pricing Level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one Pricing Level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Company has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Company does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.
The Debt Rating in effect on any date for purposes of the Applicable Rate is that rating in effect at the close of business on such date.
Applicable Time means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.
Approved Fund means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Arrangers means MLPFS (or any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of Bank of America Corporations or any of its subsidiaries investment banking, commercial lending services or related businesses is transferred following the date of this Agreement), JPMorgan and Mizuho in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
Authorized Officer means any of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer or any other employee of the Company who is designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by any of the foregoing and who holds a substantially similar office to any of the foregoing and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the Company so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Company designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Company and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Company and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Company.
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Availability Period means, with respect to any Lender, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Termination Date applicable to such Lender, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.
Bail-In Action means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
Bail-In Legislation means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
Bank of America has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Base Rate means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its prime rate, and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00. The prime rate is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of Americas costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
Base Rate Loan means a Committed Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
Bid Absolute Rate means, with respect to a Bid Absolute Rate Loan made by a relevant Lender for the relevant Bid Interest Period, the rate of interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) offered by such Lender and accepted by the Company pursuant to Section 2.18(f).
Bid Absolute Rate Loan means that portion of any Loan at the time the Bid Absolute Rate is applicable thereto.
Bid Interest Period means, with respect to a Bid Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than 30 and not more than 270 days commencing on a Business Day selected by the Company in the relevant Bid Quote Request pursuant to Section 2.18(b). If such Bid Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Bid Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day.
Bid Note means a promissory note in substantially the form of Exhibit E hereto, with appropriate insertions, duly executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the Company and payable to the order of a Lender, including any amendment, modification, renewal or replacement of such promissory note.
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Bid Quote means a Bid Quote substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto completed and delivered by a Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.18(d).
Bid Quote Request means a Bid Quote Request substantially in the form of Exhibit G or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent hereto completed and delivered by the Company to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.18(b).
Bid Rate Auction means a solicitation of Bid Quotes pursuant to Section 2.18.
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systems of the United States.
Borrowing means a Committed Borrowing or a borrowing of Bid Absolute Rate Loans, as the context may require.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agents Office with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:
(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day;
(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day;
(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency;
(d) if such day relates to (i) any interest rate settings as to a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, (ii) any fundings, disbursements settlements and payments in Canadian Dollars or in respect of a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, or (iii) any other dealings in Canadian Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Loan, means any day of the year, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized to close in Toronto, Ontario; and
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(e) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.
Canadian Dollar means the lawful currency of Canada.
Cash Collateralize means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuers or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer shall agree in their reasonable discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer. Cash Collateral shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
CDOR has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
Closing Date means the first date all of the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commitment means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lenders name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
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Committed Borrowing means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
Committed Loan has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
Committed Loan Note means a promissory note made by the Company in favor of a Lender evidencing Committed Loans made by such Lender to the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
Committed Loan Notice means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company.
Company has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Company Materials has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Connection Income Taxes means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated EBITDA means, on a consolidated basis for any fiscal period, net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (exclusive of equity earnings in non-consolidated affiliates except to the extent such earnings have actually been distributed in cash to the Company or any Subsidiary during such period) plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such net income: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign taxes based on income, profits or capital payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) fees and expenses incurred during such period in respect of acquisitions, dispositions, investments and debt or equity issuances contemplated or consummated during such period (including the prepayment, repayment or retirement of debt in connection therewith or any amendment or waiver in respect of any indebtedness), (v) non-cash share based compensation expense, (vi) other non-cash expenses, losses and charges (other than those representing a reserve for or actual cash item in any future period) for such period, (vii) to the extent elected by the Company, other unusual, non-recurring or one-time cash expenses, losses and charges in an amount not to exceed US$75,000,000 in any four fiscal quarter period (but not more than US$300,000,000 until the termination of the Facility) and (viii) any costs and expenses incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or stockholders agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or net cash proceeds of issuance of capital stock (that is not disqualified equity) of the Company and minus (b) the following to the extent included
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in calculating such net income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) all non-cash items increasing net income for such period (other than gains representing or resulting from the reversal of any accrual of or cash reserve for anticipated cash charges in any prior period); provided, that the Consolidated EBITDA for any acquired business acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to an acquisition the aggregate cash consideration for which equals or exceeds US$200,000,000 during such period shall be included on a pro forma basis for such period (as determined in good faith by the Company, assuming the consummation of such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith incurred as of the first day of such period), and provided further that the Consolidated EBITDA for any entity sold for aggregate cash consideration of US$200,000,000 or more by the Company or any Subsidiary shall be deducted on a pro forma basis for such period (as determined in good faith by the Company, assuming the consummation of such sale or other disposition occurred on the first day of such period).
Consolidated Funded Debt means the sum of (i) any obligation for borrowed money that under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries plus (ii) an amount equal to 60% of the principal amount payable by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to any guaranty by the Company or any such Subsidiary of Third Party Debt upon the happening of every contingency to the enforcement of such guaranty. For purposes hereof, Third Party Debt shall mean debt of any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) for borrowed money that (i) pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, is classified as a non-current liability, and (ii) the repayment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary.
Consolidated Interest Expense means net interest expense under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Credit Extension means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
Default means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
Default Rate means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate (calculated with an Applicable Rate at Pricing Level 5) applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 1% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate (calculated with an Applicable Rate at Pricing Level 5)) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 1% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate (calculated with an Applicable Rate at Pricing Level 5) plus 1% per annum.
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Defaulting Lender means, subject to Section 2.16(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders reasonable good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lenders obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lenders reasonable good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Company, the L/C Issuers and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
Designated Jurisdiction means any country, region or territory to the extent that such country, region or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.
Documentation Agents means Mizuho, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Goldman Sachs Bank USA in their capacity as Documentation Agents for the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement.
Dollar and US$ mean lawful currency of the United States.
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Dollar Equivalent means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.
EEA Financial Institution means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a Subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
Eligible Assignee means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
Euro and mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.
Eurocurrency Rate means:
(a) With respect to any Credit Extension:
(i) denominated in a Dollars or Euro, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and
(ii) denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at or about 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on the applicable Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period.
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(b) for any rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day;
provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with any rate set forth in this definition, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; and if the Eurocurrency Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Eurocurrency Rate Loan means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate. Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency. All Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 8.01, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act.
Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company under Section 10.12) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.
Facility Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the
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Code, and any intergovernmental agreements entered into in connection with the implementation of such current sections of the Code (or any such amended or successor version described above).
Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Fee Letter means each of the respective fee letters, dated January 25, 2017, among the Company and any Arranger or any Affiliate thereof.
Foreign Lender means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
Fronting Exposure means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all outstanding L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Company under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Indenture means that certain Indenture dated as of October 8, 1990 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (k/n/a JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee, as in effect on the date hereof.
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Interest Payment Date means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Termination Date of any Lender; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the first Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the latest Termination Date and (c) as to any Bid Absolute Rate Loan, the last day of each Bid Interest Period applicable to such Loan; provided, however, that if any Bid Interest Period for a Bid Absolute Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Bid Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates.
Interest Period means as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Company in its Committed Loan Notice, or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Company and consented to by all the Lenders; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the latest Termination Date.
Invitation for Bid Quotes means an Invitation for Bid Quotes substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto completed and delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders in accordance with Section 2.18(c).
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
ISP means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the International Standby Practices 1998 published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
Issuer Documents means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by an L/C Issuer and the Company (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.
JPMorgan has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Laws means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial
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precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case having the force of law.
L/C Advance means, with respect to each Lender, such Lenders funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.
L/C Borrowing means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.
L/C Credit Extension means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
L/C Issuer means (i) each of Bank of America, JPMorgan and Mizuho, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and (ii) each other Lender that agrees to act as an L/C Issuer hereunder and that is approved by the Company and the Administrative Agent, in each case together with its successors in such capacity. Each L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such L/C Issuer, in which case the term L/C Issuer shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
L/C Obligations means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
Lender has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the L/C Issuers.
Lending Office means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lenders Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.
Letter of Credit means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.
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Letter of Credit Application means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.
Letter of Credit Expiration Date means, with respect to any L/C Issuer, the day that is five Business Days prior to the Termination Date then in effect applicable to such L/C Issuer (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
Letter of Credit Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).
Letter of Credit Sublimit means an amount equal to US$100,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
LIBOR has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.
Lien means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing), conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature of security.
Loan means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Company under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Bid Absolute Rate Loan.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15, and the Fee Letter.
London Banking Day means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.
Material Subsidiary means a Subsidiary that has total assets, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, in excess of 20% of the Companys total consolidated assets, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Minimum Collateral Amount means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 105% of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuers with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 105% of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (iii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer in their reasonable good faith discretion.
Mizuho has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
MLPFS has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
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Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., together with its successors.
Non-Consenting Lender means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.
Non-Defaulting Lender means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
Non-U.S. Lender means a Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof.
Notes means collectively the Committed Loan Notes and the Bid Notes and Note means any one of such Notes.
Obligations means all unpaid principal and interest in respect of the Loans, all L/C Obligations, Facility Fees, Letter of Credit Fees and all other obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to the Lenders or to any Lender, or to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or to any L/C Issuer, in each case arising under the Loan Documents.
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
Officers Certificate shall mean a certificate signed in the name of the Company by any Authorized Officer.
Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).
Outstanding Amount means (i) with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Committed Loans occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Company of Unreimbursed Amounts.
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Overnight Rate means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.
Participant has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
Participant Register has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
Participating Member State means any member state of the European Union that has the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
Person shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an estate, an unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Platform has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
Prior Agreement means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September 14, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof) by and among the Company, certain financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as Banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
Public Lender has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Rate Determination Date means two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).
Recipient means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Company hereunder.
Register has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
Related Parties means, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Persons Affiliates.
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Regulation U means Regulation U of the Board (as modified) and shall include any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
Request for Credit Extension means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Bid Absolute Rate Loan, a Bid Quote Request.
Required Lenders means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided that, for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article VIII, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VIII or the Commitments expire or terminate, the outstanding Bid Absolute Rate Loans of the Lenders shall be included in their respective Total Credit Exposures in determining the Required Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in any Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the applicable L/C Issuer in making such determination.
Revaluation Date means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall in good faith reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall in good faith reasonably require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof, (iii) each date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer shall in good faith reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall in good faith reasonably require.
Revolving Credit Exposure means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate Outstanding Amount at such time of its Committed Loans and the aggregate Outstanding Amount of such Lenders participation in L/C Obligations at such time.
S&P means S&P Global Ratings, a Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC business, and any successor thereto.
Same Day Funds means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.
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Sanction(s) means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majestys Treasury (HMT) or other relevant governmental sanctions authority.
Specified Event of Default means an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k).
Spot Rate for a currency means the rate reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the applicable L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.
Subsidiary means any Person whose accounts are consolidated with the accounts of the Company in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for purposes of preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01.
Syndication Agent means JPMorgan, in its capacity as syndication agent for the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement.
TARGET2 means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.
TARGET Day means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Termination Date means, subject to Section 2.13, February 16, 2022 or, with respect to any individual Lender, such earlier date, if any, on which such Lenders Commitment is reduced to zero or terminated pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Termination Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.
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Total Credit Exposure means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time.
Total Outstandings means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
Type means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.
United States and U.S. mean the United States of America.
Unreimbursed Amount has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
U.S. Person means any Person that is a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III).
Write-Down and Conversion Powers means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (iii) the words hereto, herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
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(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including; the words to and until each mean to but excluding; and the word through means to and including.
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements referenced in Section 5.04(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. If at any time any change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles prior to such change therein. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as of the date of this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes as provided for above.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents. (a) The Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Company hereunder or calculating financial covenants or default thresholds hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Committed Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Committed Borrowing, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be.
(c) The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.
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1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a Committed Loan) to the Company in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period applicable to such Lender, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lenders Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lenders Commitment. Within the limits of each Lenders Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.04, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Companys irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Loans, (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that if the Company wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of Interest Period, the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) five Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, whereupon the
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Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. Not later than 11:00 a.m., (i) three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of US$25,000,000 or a whole multiple of US$5,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.03(c), each Committed Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of US$10,000,000 or a whole multiple of US$1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Company is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vi) the currency of the Committed Loans to be borrowed. If the Company fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Committed Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars. If the Company fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one month. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. No Committed Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation of Committed Loans denominated in a currency other than Dollars, in each case as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agents Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of any Committed Loan denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of any Committed Loan in an Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set
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forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Company on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Company; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Company, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and, second, shall be made available to the Company as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether denominated in Dollars or any Alternative Currency) without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.
(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Company, the Administrative Agent, and such Lender.
2.03 Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date applicable to such L/C Issuer, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that immediately after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (w) unless otherwise agreed by such L/C Issuer, the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations of the applicable L/C Issuer shall not exceed one third of the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lenders
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Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Company for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Company that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Companys ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Company may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.
(ii) No L/C Issuer shall issue any Letter of Credit, if:
(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date; or
(B) the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.
(iii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the date of this Agreement, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the date of this Agreement and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B) the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than US$500,000;
(D) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency; or
(E) such L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency;
(F) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Company or such Defaulting Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuers actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.
(iv) No L/C Issuer shall amend any Letter of Credit if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.
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(v) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.
(vi) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term Administrative Agent as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Company delivered to the applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the applicable L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to such L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may reasonably require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Company shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as such L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Company and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Company, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuers usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lenders Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
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(iii) If the Company so requests in any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the Non-Extension Notice Date) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Company shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that no L/C Issuer shall permit any such extension if (A) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension and directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Company and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Company shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) such L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Company shall have notified such L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Company will reimburse such L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Company of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. If the Company is notified prior to 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, then no later than 1:00 p.m. on such Business Day or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (or if notified after such time, then no later than 11:00 a.m. on the next succeeding Business Day or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency) (each such date, an Honor Date), the Company shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency. In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant to the second sentence in this Section 2.03(c)(i) and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Company, whether on or after the Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Company agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify such L/C Issuer for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing. If the Company fails to timely reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer on the Honor Date, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the Unreimbursed Amount), and the amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard
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to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments. Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agents Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Dollar Equivalent of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable L/C Issuer in Dollars.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Company shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Lenders obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against such L/C Issuer, the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of a L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
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(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lenders L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Company or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Company to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Company or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), such L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) waiver by such L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for such L/C Issuers protection and not the protection of the Company or any waiver by such L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Company;
(v) honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;
(vi) any payment made by such L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under, such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the Uniform Commercial Code or the ISP, as applicable;
(vii) any payment by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
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(viii) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Company or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; or
(ix) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Company or any Subsidiary.
The Company shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Companys instructions or other irregularity, the Company will promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer. Unless there was bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the applicable L/C Issuer as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment, the Company shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the applicable L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Company agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, no L/C Issuer shall have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of an L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Company hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Companys pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of an L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and an L/C Issuer may be liable to the Company, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential, special, indirect, punitive or exemplary, damages suffered by the Company which the Company proves were caused by such L/C Issuers bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or such L/C Issuers willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, an L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason. An L/C
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Issuer may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.
(g) Applicability of ISP; Limitation of Liability. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Company when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no L/C Issuer shall be responsible to the Company for, and such L/C Issuers rights and remedies against the Company shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of such L/C Issuer required or permitted under any Law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where such L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such Law or practice.
(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16, with its Applicable Percentage, in Dollars, a Letter of Credit fee (the Letter of Credit Fee) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Company shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter or as otherwise agreed between the Company and the applicable L/C Issuer, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment) or, if later, the fifth Business Day after the Company has received an invoice therefor, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date applicable to such L/C Issuer and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of
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Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. In addition, the Company shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit issued by it as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(j) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(k) Letter of Credit Reports. Each applicable L/C Issuer shall furnish (A) to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Company) on the fifth Business Day of each month a written report in substantially the form of Exhibit M (or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent) summarizing issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer during the preceding month and drawings during such month under all Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, (B) to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Company) on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter a written report setting forth the actual daily aggregate available amount of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer during the preceding calendar quarter of all Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer and (C) prompt notice to the Administrative Agent of each expiration, cancellation or renewal of a Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer hereunder.
(l) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Company hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Company, and that the Companys business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
2.04 Prepayments. (a) The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) four Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of US$25,000,000 or a whole multiple of US$5,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of US$25,000,000 or a whole multiple of US$5,000,000 in excess thereof; (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of US$5,000,000 or a whole multiple of US$1,000,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and (v) any such notice may be conditioned on the effectiveness of other financing arrangements or one or more other transactions. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, subject to the occurrence of any condition(s) specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Total Outstandings, less Cash Collateral, at such time exceed an amount equal to 105% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount at least equal to such excess over the Aggregate Commitment; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.15(a), the Company shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.04(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.
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2.05 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of US$25,000,000 or any whole multiple of US$5,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) any such notice may be conditioned on the effectiveness of other financing arrangements or one or more other transactions, (iv) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (v) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. The amount of any such Aggregate Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Company. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued with respect thereto until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.06 Repayment of Loans. The Company shall repay to each Lender on the Termination Date applicable to such Lender the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans made by such Lender outstanding on such date.
2.07 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Company under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
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(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
(d) For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), (i) whenever a rate of interest or fee rate hereunder is calculated on the basis of a year (the deemed year) that contains fewer days than the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation, such rate of interest or fee rate shall be expressed as a yearly rate by multiplying such rate of interest or fee rate by the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation and dividing it by the number of days in the deemed year, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest shall not apply to any interest calculation hereunder and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated herein are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.
2.08 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.03:
(a) Facility Fee. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee ( the Facility Fee) in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, on the Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans and L/C Obligations), regardless of usage, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. The Facility Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans or L/C Obligations remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The Facility Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees. The Company shall pay to the respective Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed in writing. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(i) The Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees, if any, as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.09 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid
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than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year), or, in the case of interest in respect of Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.11(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
2.10 Evidence of Debt. (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Company and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Company hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to the Company made through the Administrative Agent, the Company shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Committed Loan Note, which shall evidence such Lenders Loans to the Company in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Committed Loan Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a) above, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.11 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback. (a) General. All payments to be made by the Company shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Company hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agents Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Company hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agents Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. If, for any reason, the Company is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, the Company shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lenders Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall, at the option of the Administrative Agent, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Company shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
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(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Company a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Company severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Company to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Company, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Company and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Company the amount of such interest paid by the Company for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Company shall be without prejudice to any claim the Company may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by the Company; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Company prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or any L/C Issuer hereunder that the Company will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Company has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Company has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Company with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to the Company as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Company by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
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(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.12 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations held by it resulting in such Lenders receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.15, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
The Company consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Company rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Company in the amount of such participation.
2.13 Extension of Termination Date. (a) Requests for Extension. The Company may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not earlier than 90 days and not later than 45 days prior to any anniversary of the Closing Date (an Anniversary Date), request that each Lender extend such Lenders Termination Date for an additional period of one or two years from the then effective Termination Date; provided that the requested extension shall not result in a then remaining tenor of longer than five years from such Anniversary Date.
(b) Lender Elections to Extend. Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date (the Notice
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Date) that is 15 days after receipt from the Administrative Agent of the extension request, advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Termination Date (a Non-Extending Lender) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date), and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree.
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of each Lenders determination under this Section no later than the date 15 days prior to the applicable Anniversary Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).
(d) Additional Commitment Lenders. The Company shall have the right to replace each Non-Extending Lender with, and add as Lenders under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an Additional Commitment Lender) as provided in Section 10.12; provided that each of such Additional Commitment Lenders shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the applicable Anniversary Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lenders Commitment hereunder on such date).
(e) Minimum Extension Requirement. If (and only if) the total of the Commitments of the Lenders that have agreed so to extend their Termination Date (each, an Extending Lender) and the additional Commitments of the Additional Commitment Lenders shall be more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the applicable Anniversary Date, then, effective as of the applicable Anniversary Date, the Termination Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling one or two years (as specified in the applicable request for extension) after the then effective Termination Date of such Lender (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Termination Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender (if not already) shall thereupon become a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement.
(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions. As a condition precedent to such extension, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the applicable Anniversary Date signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Company approving or consenting to such extension and (ii) certifying that, immediately before and after giving effect to such extension, the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.03 have been satisfied. In addition, on the Termination Date of each Non-Extending Lender, the Company shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date.
(g) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12 or 10.01 to the contrary.
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2.14 Increase in Commitments.
(a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, the Company may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments to an amount not exceeding US$1,750,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of US$25,000,000.
(b) Additional Lenders. Subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers (not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), to effectuate any such increase the Company may invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender invited to participate in such increase shall notify the Administrative Agent whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if it has not responding within the requested time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.
(c) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Company shall determine the effective date (the Increase Effective Date) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.
(d) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to any such increase, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company dated as of the Increase Effective Date signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company (x) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Company approving or consenting to such increase, and (y) certifying that, immediately before and after giving effect to such increase, the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.03 have been satisfied. The Company shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.
(e) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.12 or 10.01 to the contrary.
2.15 Cash Collateral.
(a) Certain Credit Support Events. If (i) any L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing that has not been reimbursed, (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Company shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 8.02, or (iv) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Company shall immediately (in the case of clause (iii) above) or within three Business Days (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv) above, after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). Additionally, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding
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Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time, less Cash Collateral therefor, exceeds 105% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall provide Cash Collateral for the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations in an amount not less than the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit.
(b) Grant of Security Interest. The Company, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.15(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Company will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Company shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all reasonable and customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.
(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.15 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.16 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.
(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.
2.16 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lenders right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders and Section 10.01.
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(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuers hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.15; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lenders potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.15; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders or the L/C Issuers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or any L/C Issuer against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) Certain Fees.
(A) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive fees payable under Sections 2.08(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to extent allocable to the sum of (1) the Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans funded by it, and (2) its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.15.
(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.15.
(C) With respect to any fee payable under Section 2.08(a) or any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Company shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lenders participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause
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(iv) below, (y) pay to the applicable L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuers Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lenders participation in L/C Obligations shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lenders Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lenders Commitment. Subject to Section 10.20, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lenders increased exposure following such reallocation.
(v) Cash Collateral. If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.15.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.
2.17 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Credit Extensions shall be available (and the Company agrees that it shall use such proceeds) solely for general corporate purposes not in contravention in any material respect of any Law or of any Loan Document.
2.18 Bid Option.
(a) Bid Option; Repayment and Effect of Bid Absolute Rate Loans. (i) In addition to Committed Loans pursuant to Section 2.01, but subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (including, without limitation, the limitation set forth in Section 2.01 as to the maximum aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans hereunder), the Company may, as set forth in this Section 2.18(a), request the Lenders, prior to the latest Termination Date, to make offers to make Bid Absolute Rate Loans to the Company. Each Lender may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Company may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this Section 2.18. Bid Absolute Rate Loans shall be evidenced by the Bid Notes at the request of such Lender providing such Bid Absolute Rate Loans. Each Bid Absolute Rate Loan shall be repaid in full by the Company on the last day of the Bid Interest Period applicable thereto.
(ii) Any Lender may offer to make Bid Absolute Rate Loans in excess of its Commitment but such Loans will not relieve the Lender of its obligation to fund its Applicable Percentage share of Committed Loans.
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(b) Bid Quote Request. When the Company wishes to request offers to make Bid Absolute Rate Loans under this Section 2.18, the Company shall submit to the Administrative Agent a Bid Quote Request so as to be received no later than 10:00 a.m. at least one Business Day prior to the borrowing date proposed therein, specifying:
(i) the proposed borrowing date for the proposed Bid Absolute Rate Loans;
(ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Bid Absolute Rate Loans; and
(iii) the Bid Interest Period applicable thereto (which must end on or prior to the latest Termination Date).
The Company may request offers to make Bid Absolute Rate Loans for more than one Bid Interest Period. No Bid Quote Request shall be given within five Business Days (or upon reasonable prior notice to the Lenders, such lesser number of days as the Company and the Administrative Agent may agree) of any other Bid Quote Request. Each Bid Quote Request shall be in a minimum amount of US$5,000,000 or a larger multiple of US$1,000,000; provided that upon giving effect to such Bid Absolute Rate Loans, the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.
(c) Invitation for Bid Quotes. Promptly upon receipt of a Bid Quote Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to each of the Lenders an Invitation for Bid Quotes which shall constitute an invitation by the Company to each Lender to submit Bid Quotes offering to make the Bid Absolute Rate Loans to which such Bid Quote Request relates in accordance with Section 2.18.
(d) Submission and Contents of Bid Quotes.
(i) Each Lender may, in its sole discretion, submit a Bid Quote containing an offer or offers to make Bid Absolute Rate Loans in response to any Invitation for Bid Quotes. Each Bid Quote must comply with the requirements of this Section 2.18(d) and must be submitted to the Administrative Agent at the applicable Administrative Agents Office not later than 9:45 a.m, in the case of Bank of America and 10:00 a.m., in the case of each other Lender, on the proposed Borrowing Date (or, in any such case upon reasonable prior notice to the Lenders, such later time as the Company and the Administrative Agent may agree, provided that Bank of America shall always be required to submit its Bid Quotes not less than fifteen minutes prior to the other Lenders). No Lender may submit a Bid Quote for a Bid Absolute Rate Loan which has a Bid Interest Period later than such Lenders Termination Date. Subject to Articles IV and VIII, any Bid Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the written consent of the Administrative Agent given on the instructions of the Company.
(ii) Each Bid Quote shall in any case specify:
(A) the proposed borrowing date, which shall be the same as that set forth in the applicable Invitation for Bid Quotes;
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(B) the principal amount of the Bid Absolute Rate Loan for which each such offer is being made, (1) which principal amount may be greater than, less than or equal to the Commitment of the quoting Lender, but in no case greater than the Commitments, (2) which principal amount must be at least US$5,000,000 and an integral multiple of US$1,000,000 in excess thereof, and (3) which principal amount may not exceed the principal amount of Bid Absolute Rate Loans for which offers were requested;
(C) the minimum or maximum amount, if any, of the Bid Absolute Rate Loan which may be accepted by the Company and/or the limit, if any, as to the aggregate principal amount of the Bid Absolute Rate Loans from such Lender which may be accepted by the Company;
(D) the Bid Absolute Rate offered for each such Bid Absolute Rate Loan;
(E) the applicable Bid Interest Period; and
(F) the identity of the quoting Lender.
(iii) The Administrative Agent shall reject any Bid Quote that:
(A) is not substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or does not specify all of the information required by Section 2.18(d)(ii);
(B) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language, other than any such language contained in Exhibit F hereto;
(C) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Invitation for Bid Quotes; or
(D) arrives after the time set forth in Section 2.18(d)(i).
If any Bid Quote shall be rejected pursuant to this Section 2.18(d)(iii), then the Administrative Agent shall notify the relevant Lender of such rejection as soon as practicable.
(e) Notice to the Company. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the terms (i) of any Bid Quote submitted by a Lender that is in accordance with Section 2.18(d) and (ii) of any Bid Quote that is in accordance with Section 2.18(d) and amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Bid Quote submitted by such Lender with respect to the same Bid Quote Request. Any such subsequent Bid Quote shall be disregarded by the Administrative Agent unless such subsequent Bid Quote specifically states that it is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Bid Quote. The Administrative Agents notice to the Company shall specify the aggregate principal amount of Bid Absolute
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Rate Loans for which offers have been received for each Bid Interest Period specified in the related Bid Quote Request and the respective principal amounts and Bid Absolute Rates so offered.
(f) Acceptance and Notice by the Company. Subject to the receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in Section 2.18(e), not later than 11:00 a.m. on the proposed date of borrowing (or, in any such case upon reasonable prior notice to the Lenders, such later time as the Company and the Administrative Agent may agree), the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of the Companys acceptance or rejection of the offers so notified to it pursuant to Section 2.18(e); provided, however, that the failure by the Company to give such notice to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be a rejection of all such offers. In the case of acceptance, such notice (a Competitive Bid Borrowing Notice) shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Bid Interest Period that are accepted. The Company may accept or reject any Bid Quote in whole or in part (subject to the terms of Section 2.18(d)(ii)(C)); provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of all Bid Absolute Rate Loans may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Bid Quote Request;
(ii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending Bid Absolute Rates; and
(iii) the Company may not accept any offer of the type described in Section 2.18(d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement for the purpose of obtaining a Bid Absolute Rate Loan under this Agreement.
(g) Allocation by the Administrative Agent. If offers are made by two or more Lenders with the same Bid Absolute Rates for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which offers are permitted to be accepted for the related Bid Interest Period, the principal amount of Bid Absolute Rate Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Lenders as nearly as possible (in such multiples, not greater than US$1,000,000, as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of such offers; provided, however, that no Lender shall be allocated a portion of any Bid Absolute Rate Loan which is less than the minimum amount which such Lender has indicated that it is willing to accept. Allocations by the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Bid Absolute Rate Loans shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall promptly, but in any event by 12:00 p.m. (noon), notify each Lender of its receipt of a Competitive Bid Borrowing Notice and the aggregate principal amount of such Bid Absolute Rate Loan allocated to each participating Lender.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. (i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Company under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the
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Administrative Agent or the Company, as applicable) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent, the Company or other applicable withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If the Company, the Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the applicable withholding agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the applicable withholding agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Company shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(iii) If the Company, the Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) the applicable withholding agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the applicable withholding agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Company shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions for Indemnified Taxes (including deductions for Indemnified Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Company. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Company shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(c) Tax Indemnifications. (i) The Company shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Company by a Lender or an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after written demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or an L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.
(ii) Each Lender and each L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that the Company has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Company, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Company, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or the Company in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).
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(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Company to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law or the taxing authorities of a jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation either (A) set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below or (B) required by applicable Law other than the Code or the taxing authorities of the jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable Law to comply with the requirements for exemption or reduction of withholding tax in that jurisdiction) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
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(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(II) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(III) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a 10 percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or
(IV) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L-2 or Exhibit L-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
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(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(iii) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or any L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If any Recipient determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Company or with respect to which the Company has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Company an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Company under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Company, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Company (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Company pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Company or any other Person.
(g) Survival. Each partys obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
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3.02 Illegality. If any Lender in good faith determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to perform any of its obligations hereunder or make, maintain or fund or charge interest with respect to any Credit Extension or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Company through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Credit Extension or to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice by the Company, (x) the Company shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Company shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (a) (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith determines that deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clause (a) above, Impacted Loans), or (b) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders in good faith determine that for any reason the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this Section, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company and the Required Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with
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respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (a)(i) of this Section, (2) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Company that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Company written notice thereof.
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e), other than as set forth below) or any L/C Issuer;
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Company will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any L/C Issuer in good faith determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lenders or such L/C Issuers holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or such L/C Issuers capital or on the capital of such Lenders or such L/C Issuers holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lenders or such L/C Issuers holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or such L/C Issuers policies and the policies of such Lenders or such L/C Issuers holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lenders or such L/C Issuers holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate and due under such subsection within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such L/C Issuers right to demand such compensation, provided that the Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or such L/C Issuers intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Additional Reserve Requirements. The Company shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as Eurocurrency liabilities), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error), which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company shall have received at least 10 Business Days prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 Business Days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs shall be due and payable 10 Business Days from receipt of such notice.
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (other than any loss of Applicable Rate or other profit) incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
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(b) any failure by the Company (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Company;
(c) any failure by the Company to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or
(d) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.12;
including any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract in respect of such funds. The Company shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to the Company through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Company to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires the Company to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Company such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Company is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.12.
3.07 Survival. All obligations of the Company under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
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ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING.
4.01 Conditions to Closing Date. The closing shall be deemed to be held at the office of the Administrative Agent, and on the date of execution of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders:
(a) an executed copy of this Agreement;
(b) a certificate signed by any Authorized Officer or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company stating that as of the Closing Date no Default exists and that the representations and warranties contained in Article V are true and correct on the Closing Date (except with respect to those representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date);
(c) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, together with all amendments, certified by any Authorized Officer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, and a certificate of good standing, certified on or within ten Business Days prior to the date hereof by the Secretary of State of Delaware;
(d) copies, certified by any Authorized Officer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, of its By-Laws and its Board of Directors Resolutions, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents;
(e) an incumbency certificate, executed by any Authorized Officer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signature of the officers of the Company authorized to sign the Loan Documents and to sign any other documents, letters of credit, reports and notices in connection with this Agreement and to make borrowings hereunder (on which the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Company);
(f) a written opinion of the Companys counsel, Jones Day, addressed to the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Lenders, in the form of Exhibit D;
(g) Committed Loan Notes for those Lenders that have requested Committed Loan Notes at least two Business Days prior to the date hereof;
(h) satisfactory evidence that those fees invoiced by and due to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on the date the Company executes this Agreement have been paid in full or shall be paid substantially concurrently with closing; and
(i) satisfactory evidence that the Prior Agreement shall have been terminated and cancelled and any and all accrued and unpaid principal, interest, fees and expenses due and payable under the terms of the Prior Agreement or any other agreement, document or instrument executed in connection therewith have been paid in full or shall be paid substantially concurrently with closing.
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Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender and L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender or L/C Issuer prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to Each Credit Extension. The Lenders shall not be required to make Loans and the L/C Issuers shall not be required to issue, amend, renew or extend Letters of Credit under this Agreement unless on the date thereof (i) no Default shall exist and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Article V (other than Section 5.04(b), 5.06 and 5.07) and shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date of such Credit Extension (except with respect to those representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date). On each date on which a Bid Absolute Rate Loan is made, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Lender, a duly executed and completed Bid Note if requested.
4.03 Conditions to Each Extension of Commitments and Each Commitment Increase. On the date of (i) each extension pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof or (ii) the date of each increase in Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders a certificate, signed by an Authorized Officer, stating that as of such date no Event of Default exists and, in the case of each extension pursuant to Section 2.13, that the representations and warranties contained in Section 5 are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on such date as if made on such date, except that the financial statements referred to in Section 5.04 shall be deemed to be the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries most recently delivered to the Lenders, and except with respect to those representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date).
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
The Company represents and warrants to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent that:
5.01 Corporate Existence and Standing. Each of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation with all requisite authority to conduct its business, in each case in each jurisdiction in which the failure to obtain the necessary authority could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the consolidated condition or operations of the Company or the ability of the Company to perform the Obligations.
5.02 Authorization and Validity. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings and the Loan Documents, when executed and delivered, will constitute valid, legal, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.
5.03 Compliance with Laws and Contracts. Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Loan Documents, the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will violate any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Company or any Material Subsidiary or articles or certificates of incorporation or by-laws or the provisions of
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any indenture, instrument or agreement in a principal amount of at least US$75,000,000, or where aggregate payments due thereunder or amounts received thereunder equal at least US$75,000,000, to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement, and, immediately after giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents, there will not exist any default (or event which, with notice or lapse of time, would be a default) under any such indenture, instrument or agreement as a result of such execution and delivery.
5.04 Financial Statements.
(a) Audited. The May 29, 2016 consolidated financial statements of the Company heretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in effect on the date such statements were prepared and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results of their operations for the period then ended.
(b) No Material Adverse Change. No material adverse change in the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as shown on said May 29, 2016 financial statements has occurred from the date thereof to and including the date of this Agreement.
5.05 Taxes. The Company and the Material Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any Material Subsidiary, except (a) such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which reserves have been provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the consolidated condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the ability of the Company to perform the Obligations.
5.06 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no litigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Companys executive officers, threatened in writing, against the Company or any Material Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the ability of the Company to perform the Obligations that has not been publicly disclosed as of the date of this Agreement.
5.07 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. As of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standard within the meaning of Section 302 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or has incurred any material liability (which has become due but which has not been paid) to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under such Act (or any successor thereto under such Act) in connection with any employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company or any Material Subsidiary.
5.08 Defaults. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
5.09 Accuracy of Information. As of the date of this Agreement, no written information, exhibit or report furnished by the Company or any Material Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances in which made.
5.10 Regulation U. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board). The Company shall not use the proceeds of any Loan in a manner that would result in any violation of the provisions of Regulation U.
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5.11 Legal Authority. No approval, authorization, consent, adjudication or order of any Governmental Authority, which has not been obtained by the Company is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowing under the Agreement or in connection with the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Loan Documents.
5.12 Investment Company Status. The Company is not an investment company as defined in, or subject to regulation as such under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.13 Status as an EEA Financial Institution. The Company is not an EEA Financial Institution.
5.14 OFAC. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, Affiliate or representative thereof (in any such persons capacity as such), is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individuals or entities that are (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFACs List of Specially Designated nationals, HMTs Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction in violation of Sanctions. The Company and its Subsidiaries and to the knowledge of the Company their respective officers, employees and directors (in any such persons capacity as such), are in compliance with applicable Sanctions in all material respects.
5.15 Anti-Corruption Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which they operate and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures intended to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
6.01 Financial Statements, Reports, Returns and Other Financial Data. The Company covenants that, so long as any L/C Issuer or any Lender shall have any Commitment, Letters of Credit or Loan outstanding, or any unreimbursed L/C Advances, the Company will deliver to the Administrative Agent (who will make such documents available to each Lender) the following:
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly accounting periods of the Companys fiscal year, (i) quarterly consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) quarterly consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, setting forth in each case in comparative form consolidated figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, all in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (except that footnote disclosures required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles may be omitted and that the statement of stockholders equity will be omitted and subject to audit and changes resulting from year-end adjustment) all in the form submitted by the Company to its shareholders.
(b) Annual Financial Statements. Within 90 days after the end of the Companys fiscal year (i) annual consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders equity and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year, and (ii) annual consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, setting forth in each case in comparative form corresponding consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and certified by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company and all in a form submitted by the Company to its shareholders.
(c) Stockholder and Governmental Reports. Promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of all such financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its stockholders and of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all reports which it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall be deemed to have delivered the items described in Sections 6.01(a), (b) and (c) to the Administrative Agent if the applicable item has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable governmental authority and is freely and readily available without charge to the Administrative Agent on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other applicable governmental authority, or such item has been made freely and readily available without charge to the Administrative Agent on the Companys website www.conagrabrands.com, and the delivery date therefor shall be deemed to be the first day on which the applicable item is available to the Administrative Agent on one of such web pages.
The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Company hereunder (collectively, Company Materials) by posting the Company Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar, or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the Platform) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a Public Lender) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any of the Company or its Affiliates, or the securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons securities. The Company hereby agrees that (w) all Company Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked PUBLIC which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word PUBLIC shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Company Materials PUBLIC, the Company shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Company Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Company Materials constitute confidential information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Company Materials marked PUBLIC are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated Public Side Information; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Company Materials that are not marked PUBLIC as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated Public Side Information.
6.02 Officers Certificate. Together with each delivery of financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) and (b) above, the Company will deliver to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each of the Lenders an Officers Certificate setting forth the calculations necessary to determine compliance with Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of this Agreement and stating that there exists no Default or, if any such Default exists, specifying the nature thereof and what action the Company has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also covenants that forthwith upon any Authorized Officer obtaining knowledge of a Default under this Agreement, it
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will deliver to the Administrative Agent an Officers Certificate specifying the nature thereof and what action the Company has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto. Where the financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) or (b) above are necessary to determine whether all covenants herein have been complied with, or whether an Event of Default has occurred, the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) or (b) above shall be used to make such determination.
6.03 Sale and Lease-Back. If a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction (as defined in Section 3.7 of the Indenture) occurs that (i) results in net proceeds to the Company or a Subsidiary in excess of US$50,000,000, and (ii) requires the retirement by the Company of debt pursuant to Section 3.7(c) of the Indenture, then the Company shall, within 90 days following the effective date of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, offer to the Lenders to use the net proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction to prepay, without premium, an amount of the principal amount of the Loans of the Lenders (on a ratable basis). Such amount shall be based on a fraction, the numerator of which would be the principal amount of Loans then outstanding and the denominator of which would be the principal amount outstanding of all funded debt for which the Company is required by the terms thereof to make similar offers. Such offer would be terminated if not accepted in writing within 5 Business Days following the date of such offer. For purposes of this Section, the applicable provisions of the Indenture shall be deemed incorporated herein mutatis mutandis without the effect of any amendment, waiver or termination of the Indenture.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS.
The Company covenants, so long as any Lender or any L/C Issuer shall have any Commitment, Letters of Credit or Loan outstanding, or any unreimbursed L/C Advances, as follows:
7.01 Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company will maintain as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters a ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense of not less than 3.00:1.00 on a four quarter rolling basis.
7.02 Debt to EBITDA Ratio. The Company will maintain as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters a ratio of Consolidated Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDA of not greater than 3.75:1.00 on a four quarter rolling basis, provided that such ratio shall be increased on the closing date of an acquisition the aggregate cash consideration for which equals or exceeds US$500,000,000 to 4.00:1.00 for four consecutive fiscal quarters following notice to the Administrative Agent of such acquisition and related increase (provided however there shall be at least two fiscal quarters at 3.75:1.00 between step-ups).
7.03 Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance. The Company will not merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey (including by way of lease) all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless (i) the Company shall be the continuing corporation or the successor corporation and (ii) immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, no Default shall exist and be continuing.
7.04 Liens. The Company will perform, comply with and observe for the benefit of the Lenders its agreements in Section 3.6 of the Indenture. For purposes hereof, the provisions of said Section 3.6 of the Indenture, together with related definitions and ancillary provisions, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and shall be deemed to continue in effect for the benefit of the Lenders (as if they held Securities under the Indenture) as in effect on the date hereof, whether or not said provisions otherwise remain in effect or are modified or terminated; provided that for purposes of this incorporation by reference, each reference in said Section to Securities shall be deemed to include the Notes issued hereunder, and if the Company is required by said Section 3.6 to equally and ratably secure the Securities, the Company shall cause the Notes and the Obligations to be secured by Liens equally and ratably with the Securities (without implying in any way that the Notes are securities for purposes of state or federal securities laws) and any and all other obligations and indebtedness secured by such Liens.
7.05 Sanctions. The Company will not directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other
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individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions and which funding or usage would violate applicable Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions.
7.06 Anti-Corruption Laws. The Company will not directly or, to its knowledge indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.
8.01 Events of Default. For purposes of this Agreement, each of the following events shall be Events of Default:
(a) Failure to Pay Principal. The Company defaults in the payment of any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any L/C Obligation when the same shall become due, either by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided.
(b) Failure to Pay Interest or Fees. The Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder for more than five Business Days after the date due.
(c) Default Under Other Obligations. The Company or any Subsidiary defaults under any agreement or indenture pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary has borrowed more than US$75,000,000 in principal amount (or has sold notes the aggregate principal amount of which exceeds US$75,000,000) and such default has not been cured within any period of grace provided with respect thereto, provided, however, the Company may exclude from the operation of this Section 8.01(c) one or more Subsidiaries so long as the Companys equity investment in such excluded Subsidiaries is less than 20% of the Companys consolidated assets.
(d) Breach of Representation. Any representation or warranty made by the Company herein or in any writing furnished pursuant to this Agreement shall be false in any material respect on the date as of which it was made.
(e) Failure to Perform Negative Covenants. The Company defaults in the performance or observance of any agreement contained in Section 7.
(f) Failure to Perform Other Terms and Conditions. The Company defaults in the performance or observance of any other agreement, covenant, term or condition contained herein and such default shall not have been remedied within 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been received by the Company from any of the Lenders.
(g) Assignment For Benefit of Creditors and Insolvency. The Company or any Material Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or is unable generally to pay its debts or is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent.
(h) Order for Relief. Any order for relief, judgment or decree is entered in any proceeding described in Section 8.01(i) in respect of the Company or any Material Subsidiary.
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(i) Voluntary Receiver or Bankruptcy. The Company or any Material Subsidiary petitions or applies to any tribunal for the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or commences any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Material Subsidiary) relating to the Company or any Material Subsidiary under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or law of any jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect.
(j) Involuntary Receiver or Bankruptcy. Any petition or application described in Section 8.01(i) is filed, or any proceedings described in Section 8.01(i) are commenced, against the Company or any Material Subsidiary, and the Company or any Material Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto, or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver or liquidator, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains in effect and unstayed for more than 60 consecutive days.
(k) Involuntary Order for Relief. Any order for relief, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company or any Material Subsidiary decreeing the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Material Subsidiary and such order, judgment or decree is unstayed and in effect for more than 60 consecutive days.
(l) Unsatisfied Judgment. A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of US$75,000,000 (excluding amounts covered by insurance to the extent the relevant insurer has not denied coverage thereof) is or are outstanding against the Company or any Material Subsidiary and any one of such judgments has been outstanding for more than 30 days from the date of its entry and has not been discharged in full or stayed.
8.02 Rights and Duties After Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then, if the Required Lenders so elect (which election shall be held in a manner determined by the Administrative Agent and communicated by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders), the Lenders Commitments to make Loans under this Agreement shall terminate and no further Letters of Credit shall be issued hereunder, and, upon the election of the Required Lenders (x) the Loans and all interest, fees and other amounts payable under this Agreement or the Notes shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived and (y) the Company shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect thereto); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(g), (h), (i), (j) or (k), the Commitments shall automatically terminate, the Loans and all interest, fees and other amounts payable under the Agreement or the Notes shall automatically become immediately due and payable and the obligation of the Company to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without declaration or notice to the Company.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
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Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and L/C Issuers and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.15; and
Last, the balance, if any, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.15, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX.
THE AGENTS.
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Except as expressly provided in Section 9.06, the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and the Company shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term agent herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
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9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any such action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any of the Company or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) in accordance with the terms hereof with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance by any other Person of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Company at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the Resignation Effective Date), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Company and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, with the consent of the Company at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the Removal Effective Date), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its
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duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agents resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including (a) holding any cash collateral security on behalf of any of the Lenders and (b) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.
(d) Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c). Upon the appointment by the Company of a successor L/C Issuer hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their
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Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agents. None of the Lenders identified in this Agreement as Arranger, Syndication Agent or as Documentation Agents shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgements with respect to the applicable Lenders in their capacity as Syndication Agent and Documentation Agent as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in this Agreement.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS.
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Company therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Company and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 without the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or of any Default is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the penultimate proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of Default Rate or to waive any obligation of the Company to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;
(e) change Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;
(f) amend the definition of Alternative Currency without the written consent of each Lender; or
(g) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of Required Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;
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and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iii) each Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; provided, further, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Company only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement and any related documents executed by the Company to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, in each case, of a technical or immaterial nature so long as (x) such amendment, modification or supplement does not directly adversely affect any right of any Agent or Lender, and (y) the Required Lenders shall not have objected in writing within five (5) Business Days of such amendment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Company, the Administrative Agent or Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender or L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender or L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Company).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except
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that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Company may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMPANY MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE COMPANY MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANY MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the Agent Parties) have any liability to the Company, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Companys or the Administrative Agents transmission of Company Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party or such Agent Partys material breach of its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Company, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
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(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Company, the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the Private Side Information or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lenders compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Company Materials that are not made available through the Public Side Information portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Committed Loan Notices and Letter of Credit Applications) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company, except to the extent that such losses, costs, expenses or liabilities are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by, the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer, such Lender or such Related Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan
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Documents against the Company shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.12), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Company under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.12, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders for any and all reasonable documented (in reasonable detail) out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Lenders in connection with the collection and enforcement (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the reasonable and invoiced attorneys fees for a single counsel for the Administrative Agent and, solely in the case of any conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all the L/C Issuers and Lenders other than the Administrative Agent) of the Loan Documents.
(b) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the reasonable documented (in reasonable detail) fees, disbursements and other charges of a single external counsel to all Indemnitees (and, solely in the case of any conflict of interest, one additional external counsel for all such persons taken as a whole)) by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Company) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties to the extent arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit issued by it if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit) or
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(iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Company, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from such Indemnified Partys bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of its obligations under this Agreement or (y) arise out of any investigation, litigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Company and arise solely from a dispute among Indemnitees (except when and to the extent that one of the parties to such dispute was acting in its capacity as an agent, arranger, bookrunner, L/C Issuer or other agency capacity and, in such case, excepting only such party). Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lenders pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lenders share of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided further that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or any L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.11(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereto hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that the foregoing shall not relieve the Company of any indemnification obligation with respect to claims by third parties. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement by, such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
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(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after written (in reasonable detail) demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Company is made to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Company may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
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(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such Assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than US$5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment if it has not objected thereto in writing within ten Business Days after notice thereof to it as required by Section 10.02;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and
(C) the consent of each L/C Issuer (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of US$3,500 (to be paid by the assignor or assignee); provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Company or any of the Companys controlled Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) a natural Person (or to a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person).
(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in
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addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements thereof, including Section 3.01(e)), 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Company (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Committed Loan Note or Bid Note, as applicable, to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Company (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agents Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Company or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the
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primary benefit of a natural Person, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Companys controlled Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a Participant) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lenders participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Company, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. The Company agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e), it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.12 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Companys request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.12 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Company, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the Participant Register); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participants interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
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(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(f) Resignation as L/C Issuer after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon 30 days notice to the Company and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as an L/C Issuer. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). Upon the appointment by the Company of a successor L/C Issuer (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to hold any information which it may receive from the Company or its representatives pursuant to this Agreement in confidence, except for disclosure as required (i) to its Affiliates and to other Lenders and their respective Affiliates (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential), (ii) to legal counsel, accountants, and other professional advisors to such Person (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential), (iii) to regulatory officials having jurisdiction over such Person to the extent requested thereby, (iv) to any Person as required by law, regulation, or legal process, (v) to any Person in connection with any legal proceeding to which such Lender is a party, (vi) to such Lenders or such L/C Issuers direct or indirect contractual counterparties in swap agreements relating to the Company or its obligations or to legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors to such counterparties; provided that each counterparty agrees to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 10.07, (vii) to rating agencies if requested or required by such agencies in connection with a rating relating to the transactions evidenced hereby, (viii) to any Person with the consent of the Company, (ix) to any credit insurance provider relating to the Company and its Obligations under this Agreement, provided that such credit insurance provider agrees to be bound (with the Company an express third party beneficiary) by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 10.07, (x) to self-regulatory officials having authority over such Person to the extent requested thereby, and (xi) to the extent such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07. The Company authorizes each Lender to disclose to any assignee or participant described in Section 10.06 or any other Person acquiring an interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a Transferee) and any prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lenders possession concerning the creditworthiness of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that each Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound (with the Company an express third party beneficiary) by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 10.07.
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Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If the Company becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or any Event of Default occurs, the Company agrees to recognize, honor and comply with the right of setoff that each Lender and each of its Affiliates may have under any applicable law and each Lender with a Loan agrees that any assets of the Company available to such Lender or such Affiliate for setoff shall be shared with all the Lenders with an outstanding Loan so that each such Lender receives for offset a share of such assets equal to the proportion that such Lenders Loans bear to the sum of all the then outstanding Loans; provided, that if any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging means (e.g. pdf or tif) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.10 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall survive delivery of the Notes, the issuance of any Letters of Credit and the making of the Loans herein contemplated.
10.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.11, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.12 Replacement of Lenders. If the Company is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.13 or 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the
77
Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and
(e) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent;
provided that the failure by such Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Lenders Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 10.12 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.13 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE
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ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.14 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.15 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Company acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its controlled Affiliates
79
understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, and the Lenders are arms-length commercial transactions between the Company, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Company is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Company or any of is Affiliates, or any other Person, in connection herewith and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Company or any of its Affiliates. The Company hereby agrees that it will not claim that any of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender and their respective Affiliates has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect or owes a fiduciary duty or similar duty to it in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.16 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words execute, execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Company that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Company, which information includes the name and address of the Company and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Company in accordance with the Act. The Company shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.
10.18 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Company in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the Judgment Currency) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the Agreement Currency), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Company in the Agreement Currency, the Company agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding
80
any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Company (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable Law).
10.19 Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither any L/C Issuer nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Company in an amount in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.
10.20 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.
10.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Solely to the extent any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an EEA Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.
The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.
81
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC., as the Company | ||||
By: | /s/ Johan Nystedt | |||
Name: | Johan Nystedt | |||
Title: | Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations Officer |
Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement
Conagra Brands, Inc.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||||
By: | /s/ Bridgett J. Manduk Mowry | |||
Name: | Bridgett J. Manduk Mowry | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and L/C Issuer | ||||
By: | /s/ J. Casey Cosgrove | |||
Name: | J. Casey Cosgrove | |||
Title: | Director | |||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender and L/C Issuer | ||||
By: | /s/ Tony Young | |||
Name: | Tony Young | |||
Title: | Executive Director | |||
MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as a Lender and L/C Issuer | ||||
By: | /s/ Tracy Rahn | |||
Name: | Tracy Rahn | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Annie Carr | |||
Name: | Annie Carr | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Charles Shaw | |||
Name: | Charles Shaw | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Ryan Zimmerman | |||
Name: | Ryan Zimmerman | |||
Title: | Vice President |
Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement
Conagra Brands, Inc.
BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Christopher Aitkin | |||
Name: | Christopher Aitkin | |||
Title: | Assistant Vice President | |||
HSBC BANK USA, N.A., as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Fik Durmus | |||
Name: | Fik Durmus | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Sangeeta Shah | |||
Name: | Sangeeta Shah | |||
Title: | Director | |||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Brigitte M. Sinclair | |||
Name: | Brigitte M. Sinclair | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
BANK OF THE WEST, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Ole Koppang | |||
Name: | Ole Koppang | |||
Title: | Director | |||
COOPERATIEVE RABOBANK U.A., NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Peter Duncan | |||
Name: | Peter Duncan | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
By: | /s/ Pacella Lehane | |||
Name: | Pacella Lehane | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Gordon MacArthur | |||
Name: | Gordon MacArthur | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement
Conagra Brands, Inc.
SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Tesha Winslow | |||
Name: | Tesha Winslow | |||
Title: | Director |
Signature Page to Revolving Credit Agreement
Conagra Brands, Inc.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 1
LENDER | COMMITMENT | APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE | ||||||
Bank of America, N.A. | $ | 150,000,000 | 12.0000000 | % | ||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | $ | 150,000,000 | 12.0000000 | % | ||||
Mizuho Bank, Ltd. | $ | 150,000,000 | 12.0000000 | % | ||||
Goldman Sachs Bank USA | $ | 110,000,000 | 8 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | $ | 110,000,000 | 8 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association | $ | 110,000,000 | 8 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
Barclays Bank PLC | $ | 75,000,000 | 6.0000000 | % | ||||
HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | $ | 75,000,000 | 6.0000000 | % | ||||
The Bank of Nova Scotia | $ | 75,000,000 | 6.0000000 | % | ||||
U.S. Bank National Association | $ | 75,000,000 | 6.0000000 | % | ||||
Bank of the West | $ | 42,500,000 | 3 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch | $ | 42,500,000 | 3 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
Royal Bank of Canada | $ | 42,500,000 | 3 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
SunTrust Bank | $ | 42,500,000 | 3 ###-###-#### | % | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
TOTAL COMMITMENTS | $ | 1,250,000,000 | 100.0000000 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
Sch. 1-1
SCHEDULE 10.02
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
COMPANY:
Address:
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: | Johan Nystedt, Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations Officer | |
Telephone No.: | (312) 549-5543 | |
E-mail Address: | ***@*** | |
and | ||
Attention: | Colleen Batcheler, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |
Telephone No.: | (312) 549-5173 | |
E-mail Address: | ***@*** |
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
Administrative Agents Office
(for payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):
Bank of America, N.A.
Bank of America Plaza
901 Main St
Mail Code: TX1-492-14-11
Dallas, TX, 75202-3714
Attention: Arlene Minor
Telephone: 972 ###-###-####
Facsimile: 214 ###-###-####
Electronic Mail: ***@***
1
Other Notices as Administrative Agent:
Bank of America, N.A.
Agency Management
Mail Code: CA5-705-04-09
555 California Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Attention: Bridgett J. Manduk Mowry
Telephone No.: 415 ###-###-####
Fax No.: 415 ###-###-####
E-mail Address: ***@***
L/C ISSUERS:
Bank of America, N.A.
Bank of America, N.A.
Trade Operations
Mail Code: PA6-580-02-30
1 Fleet Way
Scranton, PA 18507
Fax No.: 800 ###-###-####
EMAIL: ***@***
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Attention: GTS Client Services
Electronic Mail: ***@***
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
1800 Plaza Ten
Harborside Financial Center
Jersey City State: NJ 07311
Telephone No.: (201) 626-9341
Fax No.: (201) 626-9941
Attention: Nicole Ferrara
E-Mail Address: ***@***
2
EXHIBIT A
Committed Loan Note
$[ ] | February 16, 2017 |
Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Company), promises to pay to [NAME OF LENDER] (Lender) on or before the Lenders Termination Date (as defined in the Agreement hereinafter referred to) for the account of its Applicable Lending Installation the principal sum of [ ] and 00/100 Dollars ($[ ]) or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Committed Loans made by the Lender to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Agreement, whichever is less, in immediately available funds at the office of the Administrative Agent in Chicago, Illinois, together with interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the rates and on the dates set forth in the Agreement.
The Lender shall, and is hereby authorized to, record on the Schedule of Loans, Payments of Principal and Extension attached hereto, or to otherwise record in accordance with customary practice, the date and amount of each Committed Loan, the date and amount of each principal payment and the date to which payment of this Committed Loan Note has been extended, provided, however, that failure to do so shall not affect the Companys obligation to pay amounts due hereunder.
The Company expressly waives any presentment, demand, protest or notice in connection with this Committed Loan Note now, or hereafter, required by applicable law.
This Committed Loan Note is one of the Committed Loan Notes issued pursuant to the provisions of the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement), among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., individually and as Administrative Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as Syndication Agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Arrangers, and the Lenders named therein, to which Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions under which this Committed Loan Note may be prepaid or its maturity date extended or accelerated.
This Committed Loan Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-1
SCHEDULE OF LOANS, PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND EXTENSION
Date | Amount of Loan | Interest Period/Rate | Amount of Principal Paid or Prepaid | Unpaid Principal Balance | Extension of Termination Date | Notation Made By | ||||||||||||||||||
A-2
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE
Date: ,
To: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The Company hereby requests (select one):
☐ | A Borrowing of Committed Loans | ☐ | A conversion or continuation of Committed Loans |
1. | On (a Business Day). | |
2. | In the amount of . | |
3. | Comprised of . | |
[Type of Committed Loan requested] | ||
4. | In the following currency: | |
5. | For Eurocurrency Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of months. |
The Committed Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the provisos to the first sentence of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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[CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: | ]1 |
1 | Second signatory is required if funds are to be wired to an account other than the Companys account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Account No. xxxxxxx489. |
B-1
Form of Committed Loan Notice
EXHIBIT C-1
Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (the Assignment and Assumption) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the Assignor) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the Assignee). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Credit Agreement), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignors rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the Assigned Interest). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. | Assignor: |
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2. | Assignee: |
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[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]]1 | ||||||
3. | Company: | Conagra Brands, Inc. | ||||
4. | Administrative Agent: | Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement |
1 | Select as/if applicable. |
C-1
5. | Credit Agreement: The US$1,250,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017 among Conagra Brands, Inc., the Lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents party thereto |
6. | Assigned Interest: |
Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders | Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned | Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans2 | ||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||
$ | $ | % |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
ASSIGNEE | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
2 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder. |
C-2
Consented to and Accepted: | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Consented to: | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as an L/C Issuer | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Consented to: | ||
[ ], as an L/C Issuer | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Consented to:]3 | ||
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
3 | To be added only if the consent of the Company is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
C-3
Annex 1
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Non-U.S. Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
C-4
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
C-5
EXHIBIT C-2
Administrative Questionnaire
Attached
D-1
EXHIBIT D
Opinion of Counsel
Attached
D-1
EXHIBIT E
Bid Note
$[ ] | , 20 |
Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Company), promises to pay to [NAME OF LENDER] (Lender) on (which may not be later than the then effective latest Termination Date) for the account of its Applicable Lending Installation the principal sum of [ ] and 00/100 Dollars ($[ ]) in immediately available funds at the main office of the Lender in [ ], together with interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the rate of [ ] percent per annum.
The Company expressly waives any presentment, demand, protest or notice in connection with this Bid Note now, or hereafter, required by applicable law.
This Bid Note is a Bid Note issued pursuant to the provisions of the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement), among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., individually and as Administrative Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as Syndication Agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Arrangers, and the Lenders named therein, to which Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions under which this Bid Note may be prepaid or its maturity date extended or accelerated.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
E-1
EXHIBIT F
Bid Quote
To: | Bank of America, N.A., | |
as Administrative Agent | ||
Attn: | ||
Re: | Bid Quote to Conagra Brands, Inc. (the Company) |
In response to your Invitation For Bid Quotes on behalf of the Company dated , 20 , the undersigned Lender hereby makes the following Bid Quote on the following terms:
1. | Name of Quoting Lender: |
2. | Person to contact at Quoting Lender: |
3. | Borrowing Date: , 20 1 |
4. | The undersigned Lender hereby offers to make Bid Absolute Rate Loan(s) in the following principal amounts, for the following Bid Interest Periods and rates: |
Principal Amount2 | Bid Interest Period3 | Bid Absolute Rate4 | Maximum Minimum (§2.18(d)(ii)(c)) | |||||||||
$ |
The undersigned Lender understands and agrees that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2017, with the Company (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement), irrevocably obligates the undersigned Lender to make the Bid Absolute Rate Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted, in whole or in part, in accordance with Section 2.18 of the Agreement. Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Agreement.
1 | As specified in the relevant Invitation for bid Quotes. |
2 | Principal amount bid for each bid Interest Period may not exceed principal amount requested in the relevant Invitation for bid Quotes and is subject to further requirements as described in the Agreement, including without limitation, Section 2.18(d)(ii)(b). |
3 | As specified in the relevant Invitation for bid Quotes. |
4 | Specify rate of interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%). |
F-1
Very truly yours, | ||
[Name of Lender] | ||
By: |
| |
[Authorized Officer] |
Dated: , 20
F-2
EXHIBIT G
Bid Quote Request
, 20
To: | Bank of America, N.A., | |
as Administrative Agent | ||
From: | Conagra Brands, Inc. | |
Re: | Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement), dated as of February 16, 2017, with Conagra Brands, Inc. |
Conagra Brands, Inc., pursuant to Section 2.18(b) of the Agreement, hereby requests Bid Quotes for the following proposed Bid Absolute Rate Loans:
1. | Borrowing Date: , 20 |
2. | Principal Amount Bid Interest Period |
$
Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreement.
Conagra Brands, Inc. | ||
By: |
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Its: |
|
G-1
EXHIBIT H
Invitation For Bid Quotes
To: | [Name of Lender] | |
From: | Bank of America, N.A., | |
as Administrative Agent | ||
Re: | Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement), dated as of February 16, 2017, with Conagra Brands, Inc. (the Company) |
Pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Agreement, the Administrative Agent is pleased on behalf of the Company to invite you to submit Bid Quotes to the Company for the following proposed Bid Absolute Rate Loan(s):
1. | Borrowing Date: , 20 |
2. | Principal Amount Bid Interest Period |
$
Please respond to this invitation by no later than [10:00 a.m.] on , 20 . Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Agreement.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
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Its: |
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H-1
EXHIBIT I
Request for Extension
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent | , 20 |
Attention:
Dear :
Pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017 with Conagra Brands, Inc., (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement), we request a [one] [two] year extension of the Termination Date (as defined in the Agreement) as such date pertains to each Lenders Commitment (as each term is defined in the Agreement). [If this extension is accepted by the Required Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), the new Termination Date will be ]. We acknowledge that such extension will not otherwise constitute an alteration, amendment or waiver of any other term, condition or covenant contained in the Agreement.
Each Lender is also entitled to retroactively accept any previous extension requests by Conagra, Brands, Inc. that were rejected by such Lender.
We hereby authorize and request you to deliver a copy of this Request for Extension to each Lender.
To accept our requested extension, or to retroactively accept any previous extension requests, the Lenders must give written notice to you, in the form attached as Exhibit J to the Agreement, within days following your receipt of this request. Failure by any Lender to give the required notice within such day time period will constitute a denial of our request.
Very truly yours, | ||
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
[Authorized Officer] |
I-1
EXHIBIT J
Acceptance of Request For Extension
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent | , 20 |
Attention:
Re: | Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), dated as of February 16, 2017 with Conagra Brands, Inc. (Conagra) |
Dear :
We have received from you a copy of Conagras Request for Extension, dated 20 , and pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Agreement, we hereby accept the extension as set forth in Conagras request. [In addition, we retroactively accept Conagras previous Request for Extension dated 20 .] As a result of such extension the new Termination Date of the undersigned will be .
We hereby authorize and request you to deliver a copy of this Acceptance of Request for Extension to Conagra.
If applicable, we have made a notation of this extension on the Schedule of Loans, Payments of Principal and Extension attached to our Committed Loan Note(s).
Very truly yours, | ||
[The Lender] | ||
By: |
| |
[Name and Title] |
J-1
EXHIBIT K
Consent to Additional or Increasing Lender
Conagra Brands, Inc.
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: Treasurer
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We desire to [participate as a Lender] [increase our Commitment as a Lender] in that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017, (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Agreement). To effectuate such participation, we agree as follows:
1. Definitions. All capitalized terms used in this letter shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement, except as otherwise defined herein.
[2. Effective Date. Subject to the conditions contained in this letter, by execution and delivery to the Company of this letter, (New Lender) shall, effective 20 , (Effective Date), become a Lender pursuant to the Agreement. New Lender acknowledges and agrees that it shall have all rights, duties and obligations of a Lender as set forth in the Agreement as if New Lender was a signatory to the Agreement as of the Effective Date.
3. Commitment and Notices. New Lenders Commitment shall be US$ and New Lenders address for purposes of its administrative questionnaire delivered in connection with the Credit Agreement shall be as follows:
Fax Number:
Contact Person:
Telephone Number: ]
[2. Increased Commitment. Subject to the conditions contained in this letter, by execution and delivery to the Company of this letter, (Increase Lender) shall, effective have a Commitment of US$ under the Agreement.]
4[3]. Enforcement. [New Lender/Increase Lender] acknowledges that it has executed and delivered this letter for the benefit of the Company, the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent and that the terms and provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of each such Person.
K-1
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the acceptance set forth below.
Yours very truly, | ||
[NEW LENDER] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
cc: | Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent, [ADDRESS] |
Attn: [ ]
AGREED AND ACCEPTED this day of , 20
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
K-2
EXHIBIT L-1
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the Company), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Company with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable). By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Company and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Company and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER] | ||||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Date: , 20[ ]
L - 1
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT L-2
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the Company), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable). By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] | ||||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Date: , 20[ ]
L - 2
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT L-3
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the Company), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) from each of such partners/members beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] | ||||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Date: , 20[ ]
L - 3
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT L-4
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the Company), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Company with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) from each of such partners/members beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Company and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Company and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER] | ||||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Date: , 20[ ]
L - 4
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate